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A review and discussion of the current literature on liver transplantation for acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was performed. The ACLF represents an acute deterioration of liver function with pre-existing liver disease and is associated with increasing multiorgan failure, depending on the stage. The 28-day mortality ranges to well over 70% in stage 3 and requires rapid intensive medical treatment involving an interdisciplinary team experienced in transplantation medicine. Under optimized conditions, liver transplantation provides long-term survival rates comparable to other indications. Achieving this requires a differentiated donor selection, choosing the appropriate time for transplantation in the context of a dynamic disease course and the use of appropriate surgical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Air-cooled and open cathode proton exchange fuel cell (PEMFC) offers particular advantages in terms of complexity and weight reduction. Therefore, it seems very attractive to support the aviation industry in their de‑carbonisation process. Major challenges in terms of operational stability and reliability hinders this technology to be used in commercial applications. Therefore, this study thoroughly examines the conditioning and optimization of open cathode PEMFC stacks, drawing insights from experimental findings. Key areas of focus include the enduring impact of pre-humidification, the quantification of efficiency enhancements through reconditioning via oxygen starvation, and the refinement of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) data analysis under non-stationary conditions. The pre-humidification enhances stack performance by improving cell voltages from 40.09 V to 41.37 V at 30 A, increasing membrane humidity and improving efficiency. Furthermore, the residual water in the stack also functions as evaporative cooling and can assist in limiting the operating temperature of the stack during system start up. However, it is demonstrated that excessive soaking with water leads to severe flooding phenomena at the beginning of operation. A reconditioning period of 100 s through oxygen starvation induces a notable increase in stack voltage, from 41.37 V to 47.79 V at 35 A, which decreases to 43.56 V after 10 min of operation. This corresponds to an average increase in electric energy provision of about 6.2% at constant hydrogen consumption, attributed to PtOx reduction and increased water production. Despite limitations outside the medium frequency range (approximately 10 Hz – 15 kHz) for non-stationary conditions, EIS aids in understanding of the stack behaviour and supports the interpretation of current and voltage results. A novel evaluation method enables the quantitative description of the condition using EIS data. This data reveals a considerable drop (on average about 21,5% for the 10 A point and about 27,4% for the 30 A point) in charge transfer resistances of the fuel cell from initial operation to measurements after overnight soaking and the first series of oxygen starvation recovery. • PtOx formation and membrane dry out can be prevented by a minimum current, to produce enough water and avoid OCV. • A start up after soaking the stack in water showed severe flooding issues but afterwards an improvement is seen. • The reconditioning procedure provided by air starvation of 100 s helps to provide 6,2% more el. energy. • Post-processing algorithm filters noisy EIS data and thus improves the stationary accuracy of the resulting model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the integration of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) into recently proposed hydrogen aircraft concepts. Based on a numerical optimization of the stack's operating conditions, the interrelated aspects of efficiency and system mass are explored. A novel 1D two-phase PEMFC stack model is developed that captures water management effects in detail and yet features sufficiently low computational cost to be used for system-level optimization. The stack model is validated for a wide range of temperatures, current densities and oxygen concentrations. In combination with auxiliary component models, it can relate the effects of the investigated parameters on cell-level water management to system-level effects. This allows for an improved understanding of the underlying design tradeoffs, particularly regarding pressurized operation and stack oversizing. The results show that the conditions that maximize the overall system efficiency for a given flight phase deviate significantly from those that merely maximize stack efficiency. [Display omitted] • Novel computationally efficient model for PEM fuel cell water management. • System-level performance is linked to water management effects at cell-level. • Stack operating conditions (pressure, stoichiometric ratio, humidity) are optimized. • Optimal operating conditions depend on flight phase and system sizing. • The trade-off between system efficiency and system mass is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving feed utilization efficiency in dairy cattle could have positive economic and environmental effects that would support the sustainability of the dairy industry. Identifying key differences in metabolism between high and low feed-efficient animals is vital to enhancing feed conversion efficiency. Therefore, our objectives were (1) to determine whether cows grouped by either high or low feed efficiency have measurable differences in net fat and carbohydrate metabolism that account for differences in heat production (HP), and if so, whether these differences also exists under conditions of feed withdrawal when the effect of feeding on HP is minimized, and (2) to determine whether the abundance of mitochondria in the liver can be related to the high or low feed-efficient groups. Ten dairy cows from a herd of 15 (parity = 2) were retrospectively grouped into either a high (H) or a low (L) feed-efficient group (n = 5 per group) based on weekly energy-corrected milk (ECM) divided by dry mater intake (DMI) from wk 4 through 30 of lactation. Livers were biopsied at wk −4, 2, and 12, and blood was sampled weekly from wk −3 to 12 relative to parturition. Blood was subset to be analyzed for the transition period (wk −3 to 3) and from wk 4 to 12. In wk 5.70 ± 0.82 (mean ± SD) postpartum (PP), cows spent 2 d in respiration chambers (RC), in which CO 2 , O 2 , and CH 4 gases were measured every 6 min for 24 h. Fatty acid oxidation (FOX), carbohydrate oxidation (COX), metabolic respiratory quotient (RQ), and HP were calculated from gas measurements for 23 h. Cows were fed ad libitum (AD-LIB) on d 1 and had feed withdrawn (RES, restricted diet) on d 2. Additional blood samples were taken at the end of the AD-LIB and RES feeding periods in the RC. During wk 4 to 30 PP, H had greater DMI/kg of metabolic body weight (BW0.75), ECM per kilogram of BW0.75 yield, and ECM/DMI ratio, compared with L, but a lower body condition score between wk 4 and 12 PP. In the RC period, we detected no differences in BW, DMI, or milk yield between groups. We also detected no significant group or group by feeding period interactions for plasma metabolites except for Revised Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, which tended to have a group by feeding period interaction. The H group had lower HP and HP per kilogram of BW0.75 compared with L. Additionally, H had lower FOX and FOX per kilogram of BW0.75 compared with L during the AD-LIB period. Methane, CH 4 per kilogram of BW0.75, and CH 4 per kilogram of milk yield were lower in H compared with L, but, when adjusted for DMI, CH 4 /DMI did not differ between groups, nor did HP/DMI. Relative mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in the liver were lower in the L than in the H group. These results suggest that lower feed efficiency in dairy cows may result from fewer mitochondria per liver cell as well as a greater whole-body HP, which likely partially results from higher net fat oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine perfusion will become established as the standard of care for solid organ transplantation in the near future. Ongoing studies are investigating the appropriate perfusion algorithms for each specific organ. Although it is neither proven which perfusion principle nor type of device is superior, it has already been sufficiently shown that the increasing number of marginal organs that are currently transplanted in Germany would benefit from machine perfusion for conditioning before transplantation. The addition of hypothermic and normothermic perfusion sequences opens up the possibility of conditioning of previously damaged organs as well as viability testing. Overall, machine perfusion increases the safety for the recipient and can counteract the increasingly more difficult scenario of working hour restrictions because solid organ transplantations in the future will be plannable and carried out during the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broadcast congested clique model (BClique) is a message-passing model of distributed computation where n nodes communicate with each other in synchronous rounds. First, in this paper we prove that there is a one-round, deterministic algorithm that reconstructs the input graph G if the graph is d-degenerate, and rejects otherwise, using bandwidth b =scrO (dcdot log n). Then, we introduce a new parameter to the model. We study the situation where the nodes, initially, instead of knowing their immediate neighbors, know their neighborhood up to a fixed radius r. In this new framework, denoted BClique[r], we study the problem of detecting, in G, an induced cycle of length at most k (Cycleleq k) and the problem of detecting an induced cycle of length at least k+1 (Cycle>k). We give upper and lower bounds. We show that if each node is allowed to see up to distance r =lfloor k/2rfloor + 1, then a polylogarithmic bandwidth is sufficient for solving Cycle>k with only two rounds. Nevertheless, if nodes were allowed to see up to distance r =lfloor k/3rfloor, then any one-round algorithm that solves Cycle>k needs the bandwidth b to be at leastOmega (n/log n). We also show the existence of a one-round, deterministic BClique algorithm that solves Cycleleq k with bandwitdh b =scrO (n1/lfloor k/2rfloorcdot log n). On the negative side, we prove that, ifepsilon leq 1/3 and 0 < r leq k/4, then any epsilon -error, R-round, b-bandwidth algorithm in the BClique[r] model that solves problem Cycleleq k satisfies R cdot b = Omega (n1/lfloor k/2rfloor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been linked with lymphostasis, but whether and how lymphatic obstruction might disturb the intestinal microbiome in the setting of Crohn's Disease (CD) is currently unknown. We employed a new model of CD in African Green monkeys, termed 'ATLAS' (A frican green monkey t runcation of l ymphatics with obstruction a nd s clerosis), to evaluate how gut lymphatic obstruction alters the intestinal microbiome at 7, 21 and 61 days. Remarkable changes in several microbial sub- groupings within the gut microbiome were observed at 7 days post-ATLAS compared to controls including increased abundance of Prevotellaceae and Bacteroidetes-Prevotella-Porphyromonas (BPP), which may contribute to disease activity in this model of gut injury. To the best of our knowledge, these findings represent the first report linking lymphatic structural/gut functional changes with alterations in the gut microbiome as they may relate to the pathophysiology of CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures the ion energy distributions (IEDs) of positive and negative ions of SF6 plasmas at the cathode of a reactive ion etcher (RIE) with an energy-resolving quadrupole mass spectrometer. Energy distribution of positive ions; IEDs of negative ions; Measurement of error due to the rf voltage on the cathode.

Pb isotope ratios are used for apportioning the sources of Pb in the blood of children (ages 1–6) screened for high blood Pb levels (>5 μg/dL) surrounding urban areas of Kansas City, MO. We compared Pb isotope ratios measured in the child's blood with those of the most likely sources of Pb in that child's home environment. The environmental sources sampled consisted of topsoils, paints, occupational sources (e.g., oil rig workers' uniforms, mechanics' clothes), indoor air filters, dusts, and dietary sources (e.g., spices). Blood lead levels (BLL) ranged from 2.9 to 12.7 μg/dL in children from the five homes participating in this study. Measurements of 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios were made by multi-collector ICP-MS. Comparison of the Pb isotope ratios in home environment samples versus those in the child's blood in each home allowed the identification of possible sources of a child's Pb exposure in three homes. In five homes investigated, children's blood Pb levels were most likely to be derived from dusts inside, and topsoil outside, the homes, or a mixture thereof. In one case, blood Pb was derived from turmeric spice and, in another, the Pb was derived from paint. It is not always possible to directly link high BLLs to the environmental sources collected when Pb isotope ratios of the environmental samples did not overlap with those of the blood. • Pb isotope ratios are used to discern sources of Pb in the blood of children (ages 1–6) with high blood Pb levels (>5 μg/dL). • Pb isotope ratios in the child's blood were compared with those of the most likely sources of Pb in home environment. • Measurements of 206Pb/204 Pb, 207Pb/204 Pb and 208Pb/204 Pb isotope ratios were made by multi-collector ICP-MS. • Pb in children's blood was derived from diverse sources including soil and dust, paint, and even turmeric spice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The lymphatic system maintains tissue homeostasis by unidirectional lymph flow, maintained by tonic and phasic contractions within subunits, 'lymphangions'. Here we have studied the effects of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β on tonic contraction of rat mesenteric lymphatic muscle cells (RMLMC).Experimental Approach: We measured IL-1β in colon-conditioned media (CM) from acute (AC-CM, dextran sodium sulfate) and chronic (CC-CM, T-cell transfer) colitis-induced mice and corresponding controls (Con-AC/CC-CM). We examined tonic contractility of RMLMC in response to CM, the cytokines h-IL-1β or h-TNF-α (5, 10, 20 ng·mL(-1) ), with or without COX inhibitors [TFAP (10(-5)  M), diclofenac (0.2 × 10(-5)  M)], PGE2 (10(-5)  M)], IL-1-receptor antagonist, Anakinra (5 μg·mL(-1) ), or a selective prostanoid EP4 receptor antagonist, GW627368X (10(-6) and 10(-7)  M).Key Results: Tonic contractility of RMLMC was reduced by AC- and CC-CM compared with corresponding control culture media, Con-AC/CC-CM. IL-1β or TNF-α was not found in Con-AC/CC-CM, but detected in AC- and CC-CM. h-IL-1β concentration-dependently decreased RMLMC contractility, whereas h-TNF-α showed no effect. Anakinra blocked h-IL-1β-induced RMLMC relaxation, and with AC-CM, restored contractility to RMLMC. IL-1β increased COX-2 protein and PGE2 production in RMLMC.. PGE2 induced relaxations in RMLMC, comparable to h-IL-1β. Conversely, COX-2 and EP4 receptor inhibition reversed relaxation induced by IL-1β.Conclusions and Implications: The IL-1β-induced decrease in RMLMC tonic contraction was COX-2 dependent, and mediated by PGE2 . In experimental colitis, IL-1β and tonic lymphatic contractility were causally related, as this cytokine was critical for the relaxation induced by AC-CM and pharmacological blockade of IL-1β restored tonic contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose The lymphatic system maintains tissue homeostasis by unidirectional lymph flow, maintained by tonic and phasic contractions within subunits, 'lymphangions'. Here we have studied the effects of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β on tonic contraction of rat mesenteric lymphatic muscle cells ( RMLMC). Experimental Approach We measured IL-1β in colon-conditioned media ( CM) from acute ( AC-CM, dextran sodium sulfate) and chronic ( CC-CM, T-cell transfer) colitis-induced mice and corresponding controls ( Con- AC/ CC-CM). We examined tonic contractility of RMLMC in response to CM, the cytokines h- IL-1β or h- TNF-α (5, 10, 20 ng·mL−1), with or without COX inhibitors [ TFAP (10−5 M), diclofenac (0.2 × 10−5 M)], PGE2 (10−5 M)], IL-1-receptor antagonist, Anakinra (5 μg·mL−1), or a selective prostanoid EP4 receptor antagonist, GW627368 X (10−6 and 10−7 M). Key Results Tonic contractility of RMLMC was reduced by AC- and CC-CM compared with corresponding control culture media, Con- AC/ CC-CM. IL-1β or TNF-α was not found in Con- AC/ CC-CM, but detected in AC- and CC-CM. h- IL-1β concentration-dependently decreased RMLMC contractility, whereas h- TNF-α showed no effect. Anakinra blocked h- IL-1β-induced RMLMC relaxation, and with AC-CM, restored contractility to RMLMC. IL-1β increased COX-2 protein and PGE2 production in RMLMC.. PGE2 induced relaxations in RMLMC, comparable to h- IL-1β. Conversely, COX-2 and EP4 receptor inhibition reversed relaxation induced by IL-1β. Conclusions and Implications The IL-1β-induced decrease in RMLMC tonic contraction was COX-2 dependent, and mediated by PGE2. In experimental colitis, IL-1β and tonic lymphatic contractility were causally related, as this cytokine was critical for the relaxation induced by AC-CM and pharmacological blockade of IL-1β restored tonic contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Predicting tablet defects, such as capping, that might occur during manufacturing, is a challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. In the literature, different parameters were presented to predict capping but no general consensus seems to have been reached yet. In this article, we chose to study a wide range of products (18 formulations, 8 of which presenting capping) to predict capping on biconvex tablets using the properties characterized on defect-free flat-faced tablets (tensile strength, solid fraction, elastic recovery, etc.), made using the same process parameters. Single parameters and predictive indices presented in the literature were evaluated on this set of formulations and were found not suitable to predict capping. A predictive model was then developed using a decision tree analysis and was found to depend only on three in-die tablet properties: the plastic energy per volume, the in-die elastic recovery and the residual die-wall pressure. This model was tested on another set of 13 formulations chosen to challenge it. The capping behavior of 29 out of the 31 formulations studied in total was well estimated using the developed model with only two products which were predicted to cap and did not. This shows the potential of the used approach in terms of risk analysis and assessment for capping occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Capping is a common defect that can occur during the manufacturing of pharmaceutical tablets. Several studies showed that decreasing the unloading speed of the manufacturing cycle plays a role in the occurrence of such defects. Following this idea, we study in this work the influence of the unloading step on capping using a compaction simulator. Measuring the die wall pressure made it possible to detect precisely that tablets capped just after the unloading (some milliseconds only). To evaluate the impact of the unloading speed on capping, we developed a two-step unloading phase controlled by three manufacturing parameters. It was possible to mitigate capping by decreasing the speed at which the contact between the punches and the tablet was lost. Capping seemed due to dynamical effects related to the release of the axial pressure. The modification of the unloading step to mitigate capping led to significant changes in tablet density but no clear trends were found for the residual die-wall pressure and tablet strength. This work made it possible to improve the understanding of capping. Moreover, the two-step unloading cycle gave a new idea for possible modifications that could be done on rotary presses in order to mitigate capping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous fission and neutron emission properties of Californium sources serve as a unique tool to analyze and validate the quality of detection of fission products. State-of-the-art methods for determining the age of a young Cf source were re-examined and modified. Further improvement included the determination of the single Cf isotopes within the Cf source and the neutron emission rate of the source. The analysis was performed by comparing the simulated γ -ray spectra of the Nucleonica suite with measured data of a young Cf source employing an HPGe detector. In addition, with the evaluation of the 133.5 keV peak (mainly due to the β -decay Ce-144/Pr-144) in relation to a peak at 497.1 keV (mainly due to the β -decay Ru-103/Rh-103) or 724.3 keV (multiplet, dominated by Ru-105/Rh-105 and Ce-145/Pr-145), the age-determination method of the investigated Cf source could be considerably improved to a confined age of 20 ± 3 months. By means of decay simulations, some deficiencies of current techniques in determining the isotope abundances were introduced. In particular, the quantities of Cf-252 and Cf-249 were analyzed extensively. Consequently, the source's neutron emission rate matched well the emission rate from the source's certification. The difficulties of defining the abundance of additional Cf isotopes within the source, albeit with lesser importance, are also illustrated. • Investigation of a young Cf-252 source. • High-resolution γ -ray spectroscopy - HPGe detector. • Simulation of complex γ -ray spectra using the Nucleonica Nuclear Science Portal. • Introduction of a new peak area based age determination approach. • Determination of source properties: age, isotopic abundance, neutron emission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to contribute to the study of the radiation dose distribution delivered to the hands of medical staff members during a general computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopic guided procedure. In this study, both Monte Carlo simulations and measurements were performed. For free-in-air and computed tomography dose index (CTDI) body phantom measurements, a standard pencil ionization chamber (IC) 100 mm long was used. The CT scanner model was implemented using MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) and was successfully validated by comparing the simulated results with measurements. Subsequently, CT images of a hand, together with an anthropomorphic phantom, were voxelized and used with the MCNPX code for dose calculations. The hand dose distribution study was performed both by using thermo-luminescent detector measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. The validated simulation tool provides a new perspective for detailed investigations of CT-irradiation scenarios. Simulations show that there is a strong dose gradient, namely the even zones of the hand that are in precise vicinity to the x-ray beam only receive about 4% of the maximum dose delivered to adjacent areas which are directly exposed to the primary x-ray beam. Finally, the scatter contribution of the patient was also studied through MC simulations. The results show that for directly exposed parts of the hand surface, the dose is reduced by the body of the patient (due to the shielding), whereas the dose is increased by scattered radiation from the patient for parts of the skin that receive scattered radiation only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As a detector for neutron induced recoils, the response of Makrofol detectors is strongly dependent on the incident angle of neutrons. To investigate the effect of different incident angles, we performed simulations with different Monte Carlo codes, MCNPX and Geant4, and compared the results of the two codes. Simulated curves of the angular response were determined and experiments were carried out to verify the simulation results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Compression stockings are the cornerstone of the treatment of chronic venous disorders, but practical acceptability is an important limitation in the elderly. Objective: To evaluate the practicability of compression stockings in elderly patients. Methods: Twenty women aged 68-85 years without major disability were asked to put on, wear for three hours and take off Solegg® and Solegg® Fine compressive stockings (15-20 mmHg) in random order on different days, and to rate through questionnaires the difficulties and discomfort they experienced in comparison with their usual non-compressive stockings (controls). Results: Foot and heel insertions of the compression stockings, as well as their removal, were found significantly more difficult, whereas comfort when they were on was higher. In the whole, the compression stockings were found to be more agreeable than the controls. Conclusion: Difficulties regarding putting on and removal of the compression stockings remain significant but are counterbalanced by a better comfort when they are on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A homogeneous microcavity is excited in two tightly focused spatially separated spots with a few μm distance. The radius of the generated cavity modes exceeds the excited regions such that the quasimodes of both spots overlap in space. Coherent coupling of the two spots via stimulated emission is observed, exhibiting a slightly lowered lasing threshold. Furthermore, the emission from both spots is phase locked with a phase difference of either 0 or , depending on their separation. Correspondingly, the distribution of the electromagnetic field is symmetric or anti-symmetric, and the emission occurs parallel to the cavity normal or symmetrically at non-zero angles, respectively. This behaviour is understood to be determined by the spatial distribution of gain and absorption across the active cavity medium, which we confirm by numerical calculations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] Pharmaceutical tablets can be produced on different kinds of presses that may have very different compaction kinematics. Strain rate sensitivity (SRS) is thus an important property for the powders used to produce pharmaceutical tablets. Viscoelasticity is one of the aspects of the SRS and can be sometimes difficult to characterize. In this work, impulse excitation technique was used as an easy-to-implement method for characterizing viscoelasticity using the fact that this property induces damping which can be detected on resonance spectra as peak enlargements. A damping ratio, related to the first flexural vibration mode, was determined on impulse excitation frequency spectra using the half-power bandwidth method on tablets made with different products. This method made it possible to obtain reproducible results for the damping ratio. As viscoelasticity is not the only phenomena that can promote damping, tests were made in order to assess the influence of other parameters: viscoplasticity, porosity and tablet dimensions. Results indicated that the influence of these phenomena could be considered as negligible. Finally, the damping ratios determined were in good accordance with the known viscoelastic behavior of the studied products. This made it possible to confirm that impact resonance is an easy and quick way to characterize the viscoelastic nature of pharmaceutical tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Strong fields of thermal and epithermal neutrons as used for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) show a relatively small gamma dose. However, for accurate dose estimation, both the neutron as well as the gamma component has to be considered. Different approaches have been studied with various thermoluminescence detectors (TLDs). As a result, CaF2:Tm detectors (TLD-300) are attributed to be most insensitive to thermal neutrons but not tissue-equivalent. In this paper we focus on the measurement of the gamma dose with TLD-300 in mixed irradiation fields. To overcome the disadvantage of being not tissue-equivalent, a study on energy compensation filters was performed. The paper comprises also calibrations of TLD-300 using energy compensation filters at the PTB-reference field for thermal neutrons, and first test experiments at the TRIGA Mainz including simulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For colorectal screening patients a mean gain of life time was previously calculated of about 30–50 days. Different recommendations for recognising at-risk groups and defining surveillance intervals after an initial finding of colorectal adenomas have been published. However, no benefit–risk analysis regarding to specific long-term effects of follow-up has been reported to date. A Markov model based on time-dependent transition possibilities was developed to perform a benefit–risk analysis of the risk-related surveillance recommendations based on the Erlangen Registry of Colorectal Polyps (ERCRP) in comparison with the recommendation of the German Society of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Nutrition (DGVS). The outcome was calculated for a 50-year-old patient with 30 years of follow-up after initial polypectomy. The data used in this model were taken from different sources, namely the ERCRP, the German Study Group of Colorectal Cancer, the German Statistical Yearbook, and from meta-analyses of studies reporting data on complications and sensitivity of colonoscopy. Patients under surveillance have a mean lifetime gain of 98 (ERCRP) and 110 (DGVS) days compared with those who do not come for surveillance. 84% and 94% of deaths from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) could be prevented if patients were followed up according to the recommendations of the ERCRP and the DGVS, respectively. Less colonoscopies are needed to prevent one death from CRC following the recommendations of the ERCRP (221) than those of the DGVS (283). The risk of death due to colonoscopy for patients during follow-up is about 0.05% lifetime risk. Sensitivity analysis showed the stability of the results under a wide range of reasonable variations of relevant parameters. In a pessimistic one-way sensitivity analysis regarding compliance, effectiveness was reduced to one third. Surveillance using colonoscopy is an effective tool for preventing CRC after colorectal polypectomy, especially if a good compliance is assumed. The effectiveness is higher following the recommendations of the DGVS, but more colonoscopies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The term « Chronic critical ischemia », CCI, of lower limb defines a very advanced state of chronic LL arterial insufficiency with deleterious effect of low perfusion pressure rate. This diagnosis has serious consequences for the patient (high risk of major amputation, high risk of cardiovascular events and death, high risk of reduced quality of life for survivals even non-amputated). The diagnosis must be precise. We discuss the evolution of the concept and the definitions of CCI from Fontaine classification, the epidemiology of CCI and its risk factors, the diagnosis of CCI (clinical, haemodynamical, anatomical) and the treatment of CCI which the main goal is to increase as much as possible the arterial pressure in the foot. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Kr isotopes are considered to be among the best cases for shape coexistence studies in the mass region. Our campaign to investigate in detail the development of the shape coexistence in the neutron deficient Kr isotopes was started with the stable nucleus 78Kr. To obtain the information about the intrinsic shape, Coulomb excitation experiments were performed. A total of 26 matrix elements were determined for 78Kr. Simple geometrical and algebraic models do not reproduce all details of the electromagnetic structure. A good interpretation of the complex structure of the nucleus with competing oblate and prolate shapes comes from a study within the complex EXCITED VAMPIR approximation using Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov transformations with symmetry projection before variation. The measured matrix elements are compared with the predictions of this model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Surveys have attempted to measure married women's decision-making power by asking women who has a say and/or final say in a number of household decisions. In several studies where the same questions were posed to husbands, considerable discrepancies in reports were found. This paper assesses husband and wife reports of decision-making on four matters (whether or not to buy household items; what to do if a child becomes ill; whether or not to buy medicine for a family member who is ill; what to do if a pregnant women becomes very ill) and the relationship of these reports to three recent health behaviors (having an emergency plan during pregnancy; delivering in a health facility; having a postpartum checkup within 4 weeks). A sample of 1000 women in 53 communities in three departments of western Guatemala was selected using a stratified random sampling approach. A standard household questionnaire was used to identify the respondents as well as to obtain data on household characteristics. Husbands of interviewed women were interviewed in every other household giving information on 546 couples for this analysis. Women and men's questionnaires were similar and were designed to obtain information on the respondent's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding maternal health. Consistent with other research, results show that relative to their husbands' report, wives tend to under-report their household decision-making power. In couples with both partners educated and in couples in which women work for pay, both partners were significantly more likely to report that both of them participate in the final decisions than was the case in couples without education or in which the wife did not work for pay. Women's reports of their decision-making power was significantly related to the household having a plan for what to do in case of a maternal emergency, but was not associated with place of childbirth or with having a postpartum checkup, while husband's reports of the wife's decision-making power was negatively associated with the likelihood of having the last birth in a health facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Our experiences with elective nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a consecutive series of 216 patients are presented. Clinicopathological features and long-term oncological outcome is compared to patients treated with radical nephrectomy (RN). Methods: Between 1975 and 2002, NSS was performed in 488 patients; 311 of these patients had elective indications. Renal cell carcinoma was found in 241/311 patients (77.5%). Long-term follow up data could be obtained in 216/311 patients. Cancer-specific survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox''s regression analysis and log-rank tests were used to evaluate independent predictive values of different clinicopathological features. Survival data of the 216 patients after NSS surgery were compared to 369 patients with small RCC treated with RN. Results: After a mean follow up of 66 months (median 64 months) 29 (13.4%) of 216 patients treated with NSS had died, 4 of them (1.8%) tumour-related. Tumour recurrence was detected in 12 patients (5.6%). 204 patients (94.4%) were free of tumour at last follow-up. Cancer specific survival rates at 5 and 10 years for patients treated with NSS (RN) were 97.8% (95.5%) and 95.8% (84.4%). Conclusions: Elective NSS surgery provides optimal long-term outcome in patients with small localized RCC. Compared to RN, renal parenchyma is preserved without any disadvantage in survival rates. Consequently elective NSS should be accepted as gold standard for small renal tumours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The FRS-RISING set-up at GSI uses secondary radioactive beams at relativistic energies for nuclear structure studies. At GSI the fragmentation or fission of stable primary beams up to 238U provide secondary beams with sufficient intensity to perform γ-ray spectroscopy. The RISING set-up is described and results of the first RISING campaign are presented. New experimental methods at relativistic energies are being investigated. Future experiments focus on state-of-the art nuclear structure physics covering exotic nuclei all over the nuclear chart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reductive biotransformation of mercuric ions to elemental mercury was studied by applying a model system with a genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida strain in a lab scale three-phase fluidized bed (TPFB). The aim was to demonstrate the suitability of the TPFB to demercurize effluent streams containing up to 10 mg Hg2+ dm-3. The TPFB is used, first, to carry out the biotransformation on the alginate immobilized biocatalyst and, second, to remove the produced Hg0 by volatilization into the gas phase followed by its recovery through fast oxidative absorption. Targeted experiments with the immobilized biocatalyst were designed and carried out to determine mercury adsorption data on the biomass and all relevant mass transport rates at conditions prevailing in the TPFB. The evaluation of the performance data in the TPFB revealed almost complete reaction control and hence negligibility of mass transfer resistances. This simplifies the scale-up of larger TPFB reactors for mercury removal as it can be based on the known kinetics alone. The measured biotransformation capacities in the TPFB are similar to those reported for the fixed bed technology which has already proven its applicability at an industrial scale in long time runs. However, the TPFB offers some advantages over the fixed bed and could therefore possibly be a favorable, reliable, and less costly alternative to the existing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. – Lower limbs chronic venous disorders are still considered as a minor disease from a university hospital point of view, yet it is a very common problem, affecting the quality of life, generating disability, and expensive for healthcare resources. Its teaching is neither satisfactory nor easy to do.Key points. – Apart from the fact that it rarely causes death, the complexity of venous anatomy and physiopathology, the lack of animal model, common practices lumping together visible varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, and moreover a certain carelessness in the vocabulary probably largely explain these difficulties. Our purpose is to discuss chronic venous disorders (varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers) on the basis of semantic, of anatomical, haemodynamic and clinical forms and finally of nosology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis remains unclear in terms of screening as well as of treatment. The degree of carotid stenosis is not enough to clarify the debate. It seems useful to search among severe carotid stenosis parameters indicating higher ipsilateral stroke risk. Duplex ultrasound and transcranial Doppler offer this opportunity with a diagnostic battery allowing to evaluate hemodynamical risk (degree of stenosis, common carotid flow, MCA signal, cerebral vasoreactivity), thrombo-embolic risk (echostructure of the stenosis, micro-embolic signals, HITS) and progression of the stenosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] Capping and lamination are common defects occurring during the manufacturing of pharmaceutical tablets. Several studies showed that tablet anisotropy can play a role in the occurrence of such defects. In this work, we propose a new and easy methodology to characterize the anisotropy of flat-faced cylindrical tablets, which are considered as transversally isotropic due to the process, through the study of their elastic properties using impulse excitation technique and finite-element method (FEM) simulations. The study was performed for tablets with a thickness-to-diameter-ratio between 0. 160 and 0.222. FEM simulations showed that it was possible to determine three out of the five elastic constants of the tablet using the first three natural vibration modes. An anisotropic index was then built as the ratio of the two apparent shear moduli. Moreover, in order to simplify the estimation of tablet anisotropy and to avoid the systematic use of FEM simulations, an analytical model was also developed. It only requires the measurement of the tablet dimensions and of the first three natural frequencies. Using this technique, experimental measurements on tablets made of classical pharmaceutical excipients were done and found coherent with the existing literature. This indicates thus that this methodology is a quick, easy and reliable characterization method in order to access tablet anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the European Space Science Committee (ESSC) along with its activities and contributions to the definition of a European space policy. Association of the ESSC with the European Science Foundation; Place of scientific research in a European space policy; ESSC and the European Union (EU); European Space Science Directory; EU's Framework V program.

We present an in-depth analysis of the angle and mode tuning dependence of the polarization splitting in detuned organic microcavities. The system consists of highly reflecting dielectric mirrors comprising a continuous wedge-shaped cavity layer of 4,4′-bis(N-carbazole)-biphenyl, doped with 2 wt % of 4,4′-bis[(N-carbazole)styryl]-biphenyl as the active material. By varying the measurement position across the sample, we shift the resonant mode with respect to the center of the cavity stop band. Starting from small detunings, the splitting value increases non-linearly up to 58 meV, when the resonant modes reach the stop band edge. We compare this behavior with results from transfer matrix calculations and theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated different concrete samples with respect to their gamma-radiation transmission properties of Cs-137. From results of gamma-spectroscopic measurements, respective half-value layers are presented for ordinary, hematite, and barite concrete. The outcomes are compared to literature values. In addition, CT scans were performed and analyzed to reveal structural impacts on shielding properties. Finally, Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to examine the reliability of theoretical predictions. As a result, precise specification of the concrete composition is essential to simulate shielding designs of new facilities, as accurate theoretical predictions are necessary to avoid excessive costs due to oversizing or rework. • Discrepancies between measured and simulated half-value layers are observed. • Half-value layers are presented for ordinary, hematite, and barite concrete. • Gamma-transmission measurements and CT scans reveal structural impacts on shielding properties. • Monte-Carlo simulations show that a precise specification of the concrete composition/density is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a histological comparison of 50% and 70% glycolic acid peels using solutions with various pHs. Alpha hydroxy acids have become popular as skin rejuvination products. Among the various agents available, glycolic acids have enjoyed the greatest popularity. This study demonstrates that chemical peeling with a 70% free glycolic acid creates more tissue damage than a free glycolic acid. When using a 70% glycolic acid solution, the lower pH products create more necrosis than the partially neutralized products with a pH above 2. At this time there is no evidence that creating necrosis leads to a more favorable result of the peel. Therefore, the use of partially neutralized glycolic acid solutions scents prudent, since they have a better safety profile than low pH solutions, which contain only free glycolic acid.

Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI) often leads to persisting somatic, cognitive, and social impairments. Cognitive impairments of processing speed, sustained attention, and working memory are frequently reported and may negatively affect activities of daily living and quality of life. Rehabilitation efforts aiming to retrain these cognitive functions have often consisted of computerized training programs. However, few studies have demonstrated effects that transfer beyond the trained tasks. There is a growing optimism regarding the potential usefulness of virtual reality (VR) in cognitive rehabilitation. The research literature is sparse, and existing studies are characterized by considerable methodological weaknesses. There is also a lack of knowledge about the acceptance and tolerability of VR as an intervention method for people with ABI. The present study aims to investigate whether playing a commercially available VR game is effective in training cognitive functions after ABI and to explore if the possible effects transfer into everyday functioning. Methods: One hundred participants (18–65 years), with a verified ABI, impairments of processing speed/attention, and/or working memory, and a minimum of 12 months post injury will be recruited. Participants with severe aphasia, apraxia, visual neglect, epilepsy, and severe mental illness will be excluded. Participants will be randomized into two parallel groups: (1) an intervention group playing a commercial VR game taxing processing speed, working memory, and sustained attention; (2) an active control group receiving psychoeducation regarding compensatory strategies, and general cognitive training tasks such as crossword puzzles or sudoku. The intervention period is 5 weeks. The VR group will be asked to train at home for 30 min 5 days per week. Each participant will be assessed at baseline with neuropsychological tests and questionnaires, after the end of the intervention (5 weeks), and 16 weeks after baseline. After the end of the intervention period, focus group interviews will be conducted with 10 of the participants in the intervention group, in order to investigate acceptance and tolerability of VR as a training method. Discussion: This study will contribute to improve understanding of how VR is tolerated and experienced by the ABI population. If proven effective, the study can contribute to new rehabilitation methods that persons with ABI can utilize in a home setting, after the post-acute rehabilitation has ended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian primates differ regarding landscape characteristics within their ranges (e.g. habitat availability) and life‐history traits (e.g. body size). These landscape and life history attributes may be related to extinction risk. Here, we verified how such attributes correlate with primate threat categories. We considered 124 Brazilian primates based on the 2014 Brazilian list of threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) and non‐threatened (Least Concern and Near Threatened) species. We then characterized their landscape (i.e. habitat availability, habitat loss and fragmentation, indigenous lands, roads, urban areas, deforestation arch) and life‐history attributes (i.e. body weight, gestation length and generation time), which together make up the threat context for each threat category. We compared threat categories to identify differences in such attributes, considering biome (Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Caatinga and Cerrado) as a factor and testing for phylogenetic effect. We investigated the attributes responsible for group characterization for specific threats and binary threatened/non‐threatened categories. We show that life history and landscape attributes differ in the biomes. However, only landscape features varied across biomes. In the Amazon, the threatened categories reached the highest level of habitat loss in the last 30 years, while in the Atlantic Forest, the landscape of threatened species had the highest proportions of roads and urban areas. Most threatened species landscapes in the Caatinga and Cerrado were highly fragmented. We found a positive link between human impacts and extinction risk in the Amazon. In the other biomes, anthropogenic landscape characteristics were associated with threatened and non‐threatened species. Threatened species tended to have large bodies and a slow life history, regardless of the biome. The more closely related the species, the more similar the traits. We suggest considering biomes and threat categories together with specific landscape and life history attributes to distinguish primate threat context for species conservation priority‐setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the individual cow level, suboptimum fertility, mastitis, negative energy balance, and ketosis are major issues in dairy farming. These problems are widespread on dairy farms and have an important economic impact. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the potential of milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra to predict key biomarkers of energy deficit (citrate, isocitrate, glucose-6 phosphate [glucose-6P], free glucose), ketosis (β-hydroxybutyrate [BHB] and acetone), mastitis (N -acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase activity [NAGase] and lactate dehydrogenase), and fertility (progesterone); (2) to test alternative methodologies to partial least squares (PLS) regression to better account for the specific asymmetric distribution of the biomarkers; and (3) to create robust models by merging large datasets from 5 international or national projects. Benefiting from this international collaboration, the dataset comprised a total of 9,143 milk samples from 3,758 cows located in 589 herds across 10 countries and represented 7 breeds. The samples were analyzed by reference chemistry for biomarker contents, whereas the MIR analyses were performed on 30 instruments from different models and brands, with spectra harmonized into a common format. Four quantitative methodologies were evaluated to address the strongly skewed distribution of some biomarkers. Partial least squares regression was used as the reference basis, and compared with a random modification of distribution associated with PLS (random-downsampling-PLS), an optimized modification of distribution associated with PLS (KennardStone-downsampling-PLS), and support vector machine (SVM). When the ability of MIR to predict biomarkers was too low for quantification, different qualitative methodologies were tested to discriminate low versus high values of biomarkers. For each biomarker, 20% of the herds were randomly removed within all countries to be used as the validation dataset. The remaining 80% of herds were used as the calibration dataset. In calibration, the 3 alternative methodologies outperform the PLS performances for the majority of biomarkers. However, in the external herd validation, PLS provided the best results for isocitrate, glucose-6P, free glucose, and lactate dehydrogenase (coefficient of determination in external herd validation [R2v] = 0.48, 0.58, 0.28, and 0.24, respectively). For other molecules, PLS-random-downsampling and PLS-KennardStone-downsampling outperformed PLS in the majority of cases, but the best results were provided by SVM for citrate, BHB, acetone, NAGase, and progesterone (R2v = 0.94, 0.58, 0.76, 0.68, and 0.15, respectively). Hence, PLS and SVM based on the entire dataset provided the best results for normal and skewed distributions, respectively. Complementary to the quantitative methods, the qualitative discriminant models enabled the discrimination of high and low values for BHB, acetone, and NAGase with a global accuracy around 90%, and glucose-6P with an accuracy of 83%. In conclusion, MIR spectra of milk can enable quantitative screening of citrate as a biomarker of energy deficit and discrimination of low and high values of BHB, acetone, and NAGase, as biomarkers of ketosis and mastitis. Finally, progesterone could not be predicted with sufficient accuracy from milk MIR spectra to be further considered. Consequently, MIR spectrometry can bring valuable information regarding the occurrence of energy deficit, ketosis, and mastitis in dairy cows, which in turn have major influences on their fertility and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Comparison of four fleet operational strategies for automated mobility. • Rebalancing-based strategies allow for acceptable wait times and costs. • Fleet sizing for an automated mobility system in Zurich, Switzerland. Abstract We evaluate performance of four different operational policies to control an automated mobility-on-demand system with sequential vehicle-sharing in one public open-source-accessible, agent-based, high fidelity simulation environment. Detailed network dynamics on a road level of precision are taken into account. The case study is conducted in a simulation scenario of Zurich city. The results indicate that automated vehicles' shared mobility systems can provide approximately six times higher occupancy rates than conventional private cars, but that their costs – in Switzerland – are considerably higher than those of subsidized public transport or private cars in the short term. However, these services are predicted to be considerably cheaper than the full costs of owning and using a private car, which makes the long-term adoption of automated taxi services likely. Simulations demonstrate that choice of fleet operational policy determining customer-vehicle assignment and repositioning of empty vehicles (rebalancing) heavily influences system performance, e.g., wait times and cost. This aspect must thus be regarded as an important factor in the interpretation of existing and future simulation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impairments in social cognition are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may have severe negative consequences for patients and their families. Most tests of social cognition have limited ecological validity due to simplistic and contrived social stimuli with limited relevance to everyday social functioning. There is a need for measures of social cognition that reflect the dynamic, multimodal and contextualized nature of social situations and that predict real-world functioning. Three hundred sixty–degree (360°) Virtual Reality (VR) video can increase ecological validity through enhanced social presence, or a sense of "being there". This paper describes the development and protocol design for validation of a Norwegian VR-version of The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT), which is a widely used video-based test of social cognition. Methods: Development of VR TASIT included filming 61 short videos depicting social interactions in both VR and desktop format, using a 360° camera. Software for standardized test administration and collection of performance data was developed in Unity, for administration on both VR and desktop interface. The validation study will test the reliability and validity of VR TASIT in participants with TBI (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 100). Half of the participants will perform the desktop version, and the other half the VR version. Analyses will include known groups validity, convergent and divergent validity, as well as test–retest reliability of VR TASIT. A comparison of the ability of TASIT VR and desktop versions to predict real-world functioning (ecological validity) will be explored using the Social Skills Questionnaire for TBI and La Trobe Communication Questionnaire. Finally, the levels of perceived social presence of the stimulus materials and prevalence of cybersickness after exposure to the virtual environment will be documented. Discussion: It is expected that VR TASIT will have comparable or better psychometric properties than the desktop version, and that the hypothesized increased level of social presence experienced in a virtual environment will result in improved ecological validity. More broadly, benefits and limitations of using VR video as stimulus material in assessment of social cognition and considerations for future development and clinical validation are discussed. Trial registration: The study protocol was pre-registered in ClinicalTrials (April 4th 2022, NCT05309005). The study was retrospectively registered in Open Science Framework (December 15th 2022, osf.io/2vem8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacoresistance is a major burden in the treatment of epilepsy. The search for an effective and well-tolerated antiepileptic drug (AED) is overall achieved by trial and error. This process often turns out to be challenging and irksome for both, the patient and the clinician. Genetic biomarkers can help in the choice of AEDs in order to individualize the treatment. In the framework of the EpiPGX consortium, a European research project on epilepsy pharmacogenomics, 5000 patients were recruited and meticulously phenotyped. Patient samples were supplied by 10 specialized epilepsy centers. More than 500 phenotype items were assessed. Detailed definitions for pharmacogenomics phenotypes such as multiresistance or late response – i.e. response to a second or later given AED, see below – were created. The consistency of the supplied phenotypes across the participating centers was guaranteed by repeated phenotyping workshops and two rounds of validation exercises on a set of 10 anonymized medical records. Mean inter-rater agreement was 82% for AED outcome classification. True misclassifications accounted for only 5–9% of all cases. We identified and phenotyped patients with focal epilepsies that were late responders to specific AEDs. Late response was defined as 12 months of seizure freedom after failure of at least one well-tolerated AED. We identified 338 late responders to levetiracetam, lamotrigine, or lacosamide. Those are currently being analyzed in the setting of a genome wide association study (GWAS) against a much larger group of non-reponders to the same drugs and to a group of normal controls. For idiopathic generalized epilepsies, we are comparing responders and non-responders to lamotrigine and valproate (VPA). For VPA we identified 487 responders and 164 non-responders; for LTG 158 responders and 217 non-responders. Furthermore we identified 53 subjects that were responders only to the combination of VPA and LTG. The results of the GWAS analysis are pending and are expected in February 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Timed Artificial Insemination Enables High Fertilization Rates in Normal Cycling and in Superovulated Cattle With Reduced Dosages of Unsorted Spermatozoa and With Sexed Spermatozoa," by F. Becker et al is presented.