cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
title: A Review of the Effects of Microwave Radiation on Spatial Memory and Learning
Creators: name: Dockum, Allison
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Microwave
subject: Synaptic plasticity
subject: Learning

description: Microwave radiation refers to electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. Microwaves are used in communication systems, manufacturing, medical treatments, and military operations. The ability to modify waveform parameters, such as frequency and duty cycle, contribute towards the versatility of microwave radiation. In the same way, the ability to adjust each parameter also contributes to the complexity of understanding the biological effects of microwaves. For some time, researchers have studied the microwave effects on learning and spatial memory in rodents. Rodents provide scientists with a neurologically similar model to humans, which is easy to study both on the cellular levels and to assess behaviorally due to the development of maze performance tests. However, the mechanisms disrupting spatial memory remain largely unknown because of the nearly infinite number of ways microwave can be modified, combined with the multitude of neurological effects, which could impact behavior. It is important for scientists to continue to study rodent models under various microwave exposure conditions to prevent harmful exposure conditions with humans. In this review microwave exposure conditions will be introduced, followed by an introduction to the cruciality of synaptic plasticity to spatial memory and learning. Synaptic plasticity can be impacted through various neurological mechanisms; of which the NMDAR receptors, neurotransmitter release, and activation of intracellular signaling cascades, and cell apoptosis will be reviewed.
title: Comparative Analysis of Denoising and Clustering Methods in Microbiome Analysis
Creators: name: (:Unkn) Unknown
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2019

description: Taxonomic profiling of microbial communities is one the most crucial and at the same time very challenging step in microbiome data analysis. The challenges mostly concern achieving the best biological precision while also completing the community profiling in a reasonable amount of time and computational cost. Traditionally, this profiling was accomplished by clustering sequence reads into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) using UCLUST at a specific percent sequence similarity threshold (typically 97%) which may result in discarding some correct biological sequences considered as singletons. Therefore, this needs to be improved to 100% similarity threshold by using error-correction methods to avoid NextGen sequencing errors. Recently, some novel bioinformatics methods, namely DADA2, Deblur, and UNOISE, have been developed that focus on sequence denoising (error-correction) strategies and attempt to identify all correct biological sequences in the reads. Although named differently as Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), sub-OTUs (sOTU), and zero-radius OTUs (zOTU) by DADA2, Deblur and UNOISE, respectively, they all essentially mean the same thing i.e. the unique sequence variants (SVs) generated in different numbers by each of the analytical pipelines. These SVs could be used directly as representative sequences instead of those obtained by clustering sequence reads into OTUs. Since the aforementioned methods have been released recently, there are just a few third-party comparisons done between them. Therefore, there is a need for a thorough comparative analysis between these new denoising methods with each other and with respect to some common clustering methods, as well as between their respective SVs and OTUs. In my research, I have focused mainly on three sequence analysis programs: QIIME1, QIIME2 and USEARCH, since their previous versions (QIIME version 1.9 and USEARCH v9) provided some indigenous clustering methods and now their current versions (QIIME2 and USEARCH v10 & onwards) offer additional choices for denoising methods. In addition to this, I have investigated some popular online sequence analysis tools such as BLAST, RDP-11 and state-of-the-art One Codex, and I compared their performances with offline sequence analysis i.e. denoising and clustering methods. I have also proposed a novel approach using RDP classifier based bootstrap analysis to improve the confidence of taxonomic profiling.
title: Letter: C. Harrison Mann, Jr. to Harry F. Byrd; April 26, 1968
Creators: name: Mann, Charles Harrison, Jr., 1908-1977
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2006
Subjects: subject: Riots
subject: Washington, DC

description: Letter: typescript unsigned, 8.5" x 11" (21.6cm x 27.9cm)
description: Letter from C. Harrison Mann, Jr. to Harry F. Byrd, Senator from Virginia, applauding Byrd's position on maintaining order in Washington, DC after the rioting in early April. C. Harrison Mann Collection, Jr. 3.20
Ivabradine use in pregnant women—treatment indications and pregnancy outcome: an evaluation of the German Embryotox database
Creators: name: Hoeltzenbein, Maria
name: Lehmann, Marie-Louise
name: Beck, Evelin
name: Dathe, Katarina
name: Schaefer, Christof
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Ivabradine
subject: Pregnancy
subject: Reproductive age
subject: Drug safety
subject: Tachycardia
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Purpose: Ivabradine has been approved for the treatment of chronic heart failure and chronic stable angina pectoris in Europe. Based on adverse outcomes of reproductive animal studies and the lack of human data, ivabradine is considered contraindicated during pregnancy. The aim of this observational study is to analyse ivabradine use before and during pregnancy. Methods: We evaluated all ivabradine-related requests to the German Embryotox Institute from 2007 to 2019. Exposed pregnancies were analysed as to their outcome. Results: Off-label use for supraventricular tachycardia was frequent in women of childbearing age. Of 38 prospectively ascertained pregnancies with ivabradine exposure and completed follow-up, 32 resulted in live births, 3 in spontaneous abortions, and 3 were electively terminated. One neonate presented with major birth defects (atrial septal defect and cleft palate). In 33/38 patients, ivabradine was discontinued after confirmation of pregnancy without cardiac deterioration and 5/38 women continued ivabradine throughout pregnancy. In addition, there were 3 retrospectively reported pregnancies including one major birth defect (tracheal atresia). Conclusion: This case series represents the largest cohort of ivabradine-exposed pregnancies, published so far. According to our findings, ivabradine appears not to be a major teratogen. However, established drugs of choice with strong evidence of low risk for the unborn should be preferred in women planning pregnancy. After inadvertent exposure during pregnancy or lack of treatment alternatives, fetal ultrasound for structural anomalies and growth restriction is recommended. In addition, close monitoring is necessary in pregnant women with supraventricular arrhythmias or cardiac disease.
Similar dietary regulation of IGF-1- and IGF-binding proteins by animal and plant protein in subjects with type 2 diabetes
Creators: name: Schüler, Rita
name: Markova, Mariya
name: Osterhoff, Martin A.
name: Arafat, Ayman
name: Pivovarova, Olga
name: Machann, Jürgen
name: Hierholzer, Johannes
name: Hornemann, Silke
name: Rohn, Sascha
name: Pfeiffer, Andreas F. H.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Protein intake
subject: Growth hormone
subject: Insulin-like growth factor-1
subject: IGF-binding protein-1
subject: IGF-binding protein-2
subject: Plant protein
subject: Animal protein
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Increased animal but not plant protein intake has been associated with increased mortality in epidemiological studies in humans and with reduced lifespan in animal species. Protein intake increases the activity of the IGF-1 system which may provide a link to reduced lifespan. We, therefore, compared the effects of animal versus plant protein intake on circulating levels of IGF-1 and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-2 over a 6-week period. Thirty seven participants with type 2 diabetes consumed isocaloric diets composed of either 30% energy (EN) animal or plant protein, 30% EN fat and 40% EN carbohydrates for 6 weeks. The participants were clinically phenotyped before and at the end of the study. Both diets induced similar and significant increases of IGF-1 which was unaffected by the different amino acid compositions of plant and animal protein. Despite improvements of insulin sensitivity and major reductions of liver fat, IGFBP2 decreased with both diets while IGFBP-1 was not altered. We conclude that animal and plant protein similarly increase IGF-1 bioavailability while improving metabolic parameters and may be regarded as equivalent in this regard.
title: Motivated Cartography In Israel-Palestine
Creators: name: Altman, Daniel
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Israel-Palestine
subject: Conflict resolution
subject: Maps
subject: Socially constructed geography

description: This research seeks to identify and analyze features of maps in Israeli curricula and academia to analyze the potential for maps to produce certain narratives. The paper will recommend amendments to certain functions of geography and cartography in the education systems that are antithetical to general notions of peacemaking. The methods of analysis will employ toponymyic, color related and border related frames that seem to be used as agents of narrative production on maps. The research relies heavily on theories of conflict relating to productions of geography. These theories represent differing takes on the role maps play in society and in conflict. While there may be many examples of maps creating conflict, this research seeks to reject the notion espoused by postmodernists and realists alike: the argument that geography and maps operate as harbingers of conflict. Could this weapon be whittled into an olive branch if utilized appropriately? This research seeks to demonstrate that if we rethink the way we draw maps in conflict zones, this could play a constructive role on conflict resolution.
title: Process history metadata for time-based media artworks at the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Creators: name: Griesinger, Peggy
Publisher: name: Henry Stewart Publications
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Metadata
subject: Digital preservation
subject: Art--Conservation and restoration

description: The Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA) is a world-renowned museum with a large collection of time-based media artworks. Media conservators in MoMA’s conservation department noticed a gap in their documentation for time-based media artworks: there was no standardized way of recording the digitization or format migration history of an artwork, known as its process history. Conservators require such information to store and exhibit an artwork in a way that matches the artist’s original vision. The National Digital Stewardship Resident at MoMA was tasked with creating a standardized metadata profile that could record and store this information. The resulting profile uses the PREMIS, PBCore, reVTMD and METS schemas to record technical metadata about every tool used to digitise or migrate an artwork from one format to another. This metadata profile ensures that the artistic and bit-level authenticity of time-based media artworks can be maintained and understood now and in the future.
Digestive enzyme replacement relieves growth failure in preterm infants with poor exocrine pancreatic function: a retrospective case series
Creators: name: Münch, Annette
name: Bührer, Christoph
name: Longardt, Ann Carolin
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Growth failure
subject: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
subject: Very low birth weight infant
subject: Enzyme replacement
subject: Case series
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: In orally fed preterm infants, poor weight gain may be linked to low fecal pancreatic elastase-1 (FPE-1) activity, indicative of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The objective of this study was the retrospective assessment of the effect of exogenous digestive enzyme replacement by gavage in preterm infants with growth failure and low FPE-1 (<200 mu g/g). We analyzed weight gain relative to baseline and caloric intake during 14-day periods before and after institution of digestive enzyme replacement containing 6000 U lipase and 240 U protease kg(-1) d(-1). Among 46 of 132 preterm infants < 1250g birth weight surviving to at least 14 days in whom FPE-1 was determined, 38 infants had low FPE-1 (< 200 mu g/g), and 33 infants received exogenous digestive enzyme replacement. Average daily weight gain significantly increased from 14.4 [range 2.6-22.4] g kg(-1) d(-1) to 17.4 [8.4-29.0] g kg(-1) d(-1) (P = 0.001), as did weight gain per kcal, from 0.08 [0.02-0.13] g kcal(-1) d(-1) to 0.11 [0.05-0.18] g kcal(-1) d(-1). Conclusion: In preterm infants with signs and symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, exogenous digestive enzyme replacement is associated with improved growth. What is Known: center dot Very preterm infants on full enteral nutrition may display growth failure linked to transient poor exocrine pancreatic function. center dot Porcine pancreatic enzymes covered with an acid-resistant coating are too large to pass the internal diameter of most gavage tubes used in very preterm infants. What is New: center dot Administration of a liquid formulation of acid-resistant microbial digestive enzymes in preterm infants with growth failure and low fecal pancreatic elastase-1 values was associated with improved weight gain. center dot Response to exogenous digestive enzyme replacement was associated with the prior extent of growth failure.
XORIJ TAJRIBASIDA HUQUQIY TARTIBGA SOLISHDA SUN'IY INTELLEKT VOSITALARINING QO'LLANILISHI
Creators: name: Jo'ramurodov, Dilshod
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: Maqolada xorij tajribasida huquqiy tartibga solishda sun’iy intellekt vositalarining qo‘llanilishi tahlil qilinadi. Sun’iy intellekt texnologiyalarining huquqiy tizimlarda, jumladan, qonunlar va reglamentlarni ishlab chiqish, huquqiy xatoliklarni aniqlash, sud ishlarini avtomatlashtirish kabi sohalarda qo‘llanishi ko‘rib chiqiladi. Maqolada dunyoning turli mamlakatlarida sun’iy intellekt vositalarining muvaffaqiyatli integratsiyasi va bu jarayonning huquqiy va axloqiy tomonlari tahlil etiladi. Ushbu ilmiy ish, sun’iy intellekt texnologiyalarining huquqiy tartibga solish sohasida samarali qo‘llanishi uchun zarur metodologik yondashuvlarni va tavsiyalarni taqdim etadi..
Chronic Naltrexone Therapy Is Associated with Improved Cardiac Function in Volume Overloaded Rats
Creators: name: Dehe, Lukas
name: Shaqura, Mohammed
name: Nordine, Michael
name: Habazettl, Helmut
name: Kwiatkowski, Petra Von
name: Schluchter, Helena
name: Shakibaei, Mehdi
name: Mousa, Shaaban A.
name: Schäfer, Michael
name: Treskatsch, Sascha
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Cardiac dysfunction
subject: Volume overload
subject: Contractility
subject: Hemodynamics
subject: Opioids
subject: Neurohumoral
subject: Rats
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Purpose: Myocardial opioid receptors were demonstrated in animals and humans and seem to colocalize with membranous and sarcolemmal calcium channels of the excitation-contraction coupling in the left ventricle (LV). Therefore, this study investigated whether blockade of the cardiac opioid system by naltrexone would affect cardiac function and neurohumoral parameters in Wistar rats with volume overload-induced heart failure. Methods: Volume overload in Wistar rats was induced by an aortocaval fistula (ACF). Left ventricular cardiac opioid receptors were identified by immunohistochemistry and their messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) as well as their endogenous ligand mRNA quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Following continuous delivery of either the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone or vehicle via minipumps (n = 5 rats each), hemodynamic and humoral parameters were assessed 28 days after ACF induction. Sham-operated animals served as controls. Results: In ACF rats mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors colocalized with voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels in left ventricular cardiomyocytes. Chronic naltrexone treatment of ACF rats reduced central venous pressure (CVP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and improved systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions. Concomitantly, rat brain natriuretic peptide (rBNP-45) and angiotensin-2 plasma concentrations which were elevated during ACF were significantly diminished following naltrexone treatment. In parallel, chronic naltrexone significantly reduced mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptor mRNA, while it increased the endogenous opioid peptide mRNA compared to controls. Conclusion: Opioid receptor blockade by naltrexone leads to improved LV function and decreases in rBNP-45 and angiotensin-2 plasma levels. In parallel, naltrexone resulted in opioid receptor mRNA downregulation and an elevated intrinsic tone of endogenous opioid peptides possibly reflecting a potentially cardiodepressant effect of the cardiac opioid system during volume overload.
title: Abelia :
title: Richtlinien für die Durchführung der Prüfung auf Unterscheidbarkeit, Homogenität und Beständigkeit.
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: International Union For The Protection Of New Varieties Of Plants,
Publisher: name: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants,
Year: 0
Subjects: Plants
New Varieties of Plants
Abelia

description: Zweck dieser Richtlinien („Prüfungsrichtlinien“) ist es, die in der Allgemeinen Einführung (Dokument TG/1/3) und deren verbundenen TGP-Dokumenten enthaltenen Grundsätze in detaillierte praktische Anleitung für die harmonisierte Prüfung der Unterscheidbarkeit, der Homogenität und der Beständigkeit (DUS) umzusetzen und insbesondere geeignete Merkmale für die DUS-Prüfung und die Erstellung harmonisierter Sortenbeschreibungen auszuweisen.
Feasibility and diagnostic reliability of quantitative flow ratio in the assessment of non-culprit lesions in acute coronary syndrome
Creators: name: Erbay, Aslihan
name: Penzel, Lisa
name: Abdelwahed, Youssef S.
name: Klotsche, Jens
name: Schatz, Anne-Sophie
name: Steiner, Julia
name: Haghikia, Arash
name: Landmesser, Ulf
name: Stähli, Barbara E.
name: Leistner, David M.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Acute coronary syndrome
subject: Fractional flow reserve
subject: Quantitative flow ratio
subject: Percutaneous coronary intervention
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of hemodynamic assessment of non-culprit coronary arteries in setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) using fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements. Quantitative flow ratio (QFR), recently introduced as angiography-based fast FFR computation, has been validated with good agreement and diagnostic performance with FFR in chronic coronary syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and diagnostic reliability of QFR assessment during primary PCI. A total of 321 patients with ACS and multivessel disease, who underwent primary PCI and were planned for staged PCI of at least one non-culprit lesion were enrolled in the analysis. Within this patient cohort, serial post-hoc QFR analyses of 513 non-culprit vessels were performed. The median time interval between primary and staged PCI was 49 [42-58] days. QFR in non-culprit coronary arteries did not change between acute and staged measurements (0.86 vs 0.87, p = 0.114), with strong correlation (r = 0.94, p <= 0.001) and good agreement (mean difference -0.008, 95%CI -0.013-0.003) between measurements. Importantly, QFR as assessed at index procedure had sensitivity of 95.02%, specificity of 93.59% and diagnostic accuracy of 94.15% in prediction of QFR <= 0.80 at the time of staged PCI. The present study for the first time confirmed the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of non-culprit coronary artery QFR during index procedure for ACS. These results support QFR as valuable tool in patients with ACS to detect further hemodynamic relevant lesions with excellent diagnostic performance and therefore to guide further revascularisation therapy.
Supplementary document for Single-shot refractive index slice imaging using spectrally multiplexed optical transfer function reshaping - 6318598.pdf
Creators: name: Lee, Chungha
name: Hugonnet, Herve
name: PARK, JUYEON
name: Lee, Mahn Jae
name: Park, Wei Sun
name: Park, YongKeun
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2025
Subjects: Classical and Physical Optics

description: Supplement Information
Stakeholder engagement to ensure the sustainability of biobanks: a survey of potential users of biobank services
Creators: name: Klingler, Corinna
name: Jagwitz-Biegnitz, Magdaléna Von
name: Baber, Ronny
name: Becker, Karl-Friedrich
name: Dahl, Edgar
name: Eibner, Cornelius
name: Fuchs, Jörg
name: Groenewold, Maike K.
name: Hartung, Mara Lena
name: Hummel, Michael
name: Jahns, Roland
name: Kirsten, Romy
name: Kopfnagel, Verena
name: Maushagen, Regina
name: Nussbeck, Sara Yasemin
name: Schoneberg, Anne
name: Winter, Theresa
name: Specht, Cornelia
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: biobank
subject: Stakeholder engagement
subject: biobank services
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Biobanks are important infrastructures facilitating biomedical research. After a decade of rolling out such infrastructures, a shift in attention to the sustainability of biobanks could be observed in recent years. In this regard, an increase in the as yet relatively low utilisation rates of biobanks has been formulated as a goal. Higher utilisation rates can only be achieved if the perspectives of potential users of biobanks-particularly researchers not yet collaborating with biobanks-are adequately considered. To better understand their perspectives, a survey was conducted at ten different research institutions in Germany hosting a centralised biobank. The survey targeted potential users of biobank services, i.e. researchers working with biosamples. It addressed the general demand for biosamples, strategies for biosample acquisition/storage and reasons for/against collaborating with biobanks. In total, 354 researchers filled out the survey. Most interestingly, only a minority of researchers (12%) acquired their biosamples via biobanks. Of the respondents not collaborating with biobanks on sample acquisition, around half were not aware of the (services of the) respective local biobank. Those who actively decided against acquiring biosamples via a biobank provided different reasons. Most commonly, respondents stated that the biosamples required were not available, the costs were too high and information about the available biosamples was not readily accessible. Biobanks can draw many lessons from the results of the survey. Particularly, external communication and outreach should be improved. Additionally, biobanks might have to reassess whether their particular collection strategies are adequately aligned with local researchers' needs.
Evaluation of potential tissue heating during percutaneous drill-assisted bone sampling in an in vivo porcine study
Creators: name: Niehues, Stefan M.
name: Elezkurtaj, Sefer
name: Bresssem, Keno K.
name: Hamm, Bernd
name: Erxleben, Christoph
name: Vahldiek, Janis
name: Adams, Lisa C.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Battery-powered bone drilling
subject: Bone temperature
subject: Porcine model
subject: Tissue damage
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background: Minimally invasive, battery-powered drilling systems have become the preferred tool for obtaining representative samples from bone lesions. However, the heat generated during battery-powered bone drilling for bone biopsies has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Thermal necrosis can occur if the bone temperature exceeds a critical threshold for a certain period of time. Purpose: To investigate heat production as a function of femur temperature during and after battery-powered percutaneous bone drilling in a porcine in vivo model. Methods: We performed 16 femur drillings in 13 domestic pigs with an average age of 22 weeks and an average body temperature of 39.7 degrees C, using a battery-powered drilling system and an intraosseous temperature monitoring device. The standardized duration of the drilling procedure was 20 s. The bone core specimens obtained were embedded in 4% formalin, stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and sent for pathological analysis of tissue quality and signs of thermal damage. Results: No significant changes in the pigs' local temperature were observed after bone drilling with a battery-powered drill device. Across all measurements, the median change in temperature between the initial measurement and the temperature measured after drilling (at 20 s) was 0.1 degrees C. Histological examination of the bone core specimens revealed no signs of mechanical or thermal damage. Conclusion: Overall, this preliminary study shows that battery-powered, drill-assisted harvesting of bone core specimens does not appear to cause mechanical or thermal damage.
title: Understanding young skilled migrants’ homeownership outcomes in Guangzhou: the role of employer types and settlement intentions
Creators: name: Du, Haitao
Publisher: name: University of Glasgow
Year: 2025

description: Industrial development and technological innovation depend heavily on knowledge-based activities. It is safe to say that skilled migrants play an essential role in economic growth, technological innovation, and progress that can drive cities’ sustainable and rapid development. Thus, how to attract and retain skilled migrants in the permanent labour market has become a key focus of China’s social policy agenda. Previous studies on migrant housing tenure choice and settlement intentions have mainly emphasized the role of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, migration characteristics, and institutional constraints in determining homeownership outcomes. However, the literature linking migrants’ employment types and homeownership outcomes, and how employment types interact with settlement intentions, has been surprisingly silent.

In order to take a step forward, this thesisuses a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative interview methods, to disentangle the underlying mechanism of income levels and settlement intentions in shaping the relationship between employer types and homeownership outcomes.

There are fourkey findings from this thesis.Firstly, young skilled migrants working in the public sector are more likely to become homeowners in Guangzhou than those working in the private sector.Secondly, as income grows, the positive role of public sector jobs in shaping homeownership outcomes becomes less pronounced.Thirdly, long-term settlement intentions mediate the relationship between young skilled migrants’ employer types and homeownership outcomes. Fourthly, three key life domains of employment, settlement intentions, and homeownership outcomes are intricately and closely linked.

This thesis calls for policymakers to consider the interplay between employment, settlement, and housing rather than looking at them in isolation when considering future policies to encourage private-sector employment, increase settlement intentions, and promote homeownership.
Importance of Preserved Tricuspid Valve Function for Effective Soft Robotic Augmentation of the Right Ventricle in Cases of Elevated Pulmonary Artery Pressure
Creators: name: Wamala, Isaac
name: Payne, Christopher J.
name: Saeed, Mossab Y.
name: Bautista-Salinas, Daniel
name: Story, David Van
name: Thalhofer, Thomas
name: Staffa, Steven J.
name: Ghelani, Sunil J.
name: Nido, Pedro J. Del
name: Walsh, Conor J.
name: Vasilyev, Nikolay V.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Soft robotic ventricular assist device
subject: Right heart failure
subject: Elevated pulmonary artery pressure
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Purpose: In clinical practice, many patients with right heart failure (RHF) have elevated pulmonary artery pressures and increased afterload on the right ventricle (RV). In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of RV augmentation using a soft robotic right ventricular assist device (SRVAD), in cases of increased RV afterload. Methods: In nine Yorkshire swine of 65-80 kg, a pulmonary artery band was placed to cause RHF and maintained in place to simulate an ongoing elevated afterload on the RV. The SRVAD was actuated in synchrony with the ventricle to augment native RV output for up to one hour. Hemodynamic parameters during SRVAD actuation were compared to baseline and RHF levels. Results: Median RV cardiac index (CI) was 1.43 (IQR, 1.37-1.80) L/min/m(2) and 1.26 (IQR 1.05-1.57) L/min/m(2) at first and second baseline. Upon PA banding RV CI fell to a median of 0.79 (IQR 0.63-1.04) L/min/m(2). Device actuation improved RV CI to a median of 0.87 (IQR 0.78-1.01), 0.85 (IQR 0.64-1.59) and 1.11 (IQR 0.67-1.48) L/min/m(2) at 5 min (p = 0.114), 30 min (p = 0.013) and 60 (p = 0.033) minutes respectively. Statistical GEE analysis showed that lower grade of tricuspid regurgitation at time of RHF (p = 0.046), a lower diastolic pressure at RHF (p = 0.019) and lower mean arterial pressure at RHF (p = 0.024) were significantly associated with higher SRVAD effectiveness. Conclusions: Short-term augmentation of RV function using SRVAD is feasible even in cases of elevated RV afterload. Moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation were associated with reduced device effectiveness.
Fingolimod Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis Leads to the Enrichment of a Subpopulation of Aged NK Cells
Creators: name: Schwichtenberg, Svenja C.
name: Wisgalla, Anne
name: Schroeder-Castagno, Maria
name: Alvarez-González, Cesar
name: Schlickeiser, Stephan
name: Siebert, Nadja
name: Bellmann-Strobl, Judith
name: Wernecke, Klaus-Dieter
name: Paul, Friedemann
name: Dörr, Jan
name: Infante-Duarte, Carmen
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Natural killer (NK) cells
subject: Fingolimod
subject: Multiple sclerosis (MS)
subject: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs)
subject: Sphingosin-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR)
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Fingolimod is an approved oral treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) that modulates agonistically the sphingosin-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR), inhibiting thereby the egress of lymphocytes from the lymph nodes. In this interventional prospective clinical phase IV trial, we longitudinally investigated the impact of fingolimod on frequencies of NK cell subpopulations by flow cytometry in 17 RRMS patients at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment initiation. Clinical outcome was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and annualized relapse rates (ARR). Over the study period, median EDSS remained stable from month 3 to month 12, and ARR decreased compared to ARR in the 24 months prior treatment. Treatment was paralleled by an increased frequency of circulating NK cells, due primarily to an increase in CD56(dim)CD94(low) mature NK cells, while the CD56(bright) fraction and CD127(+) innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) decreased over time. An unsupervised clustering algorithm further revealed that a particular fraction of NK cells defined by the expression of CD56(dim)CD16(++)KIR(+/-)NKG2A(-)CD94(-)CCR7(+/-)CX(3)CR1(+/-)NKG2C(-)NKG2D(+)NKp46(-)DNAM1(++)CD127(+) increased during treatment. This specific phenotype might reflect a status of aged, fully differentiated, and less functional NK cells. Our study confirms that fingolimod treatment affects both NK cells and ILC. In addition, our study suggests that treatment leads to the enrichment of a specific NK cell subset characterized by an aged phenotype. This might limit the anti-microbial and anti-tumour NK cell activity in fingolimod-treated patients.
Clinical implementation of a 3D4K-exoscope (Orbeye) in microneurosurgery
Creators: name: Rösler, Judith
name: Georgiev, Stefan
name: Roethe, Anna L.
name: Chakkalakal, Denny
name: Acker, Güliz
name: Dengler, Nora F.
name: Prinz, Vincent
name: Hecht, Nils
name: Faust, Katharina
name: Schneider, Ulf
name: Bayerl, Simon
name: Czabanka, Marcus
name: Misch, Martin
name: Onken, Julia
name: Vajkoczy, Peter
name: Picht, Thomas
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: 3-Dimensional
subject: Exoscope
subject: Intraoperative visualization
subject: Neurosurgery
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Exoscopic surgery promises alleviation of physical strain, improved intraoperative visualization and facilitation of the clinical workflow. In this prospective observational study, we investigate the clinical usability of a novel 3D4K-exoscope in routine neurosurgical interventions. Questionnaires on the use of the exoscope were carried out. Exemplary cases were additionally video-documented. All participating neurosurgeons (n = 10) received initial device training. Changing to a conventional microscope was possible at all times. A linear mixed model was used to analyse the impact of time on the switchover rate. For further analysis, we dichotomized the surgeons in a frequent (n = 1) and an infrequent (n = 9) user group. A one-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate, if the number of surgeries differed between the two groups. Thirty-nine operations were included. No intraoperative complications occurred. In 69.2% of the procedures, the surgeon switched to the conventional microscope. While during the first half of the study the conversion rate was 90%, it decreased to 52.6% in the second half (p = 0.003). The number of interventions between the frequent and the infrequent user group differed significantly (p = 0.007). Main reasons for switching to ocular-based surgery were impaired hand-eye coordination and poor depth perception. The exoscope investigated in this study can be easily integrated in established neurosurgical workflows. Surgical ergonomics improved compared to standard microsurgical setups. Excellent image quality and precise control of the camera added to overall user satisfaction. For experienced surgeons, the incentive to switch from ocular-based to exoscopic surgery greatly varies.
Supplementary document for Single-shot refractive index slice imaging using spectrally multiplexed optical transfer function reshaping - 6318598.pdf
Creators: name: Lee, Chungha
name: Hugonnet, Herve
name: PARK, JUYEON
name: Lee, Mahn Jae
name: Park, Wei Sun
name: Park, YongKeun
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2023
Subjects: Classical and Physical Optics

description: Supplement Information
Placenta Percreta Presents with Neoangiogenesis of Arteries with Von Willebrand Factor-Negative Endothelium
Creators: name: Schwickert, Alexander
name: Henrich, Wolfgang
name: Vogel, Martin
name: Melchior, Kerstin
name: Ehrlich, Loreen
name: Ochs, Matthias
name: Braun, Thorsten
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Placenta percreta
subject: Placenta accreta spectrum
subject: Abnormally invasive placenta
subject: Neoangiogenesis
subject: Immunohistochemistry
subject: Von Willebrand factor
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: In placenta percreta cases, large vessels are present on the precrete surface area. As these vessels are not found in normal placentation, we examined their histological structure for features that might explain the pathogenesis of neoangiogenesis induced by placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS). In two patients with placenta percreta (FIGO grade 3a) of the anterior uterine wall, one strikingly large vessel of 2 cm length was excised. The samples were formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded. Gomori trichrome staining was used to evaluate the muscular layers and Weigert-Van Gieson staining for elastic fibers. Immunohistochemical staining of the vessel endothelium was performed for Von Willebrand factor (VWF), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31), Ephrin B2, and EPH receptor B4. The structure of the vessel walls appeared artery-like. The vessel of patient one further exhibited an unorderly muscular layer and a lack of elastic laminae, whereas these features appeared normal in the vessel of the other patient. The endothelium of both vessels stained VWF-negative and CD31-positive. In conclusion, this study showed VWF-negative vessel endothelia of epiplacental arteries in placenta accreta spectrum. VWF is known to regulate artery formation, as the absence of VWF has been shown to cause enhanced vascularization. Therefore, we suppose that PAS provokes increased vascularization through suppression of VWF. This process might be associated with the immature vessel architecture as found in one of the vessels and Ephrin B2 and EPH receptor B4 negativity of both artery-like vessels. The underlying pathomechanism needs to be evaluated in a greater set of patients.
The diagnostic value of the neurological examination in coma of unknown etiology
Creators: name: Schmidt, Wolf Ulrich
name: Lutz, M.
name: Ploner, Christoph J.
name: Braun, M.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Coma
subject: Neurologic examination
subject: Reproducibility of results
subject: Neurological emergencies
subject: Critical pathways
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background: Identifying the cause of non-traumatic coma in the emergency department is challenging. The clinical neurological examination is the most readily available tool to detect focal neurological deficits as indicators for cerebral causes of coma. Previously proposed clinical pathways have granted the interpretation of clinical findings a pivotal role in the diagnostic work-up. We aimed to identify the actual diagnostic reliability of the neurological examination with regard to identifying acute brain damage. Methods: Eight hundred and fifty-three patients with coma of unknown etiology (CUE) were examined neurologically in the emergency department following a predefined routine. Coma-explaining pathologies were identified retrospectively and grouped into primary brain pathology with proof of acute brain damage and other causes without proof of acute structural pathology. Sensitivity, specificity and percentage of correct predictions of different examination protocols were calculated using contingency tables and binary logistic regression models. Results: The full neurological examination was 74% sensitive and 60% specific to detect acute structural brain damage underlying CUE. Sensitivity and specificity were higher in non-sedated patients (87/61%) compared to sedated patients (64%/59%). A shortened four-item examination protocol focusing on pupils, gaze and pyramidal tract signs was only slightly less sensitive (67%) and more specific (65%). Conclusions: Due to limited diagnostic reliability of the physical examination, the absence of focal neurological signs in acutely comatose patients should not defer from a complete work-up including brain imaging. In an emergency, a concise neurological examination should thus serve as one part of a multimodal diagnostic approach to CUE.
Burden of disease in myasthenia gravis: taking the patient’s perspective
Creators: name: Lehnerer, Sophie
name: Jacobi, Jonas
name: Schilling, Ralph
name: Grittner, Ulrike
name: Marbin, Derin
name: Gerischer, Lea
name: Stascheit, Frauke
name: Krause, Maike
name: Hoffmann, Sarah
name: Meisel, Andreas
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Myasthenia gravis
subject: Quality of life
subject: Burden of disease
subject: Real-world setting
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) leads to exertion-dependent muscle weakness, but also psychological and social well-being are limited. We aim to describe the burden of disease in MG including sociodemographic, economical, psychosocial as well as clinical aspects, to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with MG to the general population (genP) and to explore risk factors for a lower HRQoL. Methods: This case-control study was conducted with MG patients of the German Myasthenia Association. A questionnaire-based survey included sociodemographic and clinical data as well as standardized questionnaires, e.g. the Short Form Health (SF-36). HRQoL was compared to genP in a matched-pairs analysis. Participants of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) served as control group. Results: In our study, 1660 MG patients participated and were compared to 2556 controls from the genP. Patients with MG showed lower levels of physical functioning (SF-36 mean 56.0, SD 30.3) compared to the genP (mean 81.8, SD 22.1, adjusted difference: 25, 95% CI 22-29) and lower mental health sub-score (SF-36 mean 67.3, SD 19.8, vs. 74.1, SD 16.7, adjusted difference: 5, 95% CI 2-8). Female gender, higher age, low income, partnership status, lower activities of daily life, symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue and self-perceived low social support were associated with a lower HRQoL in MG patients. Discussion: HRQoL is lower in patients with MG compared to genP. The burden of MG on patients includes economic and social aspects as well as their emotional well-being. New therapies must achieve improvements for patients in these areas.
Frequency, clinical presentation and outcome of vigilance impairment in patients with uni- and bilateral ischemic infarction of the paramedian thalamus
Creators: name: Fritsch, Merve
name: Villringer, Kersten
name: Ganeshan, Ramanan
name: Rangus, Ida
name: Nolte, Christian H.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Vigilance impairment
subject: Ischemic stroke
subject: Paramedian thalamus
subject: Outcome
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Ischemic stroke of the paramedian thalamus is a rare differential diagnosis in sudden altered vigilance states. While efforts to describe clinical symptomatology exist, data on the frequency of paramedian thalamic stroke as a cause of sudden impaired vigilance and on accompanying clinical signs and outcome are scarce. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary stroke center between 2010 and 2019 diagnosed with paramedian thalamic stroke. We evaluated frequency of vigilance impairment (VI) due to paramedian thalamic stroke, accompanying clinical signs and short-term outcome in uni- versus bilateral paramedian lesion location. Of 3896 ischemic stroke patients, 53 showed a paramedian thalamic stroke location (1.4%). VI was seen in 29/53 patients with paramedian thalamic stroke and in 414/3896 with any stroke (10.6%). Paramedian thalamic stroke was identified as causal to VI in 3.4% of all patients with initial VI in the emergency department and in 0.7% of all ischemic stroke patients treated in our center. Accompanying clinical signs were detected in 21 of these 29 patients (72.4%) and facilitated a timely diagnosis. VI was significantly more common after bilateral than unilateral lesions (92.0% vs. 21.4%; p < 0.001). Patients with bilateral paramedian lesions were more severely affected, had longer hospital stays and more frequently required in-patient rehabilitation. Paramedian thalamic lesions account for about 1 in 15 stroke patients presenting with impaired vigilance. Bilateral paramedian lesion location is associated with worse stroke severity and short-term outcome. Paying attention to accompanying clinical signs is of importance as they may facilitate a timely diagnosis.
Acute symptomatic seizures in the emergency room: predictors and characteristics
Creators: name: Reinecke, Lili C. S.
name: Doerrfuss, Jakob I.
name: Kowski, Alexander B.
name: Holtkamp, Martin
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Alcohol withdrawal
subject: Antiseizure medication
subject: Epilepsy
subject: Stroke
subject: Unprovoked seizure
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background: When treating patients with epileptic seizures in the emergency room (ER), it is of paramount importance to rapidly assess whether the seizure was acute symptomatic or unprovoked as the former points to a potentially life-threatening underlying condition. In this study, we seek to identify predictors and analyze characteristics of acute symptomatic seizures (ASS). Methods: Data from patients presenting with seizures to highly frequented ERs of two sites of a university hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Seizures were classified as acute symptomatic or unprovoked according to definitions of the International League Against Epilepsy. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify predictors; furthermore, characteristics of ASS were assessed. Results: Finally, 695 patients were included, 24.5% presented with ASS. Variables independently associated with ASS comprised male sex (OR 3.173, 95% CI 1.972-5.104), no prior diagnosis of epilepsy (OR 11.235, 95% CI 7.195-17.537), and bilateral/generalized tonic-clonic seizure semiology (OR 2.982, 95% CI 1.172-7.588). Alcohol withdrawal was the most common cause of ASS (74.1%), with hemorrhagic stroke being the second most prevalent etiology. Neuroimaging was performed more often in patients with the final diagnosis of ASS than in those with unprovoked seizures (82.9% vs. 67.2%, p < 0.001). Patients with ASS were more likely to receive acute antiseizure medication in the ER (55.9% vs. 30.3%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In one quarter of patients presenting to the ER after an epileptic fit, the seizure had an acute symptomatic genesis. The independently associated variables may help to early identify ASS and initiate management of the underlying condition.