bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Satisfactory clinical results and low failure rate of medial collagen meniscus implant (CMI) at a minimum 20 years of follow-up
Authors: Lucidi Gian Andrea , Grassi Alberto , Al-zu’bi Belal Bashar Hamdan , Macchiarola Luca , Agostinone Piero , Marcacci Maurilio , Zaffagnini Stefano 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPurposeThe aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term clinical results, reoperations, surgical failure and complications at a minimum of 20 year of follow-up of the first 8 medial CMI scaffolds implanted by a single surgeon during a pilot European Prospective study.MethodsSeven (88%) out of 8 patients were contacted. The Cincinnati Score, VAS, and Lysholm score were collected. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 4 patients at the last follow-up. Complications, reoperations and failures were also investigated.ResultsThe average follow-up was 21.5 ± 0.5 years. One patient underwent TKA after 13 years from CMI implantation; a second patient underwent valgus high tibial osteotomy 8 years after the index surgery and another patient underwent anterior cruciate ligament hardware removal at 21 years of follow-up. At the final follow-up, 3 patients were rated as “Excellent”, 1 as “Good” and 2 as “Fair” according to the Lysholm score. The Cincinnati score and the VAS were substantially stable over time. The MRI showed a mild osteoarthritis progression in 3 out of 4 patients according to the Yulish score, and the CMI signal was similar to the mid-term follow-up revealing 3 cases of myxoid degeneration and 1 case of normal signal with reduced scaffold size.ConclusionThe medial CMI is a safe procedure: satisfactory clinical results and a low failure rate could be expected even at a long-term follow-up. For this purpose, the correct indication as well as correcting axial malalignment and addressing knee instability at the time of the index surgery is mandatory. On the other hand, a mild osteoarthritis progression could be expected even after meniscus replacement.Level of evidenceIV.
Laparoscopic lateral suspension for anterior and apical prolapse: a prospective cohort with standardized technique
Authors: Chatziioannidou Kyriaki , Veit-Rubin Nikolaus , Dällenbach Patrick 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis
Laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS) for anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair is a recent approach. Previous studies used various meshes or sutures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of a standardized LLS technique.

Methods
From January 2010 until December 2014, we performed POP repair by LLS with mesh on 88 women with anterior and apical POP ≥ stage 2. We used a polypropylene titanized mesh fixed to the vesico-vaginal fascia with absorbable sutures and treated posterior compartment defect by vaginal approach with native tissue repair if required. Between July 2013 and December 2018, all women were assessed by gynecological examination including the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system. Subjective outcome was evaluated by the patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) questionnaire.

Results
Seventy-nine women (89.8%) were available for follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.4 years (SD 1.6). Mean age was 59.6 (SD 11.1) years and mean BMI 25.8 (SD 4.0) kg/m2. Ten patients (12.7%) had previous POP surgery. Fifty-two women (65.8%) required posterior colporraphy for associated posterior defect and 21 (26.6%) had associated urinary incontinence (UI) surgery. There were no perioperative complications. The objective cure rate (no prolapse beyond the hymen and no reoperation for POP recurrence) was 87.3%. The reoperation rate for recurrence was 5.1%. The subjective success rate (PGI ≤ 2) was 96.2%. There were no mesh exposures or extrusions.

Conclusions
This standardized LLS is safe and effective with no mesh complications after 3-year follow-up.
Characterising scoring rules by their solution in iteratively undominated strategies
Authors: Basteck Christian 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe characterize voting procedures according to the social choice correspondence they implement when voters cast ballots strategically, applying iteratively undominated strategies. In elections with three candidates, the Borda Rule is the unique positional scoring rule that satisfies unanimity (U) (i.e., elects a candidate whenever it is unanimously preferred) and is majoritarian after eliminating a worst candidate (MEW)(i.e., if there is a unanimously disliked candidate, the majority-preferred among the other two is elected). In a larger class of rules, Approval Voting is characterized by a single axiom that implies both U and MEW but is weaker than Condorcet-consistency (CON)—it is the only direct mechanism scoring rule that is majoritarian after eliminating a Pareto-dominated candidate (MEPD)(i.e., if there is a Pareto-dominated candidate, the majority-preferred among the other two is elected); among all finite scoring rules that satisfy MEPD, Approval Voting is the most decisive. However, it fails a desirable monotonicity property: a candidate that is elected for some preference profile, may lose the election once she gains further in popularity. In contrast, the Borda Rule is the unique direct mechanism scoring rule that satisfies U, MEW and monotonicity (MON). There exists no direct mechanism scoring rule that satisfies both MEPD and MON and no finite scoring rule satisfying CON.
Oscillation in a posteriori error estimation
Authors: Kreuzer Christian , Veeser Andreas 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn a posteriori error analysis, the relationship between error and estimator is usually spoiled by so-called oscillation terms, which cannot be bounded by the error. In order to remedy, we devise a new approach where the oscillation has the following two properties. First, it is dominated by the error, irrespective of mesh fineness and the regularity of data and the exact solution. Second, it captures in terms of data the part of the residual that, in general, cannot be quantified with finite information. The new twist in our approach is a locally stable projection onto discretized residuals.
Hydrodynamically enhanced electrochemical mass transfer on the surface of an electrically conductive droplet
Authors: Kharicha A. , Karimi-Sibaki E. , Vakhrushev A. , Wu M. , Ludwig A. , Bohacek J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA fully coupled model is proposed to investigate the influence of flow on electrochemical mass transfer at the interface between the electrolyte and an electrically conductive droplet. The electric current flows through the droplet, and consequently the droplet acts as both anode and cathode. Computations of flow, concentration of reactant, and electric current density fields were carried out. Various droplet sizes (0.5, 2, 4 mm) under different flow regimes considering Reynolds number (Re = 0.2, 2, 20, 40 and 80) were investigated. An iterative numerical method is proposed to determine the concentration of reactant and electric current density at droplet-electrolyte interface considering the reaction kinetics (Butler-Volmer) formula and the diffusion-advection of the reactant through the hydrodynamic boundary layer around the droplet. With the increase of Reynolds number, the amount of electric current density which flows through the droplet increases. It is found that the mass transfer at droplet-electrolyte interface is controlled by reaction kinetics for the small droplet (0.5 mm). However, the diffusion of the reactant governs the efficiency of mass transfer with the increase of the droplet size (2 and 4 mm). With the increase of Reynolds number, the anodic area on the surface of droplet is enlarged.
Accelerated 3D whole-brain T1, T2, and proton density mapping: feasibility for clinical glioma MR imaging
Authors: Pirkl Carolin M. , Nunez-Gonzalez Laura , Kofler Florian , Endt Sebastian , Grundl Lioba , Golbabaee Mohammad , Gómez Pedro A. , Cencini Matteo , Buonincontri Guido , Schulte Rolf F. , Smits Marion , Wiestler Benedikt , Menze Bjoern H. , Menzel Marion I. , Hernandez-Tamames Juan A. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Advanced MRI-based biomarkers offer comprehensive and quantitative information for the evaluation and characterization of brain tumors. In this study, we report initial clinical experience in routine glioma imaging with a novel, fully 3D multiparametric quantitative transient-state imaging (QTI) method for tissue characterization based on T1 and T2 values.

Methods
To demonstrate the viability of the proposed 3D QTI technique, nine glioma patients (grade II–IV), with a variety of disease states and treatment histories, were included in this study. First, we investigated the feasibility of 3D QTI (6:25 min scan time) for its use in clinical routine imaging, focusing on image reconstruction, parameter estimation, and contrast-weighted image synthesis. Second, for an initial assessment of 3D QTI-based quantitative MR biomarkers, we performed a ROI-based analysis to characterize T1 and T2 components in tumor and peritumoral tissue.

Results
The 3D acquisition combined with a compressed sensing reconstruction and neural network-based parameter inference produced parametric maps with high isotropic resolution (1.125 × 1.125 × 1.125 mm3 voxel size) and whole-brain coverage (22.5 × 22.5 × 22.5 cm3 FOV), enabling the synthesis of clinically relevant T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR contrasts without any extra scan time. Our study revealed increased T1 and T2 values in tumor and peritumoral regions compared to contralateral white matter, good agreement with healthy volunteer data, and high inter-subject consistency.

Conclusion
3D QTI demonstrated comprehensive tissue assessment of tumor substructures captured in T1 and T2 parameters. Aiming for fast acquisition of quantitative MR biomarkers, 3D QTI has potential to improve disease characterization in brain tumor patients under tight clinical time-constraints.
Effectiveness of Quality Improvement Processes, Interventions, and Structure in Trauma Systems in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Jin James , Akau'ola Salesi’ , Yip Cheng‐Har , Nthumba Peter , Ameh Emmanuel A. , de Jonge Stijn , Mehes Mira , Waiqanabete Iferemi , Henry Jaymie , Hill Andrew ,   The International Society of Surgery (ISS) and the G4 Alliance International Standards and Guidelines for Quality Safe Surgery and Anesthesia (ISG‐QSSA) Group
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundTrauma mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) remains high compared to high‐income countries. Quality improvement processes, interventions, and structure are essential in the effort to decrease trauma mortality.MethodsA systematic review and meta‐analysis of interventional studies assessing quality improvement processes, interventions, and structure in developing country trauma systems was conducted from November 1989 to August 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they were conducted in an LMIC population according to World Bank Income Classification, occurred in a trauma setting, and measured the effect of implementation and its impact. The primary outcome was trauma mortality.ResultsOf 37,575 search results, 30 studies were included from 15 LMICs covering five WHO regions in a qualitative synthesis. Twenty‐seven articles were included in a meta‐analysis. Implementing a pre‐hospital trauma system reduced overall trauma mortality by 45% (risk ratio (RR) 0.55, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.75). Training first responders resulted in an overall decrease in mortality (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.78). In‐hospital trauma training with certified courses resulted in a reduction of mortality (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.78). Trauma audits and trauma protocols resulted in varying improvements in trauma mortality.ConclusionThere is evidence that quality improvement processes, interventions, and structure can improve mortality in the trauma systems in LMICs.
Spare Parathyroid Glands During Thyroid Surgery with Perioperative Autofluorescence Imaging: A Diagnostic Study
Authors: Bellier Alexandre , Wazne Yann , Chollier Thibaut , Sturm Nathalie , Chaffanjon Philippe 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this original study was to determine the number of parathyroid glands that can be saved and reimplanted thanks to autofluorescence during thyroid surgery. Preservation of parathyroid function remains challenging during thyroid surgery. The parathyroid glands must be identified and immediately autotransplanted in the case of devascularization. Near‐infrared autofluorescence of parathyroid glands has recently been proposed to help surgeons during the dissection.MethodsA total of 116 thyroid lobectomies were performed on 70 consecutive adult patients. Each lobectomy specimen was scanned in vitro with an autofluorescence imaging device. Every spot of autofluorescence was examined by the surgeon and subsequently the pathologist. The pathologist also performed a complete study of the rest of the lobe. We compared the results of the macroscopic and microscopic diagnoses.ResultsWe detected 24 fluorescent spots on the specimens: 13 were considered to be parathyroid tissue by the surgeon and 11, non‐parathyroid tissue. The pathologist confirmed the surgical diagnosis but also discovered 15 additional parathyroid glands that were hidden.ConclusionsAutofluorescence imaging of the thyroidectomy specimen with surgical inspection is safe, quick, noninvasive and can help detect the accidental removal of parathyroid glands. About 60% of these glands can be spared and autotransplanted during the surgery.
Neurophysiology goes wild: from exploring sensory coding in sound proof rooms to natural environments
Authors: Römer Heiner 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTo perform adaptive behaviours, animals have to establish a representation of the physical “outside” world. How these representations are created by sensory systems is a central issue in sensory physiology. This review addresses the history of experimental approaches toward ideas about sensory coding, using the relatively simple auditory system of acoustic insects. I will discuss the empirical evidence in support of Barlow’s “efficient coding hypothesis”, which argues that the coding properties of neurons undergo specific adaptations that allow insects to detect biologically important acoustic stimuli. This hypothesis opposes the view that the sensory systems of receivers are biased as a result of their phylogeny, which finally determine whether a sound stimulus elicits a behavioural response. Acoustic signals are often transmitted over considerable distances in complex physical environments with high noise levels, resulting in degradation of the temporal pattern of stimuli, unpredictable attenuation, reduced signal-to-noise levels, and degradation of cues used for sound localisation. Thus, a more naturalistic view of sensory coding must be taken, since the signals as broadcast by signallers are rarely equivalent to the effective stimuli encoded by the sensory system of receivers. The consequences of the environmental conditions for sensory coding are discussed.
Characterization of maize root microbiome in two different soils by minimizing plant DNA contamination in metabarcoding analysis
Authors: Aliche Ernest B. , Talsma Warner , Munnik Teun , Bouwmeester Harro J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA micropore-filtration method was used to reduce the proportion of plant DNA in microbial DNA samples isolated from roots prior to sequencing. We tested the impact of this pre-sequencing filtration methodology and used it to characterize the root microbiome of maize grown on two soils with different fertility levels. The micropore filtration reduced plant DNA contamination and unveiled potential in the N-poor soil for N fixation in roots and phosphate uptake by roots in the phosphate-poor soil. Our methodology and findings allude to the potential capability of plants to initiate plant-microbe interactions under sub-optimal soil fertility.
In-frame deletion in canine PITRM1 is associated with a severe early-onset epilepsy, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration
Authors: Hytönen Marjo K. , Sarviaho Riika , Jackson Christopher B. , Syrjä Pernilla , Jokinen Tarja , Matiasek Kaspar , Rosati Marco , Dallabona Cristina , Baruffini Enrico , Quintero Ileana , Arumilli Meharji , Monteuuis Geoffray , Donner Jonas , Anttila Marjukka , Suomalainen Anu , Bindoff Laurence A. , Lohi Hannes 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe investigated the clinical, genetic, and pathological characteristics of a previously unknown severe juvenile brain disorder in several litters of Parson Russel Terriers. The disease started with epileptic seizures at 6–12 weeks of age and progressed rapidly to status epilepticus and death or euthanasia. Histopathological changes at autopsy were restricted to the brain. There was severe acute neuronal degeneration and necrosis diffusely affecting the grey matter throughout the brain with extensive intraneuronal mitochondrial crowding and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Combined homozygosity mapping and genome sequencing revealed an in-frame 6-bp deletion in the nuclear-encoded pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1) encoding for a mitochondrial protease involved in mitochondrial targeting sequence processing and degradation. The 6-bp deletion results in the loss of two amino acid residues in the N-terminal part of PITRM1, potentially affecting protein folding and function. Assessment of the mitochondrial function in the affected brain tissue showed a significant deficiency in respiratory chain function. The functional consequences of the mutation were modeled in yeast and showed impaired growth in permissive conditions and an impaired respiration capacity. Loss-of-function variants in human PITRM1 result in a childhood-onset progressive amyloidotic neurological syndrome characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia with behavioral, psychiatric and cognitive abnormalities. Homozygous Pitrm1-knockout mice are embryonic lethal, while heterozygotes show a progressive, neurodegenerative phenotype characterized by impairment in motor coordination and Aβ deposits. Our study describes a novel early-onset PITRM1-related neurodegenerative canine brain disorder with mitochondrial dysfunction, Aβ accumulation, and lethal epilepsy. The findings highlight the essential role of PITRM1 in neuronal survival and strengthen the connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
Heatwave frequency and seedling death alter stress-specific emissions of volatile organic compounds in Aleppo pine
Authors: Birami Benjamin , Bamberger Ines , Ghirardo Andrea , Grote Rüdiger , Arneth Almut , Gaona-Colmán Elizabeth , Nadal-Sala Daniel , Ruehr Nadine K. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBiogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) play important roles in plant stress responses and can serve as stress indicators. While the impacts of gradual environmental changes on BVOCs have been studied extensively, insights in emission responses to repeated stress and recovery are widely absent. Therefore, we studied the dynamics of shoot gas exchange and BVOC emissions in Pinus halepensis seedlings during an induced moderate drought, two four-day-long heatwaves, and the combination of drought and heatwaves. We found clear stress-specific responses of BVOC emissions. Reductions in acetone emissions with declining soil water content and transpiration stood out as a clear drought indicator. All other measured BVOC emissions responded exponentially to rising temperatures during heat stress (maximum of 43 °C), but monoterpenes and methyl salicylate showed a reduced temperature sensitivity during the second heatwave. We found that these decreases in monoterpene emissions between heatwaves were not reflected by similar declines in their internal storage pools. Because stress intensity was extremely severe, most of the seedlings in the heat-drought treatment died at the end of the second heatwave (dark respiration ceased). Interestingly, BVOC emissions (methanol, monoterpenes, methyl salicylate, and acetaldehyde) differed between dying and surviving seedlings, already well before indications of a reduced vitality became visible in gas exchange dynamics. In summary, we could clearly show that the dynamics of BVOC emissions are sensitive to stress type, stress frequency, and stress severity. Moreover, we found indications that stress-induced seedling mortality was preceded by altered methanol, monoterpene, and acetaldehyde emission dynamics.
Six-Pulse RIDME Sequence to Avoid Background Artifacts
Authors: Abdullin Dinar , Suchatzki Miriam , Schiemann Olav 
Published: April 2021

AbstractRelaxation induced dipolar modulation enhancement (RIDME) is a valuable method for measuring nanometer-scale distances between electron spin centers. Such distances are widely used in structural biology to study biomolecular structures and track their conformational changes. Despite significant improvements of RIDME in recent years, the background analysis of primary RIDME signals remains to be challenging. In particular, it was recently shown that the five-pulse RIDME signals contain an artifact which can hinder the accurate extraction of distance distributions from RIDME time traces [as reported by Ritsch et al. (Phys Chem Chem Phys 21: 9810, 2019)]. Here, this artifact, as well as one additionally identified artifact, are systematically studied on several model compounds and the possible origins of both artifacts are discussed. In addition, a new six-pulse RIDME sequence is proposed that eliminates the artifact with the biggest impact on the extracted distance distributions. The efficiency of this pulse sequence is confirmed on several examples.
Robust-adaptive dynamic programming-based time-delay control of autonomous ships under stochastic disturbances using an actor-critic learning algorithm
Authors: Esfahani Hossein Nejatbakhsh , Szlapczynski Rafal 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper proposes a hybrid robust-adaptive learning-based control scheme based on Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) for the tracking control of autonomous ship maneuvering. We adopt a Time-Delay Control (TDC) approach, which is known as a simple, practical, model free and roughly robust strategy, combined with an Actor-Critic Approximate Dynamic Programming (ACADP) algorithm as an adaptive part in the proposed hybrid control algorithm. Based on this integration, Actor-Critic Time-Delay Control (AC-TDC) is proposed. It offers a high-performance robust-adaptive control approach for path following of autonomous ships under deterministic and stochastic disturbances induced by the winds, waves, and ocean currents. Computer simulations have been conducted under two different conditions in terms of the deterministic and stochastic disturbances and all simulation results indicate an acceptable performance in tracking of paths for the proposed control algorithm in comparison with the conventional TDC approach.
Clinical and experimental approaches for imaging of acute kidney injury
Authors: Katagiri Daisuke , Wang Feng , Gore John C. , Harris Raymond C. , Takahashi Takamune 
Published: April 2021

AbstractComplex molecular cell dynamics in acute kidney injury and its heterogeneous etiologies in patient populations in clinical settings have revealed the potential advantages and disadvantages of emerging novel damage biomarkers. Imaging techniques have been developed over the past decade to further our understanding about diseased organs, including the kidneys. Understanding the compositional, structural, and functional changes in damaged kidneys via several imaging modalities would enable a more comprehensive analysis of acute kidney injury, including its risks, diagnosis, and prognosis. This review summarizes recent imaging studies for acute kidney injury and discusses their potential utility in clinical settings.