bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The pros and cons of nucleic acid-amplified immunoassays—a comparative study on the quantitation of prostate-specific antigen with and without rolling circle amplification
Authors: Dekaliuk Mariia , Farka Zdeněk , Hildebrandt Niko 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntegrating isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategies into immunoassays can significantly decrease analytical limits of detection (LODs). On the other hand, an amplification step adds time, complication, reagents, and costs to the assay format. To evaluate the pros and cons in the context of heterogeneous multistep immunoassays, we quantified prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with and without rolling circle amplification (RCA). In addition, we compared time-gated (TG) with continuous-wave (CW) photoluminescence (PL) detection using a terbium complex and a fluorescein dye, respectively. For both direct (non-amplified) and amplified assays, TG PL detection provided circa four- to eightfold lower LODs, illustrating the importance of autofluorescence background suppression even for multi-wash assay formats. Amplified assays required an approximately 2.4 h longer assay time but led to almost 100-fold lower LODs down to 1.3 pg/mL of PSA. Implementation of TG-FRET (using a Tb-Cy5.5 donor–acceptor pair) into the RCA immunoassay resulted in a slightly higher LOD (3.0 pg/mL), but the ratiometric detection format provided important benefits, such as higher reproducibility, lower standard deviations, and multiplexing capability. Overall, our direct comparison demonstrated the importance of biological background suppression even in heterogeneous assays and the potential of using isothermal RCA for strongly decreasing analytical LODs, making such assays viable alternatives to conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
Graphical Abstract
Stenting with dual-layer CGuard stent in acute sub-occlusive carotid artery stenosis and in tandem occlusions: a monocentric study
Authors: Zidan Mousa , Gronemann Christian , Lehnen Nils Christian , Bode Felix , Weller Johannes , Petzold Gabor , Radbruch Alexander , Paech Daniel , Dorn Franziska 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Double-layer design carotid stents have been cast in a negative light since several investigations reported high rates of in-stent occlusions, at least in the acute setting of tandem occlusions. CGuard is a new generation double-layered stent that was designed to prevent periinterventional embolic events. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of the CGuard in emergent CAS and for the acute treatment of tandem occlusions in comparison with the single-layer Carotid Wallstent (CWS) system.

Methods
All patients who underwent CAS with CGuard or CWS after intracranial mechanical thrombectomy (MT) between 11/2018 and 12/2022 were identified from our local thrombectomy registry. Clinical, interventional and neuroimaging data were analyzed. Patency of the stent was assessed within 72 h. Intracranial hemorrhage and modified Rankin score (mRS) at discharge were the main endpoints.

Results
In total, 86 stent procedures in 86 patients were included (CWS: 44, CGuard: 42). CGuard had a lower, but not statistically significant rate (p = 0.431) of in-stent occlusions (n = 2, 4.8%) when compared to the CWS (n = 4, 9.1%). Significant in-stent stenosis was found in one case in each group. There was no statistically significant difference in functional outcome at discharge between the two groups with a median mRS for CGuard of 2 (IQR:1–5) vs. CWS 3 (IQR:2–4).

Conclusion
In our series, the rate of in-stent occlusions after emergent CAS was lower with the dual-layer CGuard when compared to the monolayer CWS. Further data are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of the design in more detail.
A Histological Assessment Tool for Breast Implant Capsules Validated in 480 Patients with and Without Capsular Contracture
Authors: Larsen Andreas , Timmermann Adam Mandrup , Kring Mikela , Weltz Tim Kongsmark , Ørholt Mathias , Vester-Glowinski Peter , Elberg Jens Jørgen , Trillingsgaard Jesper , Mielke Louise Vennegaard , Hölmich Lisbet Rosenkrantz , Damsgaard Tine Engberg , Roslind Anne , Herly Mikkel 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Understanding the impact of breast implants on the histological response in the surrounding fibrous capsule is important; however, consensus is lacking on how to analyze implant capsules histologically. We aimed to develop a standardized histological assessment tool to be used in research potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment strategies for capsular contracture.

Methods
Biopsies of breast implant capsules from 480 patients who had undergone breast augmentation or reconstruction were collected and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Initially, biopsies from 100 patients were analyzed to select histological parameters demonstrating the highest relevance and reproducibility. Then, biopsies from the remaining 380 patients were used to determine intra- and interobserver agreements of two blinded observers and agreement with a pathologist. Finally, we tested the association between the parameters and capsular contracture.

Results
The histological assessment tool included ten parameters assessing the inflammatory, fibrotic, and foreign-body reaction to breast implants, each graded on two-, three-, or four-point scales. Intra- and interobserver agreements were almost perfect (0.83 and 0.80), and agreement with the pathologist was substantial (0.67). Four parameters were significantly correlated with capsular contracture, namely chronic inflammation with lymphocyte infiltration (p < 0.01), thickness of the collagen layer (p < 0.0001), fiber organization (p < 0.01), and calcification (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
This is the first validated histological assessment tool for breast implant capsules. The validated tool not only advances our understanding of capsular contracture but also sets a new standard for histological evaluation in breast implant research and clinical diagnostics.

No Level Assigned
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
A branching stochastic evolutionary model of the B-cell repertoire
Authors: Hyrien Ollivier , Yanev Nikolay M. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe propose a stochastic framework to describe the evolution of the B-cell repertoire during germinal center (GC) reactions. Our model is formulated as a multitype age-dependent branching process with time-varying immigration. The immigration process captures the mechanism by which founder B cells initiate clones by gradually seeding GC over time, while the branching process describes the temporal evolution of the composition of these clones. The model assigns a type to each cell to represent attributes of interest. Examples of attributes include the binding affinity class of the B cells, their clonal family, or the nucleotide sequence of the heavy and light chains of their receptors. The process is generally non-Markovian. We present its properties, including as $$t\rightarrow \infty $$

t
→
∞

when the process is supercritical, the most relevant case to study expansion of GC B cells. We introduce temporal alpha and beta diversity indices for multitype branching processes. We focus on the dynamics of clonal dominance, highlighting its non-stationarity, and the accumulation of somatic hypermutations in the context of sequential immunization. We evaluate the impact of the ongoing seeding of GC by founder B cells on the dynamics of the B-cell repertoire, and quantify the effect of precursor frequency and antigen availability on the timing of GC entry. An application of the model illustrates how it may help with interpretation of BCR sequencing data.
Modern vegetation and its pollen spectra in the Cantabrian mountains, northern Iberian Peninsula, compared with fossil pollen records
Authors: Sánchez-Morales Marc , Pérez-Obiol Ramon , Carracedo Virginia , Nadal Jordi , Ejarque Ana , Pèlachs Albert 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe study of the pollen rain from modern vegetation has greatly improved the interpretation of pollen diagrams and our understanding of ancient plant communities. In this study, 76 pollen samples were studied from various vegetation types in Cantabria, northern Iberian Peninsula. The pollen signals of the main taxa were compared to their estimated spatial coverage at various scales (100 m, 1 km and 5 km from the sampling point) using vegetation maps. Additionally, we investigated whether there were similar modern vegetation types to past ones interpreted from the pollen record from La Molina peatland, Cantabria. Our results revealed that the pollen rain from the laurel-evergreen oak community (Lauro nobilis-Quercetum ilicis) was mainly evergreen Quercus pollen (59–77%), with Laurus nobilis being very under-represented. The representation of Fagus sylvatica pollen varied according to its local presence. In the modern vegetation, two sample sites with over 95% cover of Fagus within a 100 m radius had a pollen content below 3%. Pine demonstrated high dispersal capability, with pollen values exceeding 20% even in samples with little or no pine cover within 1 and 5 km. Poaceae had limited representation, with up to 60% even in samples lacking tree cover within a 5 km radius. Mixed deciduous woodlands were dominated by deciduous Quercus and Corylus, and their resemblance to woods in the northern Iberian Peninsula during the mid Holocene is discussed. While a principal component analysis linked modern vegetation to the most recent part of the pollen diagram from La Molina, no clear parallels emerged between present-day and ancient vegetation. Finally, it was found that there were no differences in pollen concentrations trapped by acrocarpous and pleurocarpous mosses.
Corresponding planktivore and predator spatial distributions in an oceanic coral reef system
Authors: Skinner Christina , Gallimore Samantha , Polunin Nicholas V. C. , Rushton Stephen , Newman Steven P. , Desbiens Amelia A. , Mill Aileen C. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the drivers of food web community structure is a fundamental goal in ecology. While studies indicate that many coral reef predators depend on pelagic subsidies, the mechanism through which this occurs remains elusive. As many of these species are important fishery targets, a better understanding of their trophodynamics is needed. To address these gaps, we employed a comprehensive structural equation modelling approach using extensive surveys of the reef community to explore relationships between groupers and snappers, their prey, and the surrounding habitat in an oceanic coral reef system. There were significant positive relationships between site-attached and transient planktivores and grouper and snapper biomass, respectively, indicating that pelagic subsidies are transferred to upper trophic levels through planktivores. Contrary to previous studies, habitat complexity and depth were not important for predators or prey. Instead, corallivores and site-attached and transient planktivores were primarily associated with live habitat and coral cover. This indicates that a decline in coral cover could have severe direct and indirect impacts on the structure and functioning of multiple levels of the reef food web. While pelagic reliance may suggest that predators are resilient to bleaching-related habitat loss, the associations of their planktivorous prey with live coral suggest that both benthic and pelagic pathways should be preserved for continued resilience of these food webs and their fisheries. By considering direct and indirect relationships, our study generated insights not only on the complex dynamics of coral reef ecosystems, but also on how they may respond to environmental change.
Predicting the presence of 4th ventricular outlet obstruction in Chiari I Malformation
Authors: Paik Kenneth S. , Caudill Caroline , Arynchyna-Smith Anastasia , Rocque Brandon G. , Rozzelle Curtis J. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Introduction
A subset of children with Chiari 1 malformation (CM-1) have a 4th ventricle arachnoid veil—a thin membrane covering the outlet of the 4th ventricle. Studies suggest that failure to disrupt this veil during posterior fossa decompression can reduce the likelihood of syringomyelia resolution. However, there is no reliable method for predicting the presence of the veil without direct surgical exploration. This study aims to evaluate the association between pre-operative symptoms, radiographic measurements, and the arachnoid veil.

Methods
A retrospective review of an institutional database of children evaluated for CM-I was conducted. For patients treated with surgery, operative notes were reviewed to determine if an arachnoid veil was present. Logistic regression was used to test for relationship of clinical variables and radiographic measurements with the presence of an arachnoid veil.

Results
Out of 997 children with CM-1, 226 surgical patients were included in the analysis after excluding those with inadequate documentation. An arachnoid veil was found in 23 patients (10.2%). Larger syrinx, spinal canal, and thecal sac diameters were significantly associated with the presence of a veil, with odds ratios of 1.23 (95% CI 1.2–1.48; p = 0.03), 1.27 (95% CI 1.02–1.59; p = 0.03), and 1.35 (95% CI 1.03–1.77; p = 0.03), respectively. No significant associations were found with any signs or symptoms.

Conclusions
Arachnoid veil was present in 10% of cases. Radiographic measurements indicating larger syrinx size were the only variables found to be significantly associated with an arachnoid veil. Exploration of the 4th ventricular outlet is recommended for CM-I decompression in the setting of expansile syringomyelia.
Do people with cognitive impairment benefit from cochlear implants? A scoping review
Authors: Dawes Piers , Cross Hannah , Millman Rebecca , Leroi Iracema , Völter Christiane 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To identify and evaluate the evidence for the benefits of cochlear implants for people with cognitive impairment or dementia in terms of speech recognition, quality of life, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, cognition, function in daily life, mental well-being, and caregiver burden.

Methods
Ten electronic databases were searched systematically from inception to December 2023 for studies reporting on outcomes for cochlear implants that included adults identified with cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia.

Results
Thirteen studies were included in this review with a combined total of 222 cochlear implant patients with cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment. Two studies were non-randomised controlled design, the remainder were single group studies, case series or single case studies. Evidence suggested that people with cognitive impairment benefit in terms of improved speech recognition from cochlear implants, although they may benefit less than those with healthy cognition and the degree of benefit depends on the level of cognitive impairment. There was no evidence for increased adverse events among those with cognitive impairment. There was limited or no evidence for any other outcome.

Conclusion
People with cognitive impairment or dementia do benefit from cochlear implants. To inform policy and clinical practice, further data are needed about the broader benefits of cochlear implants for people with cognitive impairment or dementia, and referral, eligibility, and cochlear implant support needs for people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers.
Home-made low-cost dosemeter for photon dose measurements in radiobiological experiments and for education in the field of radiation sciences
Authors: Blomgren August , Tartas Adrianna , Meher Prabodha Kumar , Silverstein Samuel , Wojcik Andrzej , Brzozowska Beata 
Published: June 2024

AbstractReliable dosimetry systems are crucial for radiobiological experiments either to quantify the biological consequences of ionizing radiation or to reproduce results by other laboratories. Also, they are essential for didactic purposes in the field of radiation research. Professional dosemeters are expensive and difficult to use in exposure facilities with closed exposure chambers. Consequently, a simple, inexpensive, battery-driven dosemeter was developed that can be easily built using readily available components. Measurements were performed to validate its readout with photons of different energy and dose rate and to demonstrate the applicability of the dosemeter. It turned out that the accuracy of the dose measurements using the developed dosemeter was better than 10%, which is satisfactory for radiobiological experiments. It is concluded that this dosemeter can be used both for determining the dose rates of an exposure facility and for educational purposes.
A cohort study of 19 patients with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GACR)
Authors: Balfoort Berith M. , Van Den Broeck Filip , Brands Marion M. , van Karnebeek Clara D. , Bergen Arthur A. , van den Born L. Ingeborgh , Houtkooper Riekelt H. , Wagenmakers Margreet A. E. M. , De Zaeytijd Julie , Leroy Bart P. , Boon Camiel J. F. , Diederen Roselie M. H. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GACR) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder (IMD) characterised by progressive retinal degeneration, leading to severe visual impairment. The rapid developments in ophthalmic genetic therapies warrant knowledge on clinical phenotype of eligible diseases such as GACR to define future therapeutic parameters in clinical trials.

Methods
Retrospective chart analysis was performed in nineteen patients. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.1.1.

Results
Nineteen patients were included with a mean age of 32.6 years (range 8–58). Mean age at onset of ophthalmic symptoms was 7.9 years (range 3–16). Median logMAR of visual acuity at inclusion was 0.26 (range -0.18–3.00). Mean age at cataract surgery was 28.8 years (n = 11 patients). Mean spherical equivalent of the refractive error was -8.96 (range -20.87 to -2.25). Cystoid maculopathy was present in 68% of patients, with a loss of integrity of the foveal ellipsoid zone (EZ) in 24/38 eyes. Of the 14 patients treated with dietary protein restriction, the four patients who started the diet before age 10 showed most benefit.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates the severe ophthalmic disease course associated with GACR, as well as possible benefit of early dietary treatment. In addition to visual loss, patients experience severe myopia, early-onset cataract, and CME. There is a loss of foveal EZ integrity at a young age, emphasising the need for early diagnosis enabling current and future therapeutic interventions.
Imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions directly for FFT-based computational micromechanics
Authors: Risthaus Lennart , Schneider Matti 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe discuss how Dirichlet boundary conditions can be directly imposed for the Moulinec–Suquet discretization on the boundary of rectangular domains in iterative schemes based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and computational homogenization problems in mechanics. Classically, computational homogenization methods based on the fast Fourier transform work with periodic boundary conditions. There are applications, however, when Dirichlet (or Neumann) boundary conditions are required. For thermal homogenization problems, it is straightforward to impose such boundary conditions by using discrete sine (and cosine) transforms instead of the FFT. This approach, however, is not readily extended to mechanical problems due to the appearance of mixed derivatives in the Lamé operator of elasticity. Thus, Dirichlet boundary conditions are typically imposed either by using Lagrange multipliers or a “buffer zone” with a high stiffness. Both strategies lead to formulations which do not share the computational advantages of the original FFT-based schemes. The work at hand introduces a technique for imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions directly without the need for indefinite systems. We use a formulation on the deformation gradient—also at small strains—and employ the Green’s operator associated to the vector Laplacian. Then, we develop the Moulinec–Suquet discretization for Dirichlet boundary conditions—requiring carefully selected weights at boundary points—and discuss the seamless integration into existing FFT-based computational homogenization codes based on dedicated discrete sine/cosine transforms. The article culminates with a series of well-chosen numerical examples demonstrating the capabilities of the introduced technology.
Simulation-based Analysis of the Atmospheric Pressure Plasma and Its Temperature Distribution Using Ansys Mechanical
Authors: Chwatal Simon , Parizek Harald , Waldhauser Wolfgang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis research article delves into an in-depth analysis of atmospheric pressure plasma and its temperature distribution, utilizing the finite element method (FEM) and Ansys Mechanical software. This contribution discusses the various technological applications of atmospheric pressure plasma, including surface treatment, material processing, and plasma equipment, where precise plasma and temperature behavior prediction is crucial for an optimization and innovative solutions. The simulations presented provide a detailed representation of plasma and temperature behavior, and the simulation models have been validated against experimental data, demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of the approaches used. The deviation between the simulation and the actual measurement results was a maximum of 0.87%. In addition, the implications of the findings of this research for optimizing plasma applications and future research directions are discussed. This study highlights the crucial role of simulation tools, such as Ansys Mechanical, for investigating and optimizing atmospheric pressure plasma applications.