bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ECDEP: identifying essential proteins based on evolutionary community discovery and subcellular localization
Authors: Ye Chen , Wu Qi , Chen Shuxia , Zhang Xuemei , Xu Wenwen , Wu Yunzhi , Zhang Youhua , Yue Yi
Published: January 2024

Background

In cellular activities, essential proteins play a vital role and are instrumental in comprehending fundamental biological necessities and identifying pathogenic genes. Current deep learning approaches for predicting essential proteins underutilize the potential of gene expression data and are inadequate for the exploration of dynamic networks with limited evaluation across diverse species.

Results

We introduce ECDEP, an essential protein identification model based on evolutionary community discovery. ECDEP integrates temporal gene expression data with a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and employs the 3-Sigma rule to eliminate outliers at each time point, constructing a dynamic network. Next, we utilize edge birth and death information to establish an interaction streaming source to feed into the evolutionary community discovery algorithm and then identify overlapping communities during the evolution of the dynamic network. SVM recursive feature elimination (RFE) is applied to extract the most informative communities, which are combined with subcellular localization data for classification predictions.

We assess the performance of ECDEP by comparing it against ten centrality methods, four shallow machine learning methods with RFE, and two deep learning methods that incorporate multiple biological data sources onSaccharomyces. Cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae),Homo sapiens (H. sapiens),Mus musculus, andCaenorhabditis elegans. ECDEP achieves an AP value of 0.86 on theH. sapiensdataset and the contribution ratio of community features in classification reaches 0.54 on theS. cerevisiae(Krogan) dataset.

Conclusions

Our proposed method adeptly integrates network dynamics and yields outstanding results across various datasets. Furthermore, the incorporation of evolutionary community discovery algorithms amplifies the capacity of gene expression data in classification.
Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and associated reasons among Iranian primary healthcare workers: a mixed method study
Authors: Kakemam Edris , Maassoumi Katayoun , Azimi Somayeh , Abbasi Madineh , Tahmasbi Fateme , Alizadeh Mahasti
Published: January 2024

Background

Different mental disorders may be associated with many work-related factors to which primary health care workers (PHCWs) are exposed. The current research aims to measure the rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among PHCWs, and their associated causes in primary health care (PHC) settings.

Methods

An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed in this research from January 2021 to January 2022 in Tabriz, Iran’s PHC centers. First, this study followed an online-based cross-sectional survey using a self-reported questionnaire. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) and questions on demographic and work-related characteristics were completed by 303 frontline PHCWs during the quantitative phase. In the qualitative phase, a semi-structured interview was held with 12 PHCWs who had the highest level of depression, anxiety, and stress to identify the reasons and sources of mental health prevalence. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS-26. A content analysis was performed to analyze qualitative data.

Results

The results showed that self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression had a prevalence of 40.3%, 42.9%, and 42.6%, respectively. Symptoms of at least one mental disorder were experienced by 54% of respondents, while 28% had all three. Major sources of stress, anxiety, and depression among PHCWs were working environment conditions, organizational policies, job-related reasons, and interpersonal relations.

Conclusions

The results of current study indicated that PHCWs experienced high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The main factors and reasons that contributed to these mental health issues among PHCWs were work environment conditions, organizational policies, job-related reasons and interpersonal relations. Therefore, interventions should be implemented to promote mental health of PHCWs. This can include measures such as psychological screening, supportive care, workload management, flexible scheduling, and access to mental health resources. Additionally, training programs can be implemented to enhance resilience and coping skills among healthcare professionals.
Myth or fact: 3D-printed off-the-shelf prosthesis is superior to titanium mesh cage in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion?
Authors: He Haoyu , Fan Lei , Lü Guohua , Li Xinyi , Li Yunchao , Zhang Ou , Chen Zejun , Yuan Hui , Pan Changyu , Wang Xiaoxiao , Kuang Lei
Published: January 2024

Background

To find out if three-dimensional printing (3DP) off-the-shelf (OTS) prosthesis is superior to titanium mesh cages in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) when treating single-segment degenerative cervical spondylotic myelopathy (DCSM).

Methods

DCSM patients underwent ACCF from January 2016 to January 2019 in a single center were included. Patients were divided into the 3DP group (28) and the TMC group (23). The hospital stays, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and the cost of hospitalization were compared. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were recorded pre-operatively, 1 day, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-operatively. Radiological data was measured to evaluate fusion, subsidence, and cervical lordosis. Patients were sent with SF-36 to assess their health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Results

The differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay were not statistically significant between groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative dysphagia occurred in 2 cases in the 3DP group and 3 cases in the TMC group, which all relieved one week later. The difference in improvement of JOA and NDI between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No hardware failure was found and bony fusion was achieved in all cases except one in the 3DP group. The difference in cervical lordosis (CL), fused segmental angle (FSA), mean vertebral height (MVH), and subsidence rates between groups at each follow-up time point was not statistically significant and the results of the SF-36 were similar (p > 0.05). The total cost was higher in the 3DP group with its higher graft cost (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In treating single-segment DCSM with ACCF, both 3DP OTS prosthesis and TMC achieved satisfactory outcomes. However, the more costly 3DP OTS prosthesis was not able to reduce subsidence as it claimed.
Effect of the Japanese medical office system on job satisfaction, loyalty, engagement, and organizational commitment of medical practitioners: a survey of cardiologists in the acute care setting
Authors: Hashimoto Satoru , Motozawa Yoshihiro , Mano Toshiki
Published: January 2024

Background

In Japan, medical doctors have traditionally been assigned from university medical offices, under the medical office system. The present study examined the effects of the medical office system on job satisfaction, engagement, loyalty, and organizational commitment among cardiologists.

Methods

In this study, a survey of 156 cardiologists was conducted, from April 22, 2023, to May 21, 2023, to examine the effect of the medical office system on employee job satisfaction, employee engagement, and organizational commitment.

Results

Compared with the group that belonged to a medical office system (affiliated group, n = 117), the group that did not belong to a medical office system (non-affiliated group, n = 39) was affiliated to hospitals with a smaller number of beds. The results of the factor analysis showed that four types of hospital management styles were generated, namely, environment-, loyalty-building-, treatment-, and philosophy-oriented hospitals. There is an indication that the philosophy-oriented management style was adopted at the workplaces of the non-affiliated group. The treatment-oriented style also tended to be higher in the non-affiliated group than in the affiliated group. Furthermore, the non-affiliated group had higher organizational commitment, indicating that they were more likely to agree with the management philosophy set forth by hospital executives.

Conclusion

Although the medical office system did not affect job satisfaction, compared with medical doctors with the affiliated group, those with the non-affiliated group tended to work in hospitals that emphasized philosophy-oriented management, and they received moderate compensation while practicing in an environment suitable for their specialty. These results suggest that the medical office system makes it difficult for medical doctors to have high workplace loyalty, engagement, and commitment to the hospital to which they are dispatched.
A dry polymer nanocomposite transcutaneous electrode for functional electrical stimulation
Authors: Marquez-Chin Melissa , Saadatnia Zia , Sun Yu-Chen , Naguib Hani E. , Popovic Milos R.
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be used in rehabilitation to aid or improve function in people with paralysis. In clinical settings, it is common practice to use transcutaneous electrodes to apply the electrical stimulation, since they are non-invasive, and can be easily applied and repositioned as necessary. However, the current electrode options available for transcutaneous FES are limited and can have practical disadvantages, such as the need for a wet interface with the skin for better comfort and performance. Hence, we were motivated to develop a dry stimulation electrode which could perform equivalently or better than existing commercially available options.

Methods

We manufactured a thin-film dry polymer nanocomposite electrode, characterized it, and tested its performance for stimulation purposes with thirteen healthy individuals. We compared its functionality in terms of stimulation-induced muscle torque and comfort level against two other types of transcutaneous electrodes: self-adhesive hydrogel and carbon rubber. Each electrode type was also tested using three different stimulators and different intensity levels of stimulation.

Results

We found the proposed dry polymer nanocomposite electrode to be functional for stimulation, as there was no statistically significant difference between its performance to the other standard electrodes. Namely, the proposed dry electrode had comparable muscle torque generated and comfort level as the self-adhesive hydrogel and carbon rubber electrodes. From all combinations of electrode type and stimulators tested, the dry polymer nanocomposite electrode with the MyndSearch stimulator had the most comfortable average rating.

Conclusions

The dry polymer nanocomposite electrode is a durable and flexible alternative to existing self-adhesive hydrogel and carbon rubber electrodes, which can be used without the addition of a wet interfacing agent (i.e., water or gel) to perform as well as the current electrodes used for stimulation purposes.
JAK/STAT in leukemia: a clinical update
Authors: Liang Dong , Wang Qiaoli , Zhang Wenbiao , Tang Hailin , Song Cailu , Yan Zhimin , Liang Yang , Wang Hua
Published: January 2024

Over the past three decades, considerable efforts have been expended on understanding the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in leukemia, following the identification of the JAK2V617F mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The aim of this review is to summarize the latest progress in our understanding of the involvement of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in the development of leukemia. We also attempt to provide insights into the current use of JAK/STAT inhibitors in leukemia therapy and explore pertinent clinical trials in this field.
Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of an Arabic version of PROMIS® of dyspnea activity motivation, requirement item pool and sleep-related impairments item bank
Authors: Aldhahi Monira I. , Bakhsh Hadeel R. , Bin Sheeha Bodor H. , Alhasani Rehab
Published: January 2024

Background

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Dyspnea Activity Motivation & Requirement item pool and sleep related impairments (SRI) item bank are designed in assessing the impact of dyspnea and sleep and guiding patient management. However, to effectively utilize this tool in Arabic-speaking populations, it is essential to perform a thorough translation and cultural adaptation process. Therefore, the aim of the study is to translate and cross-culturally adapt the translated items of the PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation and requirement and SRI into Arabic.

Methods

A universal approach to translation adopted from PROMIS guideline document for translation and cultural adaptation, and the Chronic Illness Therapy translation methodology. The forward translation step followed by back work translation and Harmonization and quality assurance. Cognitive interview and pilot testing was conducted among 30 Arabic respondents across 5 different countries of Arabic speaker to produce a single version for Arab countries.

Results

A successful translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Arabic was achieved while maintaining equivalency. The translation was clear and more colloquial sentences were semantically equivalent and easy to understand. Equivalence of meaning of PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation, requirement and SRI were achieved. All items were appropriate, relevant to culture and it measured the same concept as the original items. In Items 2 of the dyspnea activity motivation related to leisure activity “shopping”, the term “catalog and website” was added instead of “catalog only” which makes item in line with the original source but more comprehensive and applicable to current shopping trends.

Conclusions

The PROMIS® dyspnea activity motivation, requirement items pool and SRI item bank are culturally and linguistically suitable to be used in Arab country. By extending the accessibility of this measure to Arabic-speaking population, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of management and patient-centered care in the region. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the psychometric properties of these instruments.
Integrinβ-1 in disorders and cancers: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets
Authors: Su Chen , Mo Jie , Dong Shuilin , Liao Zhibin , Zhang Bixiang , Zhu Peng
Published: January 2024

Integrinβ-1 (ITGB1) is a crucial member of the transmembrane glycoprotein signaling receptor family and is also central to the integrin family. It forms heterodimers with other ligands, participates in intracellular signaling and controls a variety of cellular processes, such as angiogenesis and the growth of neurons; because of its role in bidirectional signaling regulation both inside and outside the membrane, ITGB1 must interact with a multitude of substances, so a variety of interfering factors can affect ITGB1 and lead to changes in its function. Over the past 20 years, many studies have confirmed a clear causal relationship between ITGB1 dysregulation and cancer development and progression in a wide range of benign diseases and solid tumor types, which may imply that ITGB1 is a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for cancer treatment that warrants further investigation. This review summarizes the biological roles of ITGB1 in benign diseases and cancers, and compiles the current status of ITGB1 function and therapy in various aspects of tumorigenesis and progression. Finally, future research directions and application prospects of ITGB1 are suggested.
Macrophage barrier in the tumor microenvironment and potential clinical applications
Authors: Ji Shuai , Shi Yuqing , Yin Bo
Published: January 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) constitutes a complex microenvironment comprising a diverse array of immune cells and stromal components. Within this intricate context, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exhibit notable spatial heterogeneity. This heterogeneity contributes to various facets of tumor behavior, including immune response modulation, angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and metastatic potential. This review summarizes the spatial distribution of macrophages in both the physiological environment and the TME. Moreover, this paper explores the intricate interactions between TAMs and diverse immune cell populations (T cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and other immune cells) within the TME. These bidirectional exchanges form a complex network of immune interactions that influence tumor immune surveillance and evasion strategies. Investigating TAM heterogeneity and its intricate interactions with different immune cell populations offers potential avenues for therapeutic interventions. Additionally, this paper discusses therapeutic strategies targeting macrophages, aiming to uncover novel approaches for immunotherapy.
Blood pressure lowering enhances cerebrospinal fluid efflux to the systemic circulation primarily via the lymphatic vasculature
Authors: Jukkola Jari , Kaakinen Mika , Singh Abhishek , Moradi Sadegh , Ferdinando Hany , Myllylä Teemu , Kiviniemi Vesa , Eklund Lauri
Published: January 2024

Background

Inside the incompressible cranium, the volume of cerebrospinal fluid is directly linked to blood volume: a change in either will induce a compensatory change in the other. Vasodilatory lowering of blood pressure has been shown to result in an increase of intracranial pressure, which, in normal circumstances should return to equilibrium by increased fluid efflux. In this study, we investigated the effect of blood pressure lowering on fluorescent cerebrospinal fluid tracer absorption into the systemic blood circulation.

Methods

Blood pressure lowering was performed by an i.v. administration of nitric oxide donor (sodium nitroprusside, 5 µg kg−1 min−1) or the Ca2+-channel blocker (nicardipine hydrochloride, 0.5 µg kg−1 min−1) for 10, and 15 to 40 min, respectively. The effect of ﻿blood pressure lowering on cerebrospinal fluid clearance was investigated by measuring the efflux of fluorescent tracers (40 kDa FITC-dextran, 45 kDa Texas Red-conjugated ovalbumin) into blood and deep cervical lymph nodes. The effect of nicardipine on cerebral hemodynamics was investigated by near-infrared spectroscopy. The distribution of cerebrospinal fluid tracers (40 kDa horse radish peroxidase,160 kDa nanogold-conjugated IgG) in exit pathways was also analyzed at an ultrastructural level using electron microscopy.

Results

Nicardipine and sodium nitroprusside reduced blood pressure by 32.0 ± 19.6% and 24.0 ± 13.3%, while temporarily elevating intracranial pressure by 14.0 ± 7.0% and 18.2 ± 15.0%, respectively. Blood pressure lowering significantly increased tracer accumulation into dorsal dura, deep cervical lymph nodes and systemic circulation, but reduced perivascular inflow along penetrating arteries in the brain. The enhanced tracer efflux by blood pressure lowering into the systemic circulation was markedly reduced (− 66.7%) by ligation of lymphatic vessels draining into deep cervical lymph nodes.

Conclusions

This is the first study showing that cerebrospinal fluid clearance can be improved with acute hypotensive treatment and that the effect of the treatment is reduced by ligation of a lymphatic drainage pathway. Enhanced cerebrospinal fluid clearance by blood pressure lowering may have therapeutic potential in diseases with dysregulated cerebrospinal fluid  flow.
Genetic and clinical characterization of a novel FH founder mutation in families with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome
Authors: Sánchez-Heras Ana Beatriz , Dámaso Estela , Castillejo Adela , Robledo Mercedes , Teulé Alexandre , Lázaro Conxi , Sánchez-Martínez Rosario , Zúñiga Ángel , López-Fernández Adrià , Balmaña Judith , Robles Luis , Ramon y Cajal Teresa , Castillejo M. Isabel , Ibañez Raquel Perea , Sevila Carmen Martínez , Sánchez-Mira Andrea , Escandell Inés , Gómez Luís , Berbel Pere , Soto José Luis
Published: January 2024

Background

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary syndrome. Previously, we published the largest cohort of FH mutation carriers in Spain and observed a highly recurrent missense heterozygous variant, FH(NM_000143.4):c.1118A > G p.(Asn373Ser), in 104 individuals from 31 apparently unrelated families. Here, we aimed to establish its founder effect and characterize the associated clinical phenotype.

Results

Haplotype analysis confirmed that families shared a common haplotype (32/38 markers) spanning 0.61–0.82 Mb, indicating this recurrent variant was inherited from a founder ancestor. Cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis were diagnosed in 64.6% (64/99) and 98% (50/51) of patients, respectively, and renal cell cancer was present in 10.4% (10/96). The pathogenic FH_c.1118A > G variant is a Spanish founder mutation that originated 12–26 generations ago. We estimate that the variant may have appeared between 1370 and 1720. Individuals carrying this founder mutation had similar frequency of renal cell cancer and a higher frequency of renal cysts and leiomyomas than those in other cohorts of this syndrome.

Conclusions

In the Spanish province of Alicante there is a high prevalence of HLRCC because of the founder mutation FH c.1118A > G; p.(Asn373Ser). The characterization of founder mutations provides accurate and specific information regarding their penetrance and expressivity. In individuals with suspected HLRCC from the province of Alicante, genetic testing by direct analysis of the founder FH c.1118A > G; p.(Asn373Ser) mutation may be a faster and more efficient diagnostic tool compared with complete gene sequencing.
Ecological filtering and phylogeographic structuring of Psychrilyobacter within two closely related limpet species from the Southern Ocean
Authors: Schwob Guillaume , Rosenfeld Sebastián , González-Wevar Claudio , Orlando Julieta
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The ecological interdependence between macroorganisms and their microbial communities promotes stable associations over time, potentially leading to their evolutionary co-diversification. The detection of intricate eco-evolutionary interactions between animals and their microbiota is challenging, primarily due to complex bacterial communities related to poorly resolved host population structure. Strikingly, co-diversification in invertebrates, characterized by generally less complex microbiota, remains largely unexplored. Here, we compared the bacterial communities associated with two distinct lineages of Nacella limpets, a dominant shallow water patellogastropod of the Southern Ocean shores with a well-described population structure. Our goals were to elucidate the uniqueness of Nacella microbiota, resulting from an ecological filter that selectively favors certain bacterial taxa. Additionally, we aimed to depict the genetic structure of bacterial symbiont seeking evidence of co-diversification with Nacella.

Methods

We sequence the V4-V5 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in three distinct microenvironments associated with Nacella: rock substrate, radula, and whole intestine. These samples were collected from two populations of Nacella deaurata and Nacella concinna, located in the West Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland/Malvinas Islands, respectively.

Results

We assessed ecological filtering patterns in the limpet microbiota, uncovering unique bacterial communities in both radulas and intestines, with specifically enriched bacterial taxa compared to the surrounding environment. By examining microdiversity patterns of core bacterial taxa, we revealed a deep phylogeographic structure of Psychrilyobacter in Nacella intestines.

Conclusion

We highlight the Southern Ocean limpets of the Nacella genus as a novel and promising model for studying co-diversification between marine mollusks and their resident microbiota.
Nonexistence of positive solutions for the weighted higher-order elliptic system with Navier boundary condition
Authors: Zhao Weiwei , Shao Xiaoling , Hu Changhui , Cheng Zhiyu
Published: January 2024

We establish a Liouville-type theorem for a weighted higher-order elliptic system in a wider exponent region described via a critical curve. We first establish a Liouville-type theorem to the involved integral system and then prove the equivalence between the two systems by using superharmonic properties of the differential systems. This improves the results in (Complex Var. Elliptic Equ. 5:1436–1450, 2013) and (Abstr. Appl. Anal. 2014:593210, 2014).
MSFANet: multi-scale fusion attention network for mangrove remote sensing lmage segmentation using pattern recognition
Authors: Fu Lixiang , Chen Jinbiao , Wang Zhuoying , Zang Tao , Chen Huandong , Wu Shulei , Zhao Yuchen
Published: January 2024

Mangroves are ecosystems that grow in the intertidal areas of coastal zones, playing crucial ecological roles and possessing unique economic and social values. They have garnered significant attention and research interest. Semantic segmentation of mangroves is a fundamental step for further investigations. However, mangrove remote sensing images often have large dimensions, with a substantial portion of the image containing mangrove features. Deep learning convolutional kernels may lead to inadequate receptive fields for accurate mangrove recognition. In mangrove remote sensing images, various challenges arise, including the presence of small and intricate details aside from the mangrove regions, which intensify the segmentation complexity. To address these issues, this paper primarily focuses on two key aspects: first, the exploration of methods to achieve a large receptive field, and second, the fusion of multi-scale information. To this end, we propose the Multi-Scale Fusion Attention Network (MSFANet), which incorporates a multi-scale network structure with a large receptive field for feature fusion. We emphasize preserving spatial information by integrating spatial data across different scales, employing separable convolutions to reduce computational complexity. Additionally, we introduce an Attention Fusion Module (AFM). This module helps mitigate the influence of irrelevant information and enhances segmentation quality. To retain more semantic information, this paper introduces a dual channel approach for information extraction through the deep structure of ResNet. We fuse features using the Feature Fusion Module (FFM) to combine both semantic and spatial information for the final output, further enhancing segmentation accuracy. In this study, a total of 230 images with dimensions of 768 pixels in width and height were selected for this experiment, with 184 images used for training and 46 images for validation. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method achieves excellent segmentation results on a small sample dataset of remote-sensing images, with significant practical value. This paper primarily focuses on three key aspects: the generation of mangrove datasets, the preprocessing of mangrove data, and the design and training of models. The primary contribution of this paper lies in the development of an effective approach for multi-scale information fusion and advanced feature preservation, providing a novel solution for mangrove remote sensing image segmentation tasks. The best Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU) achieved on the mangrove dataset is 86%, surpassing other existing models by a significant margin.
Salience theory value spillovers between China’s systemically important banks: evidence from quantile connectedness
Authors: Jin Xiaoye
Published: January 2024

Analyzing the interdependencies among financial institutions is critical for designing systemic risk monitoring mechanisms; however, most existing research focuses on the first moment of the return distribution, which falls into the conventional models of choice under risk. Previous literature has observed the scarcity of investors’ attention and processing power, which makes the traditional theory of choice under risk more vulnerable and brings the salience theory that accommodates investors’ cognitive limitations to our attention. Motivated by evidence of salience theory value (STV) containing unique information not captured by traditional higher-order moments, we employ a quantile connectedness approach to examine the STV interconnectedness of China’s systemically important banks (C-SIBs). The quantile approach allows us to uncover the dynamic STV interconnectedness of C-SIBs under normal, bearish, and bullish market conditions and is well-suited to extreme risk problems. Our results show that the C-SIBs system is asymmetrically interconnected across quantiles and at higher levels under bullish than bearish market conditions. Principally, a bank’s performance in the C-SIBs system depends on its systemic importance and market conditions. Furthermore, the comparative analysis indicates that STV could provide more information than higher-order moments in capturing the dynamic change in the C-SIBs system and detecting some market events more precisely. These results have important implications for policymakers and market participants to formulate regulatory policy and design risk management strategies.
Multi-task approach based on combined CNN-transformer for efficient segmentation and classification of breast tumors in ultrasound images
Authors: Tagnamas Jaouad , Ramadan Hiba , Yahyaouy Ali , Tairi Hamid
Published: January 2024

Nowadays, inspired by the great success of Transformers in Natural Language Processing, many applications of Vision Transformers (ViTs) have been investigated in the field of medical image analysis including breast ultrasound (BUS) image segmentation and classification. In this paper, we propose an efficient multi-task framework to segment and classify tumors in BUS images using hybrid convolutional neural networks (CNNs)-ViTs architecture and Multi-Perceptron (MLP)-Mixer. The proposed method uses a two-encoder architecture with EfficientNetV2 backbone and an adapted ViT encoder to extract tumor regions in BUS images. The self-attention (SA) mechanism in the Transformer encoder allows capturing a wide range of high-level and complex features while the EfficientNetV2 encoder preserves local information in image. To fusion the extracted features, a Channel Attention Fusion (CAF) module is introduced. The CAF module selectively emphasizes important features from both encoders, improving the integration of high-level and local information. The resulting feature maps are reconstructed to obtain the segmentation maps using a decoder. Then, our method classifies the segmented tumor regions into benign and malignant using a simple and efficient classifier based on MLP-Mixer, that is applied for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, for the task of lesion classification in BUS images. Experimental results illustrate the outperformance of our framework compared to recent works for the task of segmentation by producing 83.42% in terms of Dice coefficient as well as for the classification with 86% in terms of accuracy.
A review on ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete with nanomaterials and its applications
Authors: Anish V. , Logeshwari J.
Published: January 2024

Ultra high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an advanced concrete which exhibits a higher performance mostly in all aspects and has a compressive strength higher than 150 MPa. The paper reviews the usage of different types of fibres, nanomaterials, mineral admixtures, preparation techniques and the utilization of UHPC. Improved microstructure, reduced porosity and homogeneous mixing are the basic requirements of the UHPC design. Though UHPC helps in the preparation of structural members at lesser size, it requires an enormous amount of cement which is accountable for a huge CO2emission, abrasion and cracks; hence, supplementary cementitious materials might be utilized as a limited alternative for cement without sacrificing the strength of concrete at lesser cost. The nanomaterials act as a nucleation site for the C-S–H gel formation by filling the voids and pores, thereby aiding to attain a denser microstructure for UHPC and also delaying the nucleation of the cracks at the nanoscale. The fibres used in the UHPC help in energy dissipation and also produce a bridging effect for micro- and macro-cracks. Based on the investigations, it has been found that the usage of medium hooked-end steel fibres and a hybrid combination of fibres with nanomaterials helps in improving several properties of the UHPC.
Highest resolution high signal-to-noise ratio sonic slowness and application to Brothers Volcano, Kermadec Arc, New Zealand
Authors: Xu Song
Published: January 2024

High resolution and accurate acquisition of underground sonic properties is essential for energy detection and earth exploration. An effective method is developed to accurately calculate sonic slowness at the highest resolution (receiver spacing of 0.5 ft) with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The method uses supervirtual interferometry to reconstruct a large number of waveforms for slowness extraction using redundant information from overlapping interreceiver spacing. Synthetic calculations are used to verify the validity of the method, especially in the limited case of strong noise interference and the presence of damaged channels in the array receivers, to accurately calculate the formation of sonic slowness. The theory is applied to process and interpret low data-quality field measurements acquired at Brothers Volcano from the International Ocean Discovery Program. The processing analysis indicates that in the case of very weak formation signals, the residual tool waves from the wireline sonic logging can still interfere with the high-resolution processing, whereas this method can effectively suppress this interference and accurately obtain the formation sonic velocity.
Features of self-attitude and self-esteem of freelancers
Authors: Umlauft V.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Freelancing can be analyzed through psychological prism of escapism, through the
desire not to be involved in the systems of inflexible social ties that are accepted in group
(career, family, classical education, etc.)

Objectives

Freelancers have a non-standard self-attitude and self-description, which indicates
their “isolation” from the real social world by these people.

Methods

Quantitive (Spyrman’s criteria and corellations) and qualitive
analisys ( semi-structured interviews). N = 300, residents of ussia and Austria.

Results

The hypothesis was rejected that freelancers do not have career and personal
orientations, in contrast to individuals who are not prone to this type of career choice. The
absence of a connection between goal setting and downshifting was revealed based on the
analysis of the author’s questionnaire for goal setting.

The hypothesis was empirically confirmed that freelancers have more pronounced
indicators such as global self-attitude, self-esteem, self-sympathy, expected attitude from
others, self-confidence, self-acceptance in the affective component of the self-concept, in
contrast to people choosing the traditional career path.

Conclusions

Freelancers have a less pronounced indicator of self-accusation, in contrast to people
committed to careerism.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Using an expert survey and user feedback to construct PRECHECK: A checklist to evaluate preprints on COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Turoman Nora , Heyard Rachel , Schwab Simon , Furrer Eva , Vergauwe Evie , Held Leonhard
Published: January 2024

Background The quality of COVID-19 preprints should be considered with great care, as their contents can influence public policy. Surprisingly little has been done to calibrate the public’s evaluation of preprints and their contents. The PRECHECK project aimed to generate a tool to teach and guide scientifically literate non-experts to critically evaluate preprints, on COVID-19 and beyond. Methods To create a checklist, we applied a four-step procedure consisting of an initial internal review, an external review by a pool of experts (methodologists, meta-researchers/experts on preprints, journal editors, and science journalists), a final internal review, and a Preliminary implementation stage. For the external review step, experts rated the relevance of each element of the checklist on five-point Likert scales, and provided written feedback. After each internal review round, we applied the checklist on a small set of high-quality preprints from an online list of milestone research works on COVID-19 and low-quality preprints, which were eventually retracted, to verify whether the checklist can discriminate between the two categories. Results At the external review step, 26 of the 54 contacted experts responded. The final checklist contained four elements (Research question, study type, transparency and integrity, and limitations), with ‘superficial’ and ‘deep’ evaluation levels. When using both levels, the checklist was effective at discriminating a small set of high- and low-quality preprints. Its usability for assessment and discussion of preprints was confirmed in workshops with Bachelors students in Psychology and Medicine, and science journalists. Conclusions We created a simple, easy-to-use tool for helping scientifically literate non-experts navigate preprints with a critical mind and facilitate discussions within, for example, a beginner-level lecture on research methods. We believe that our checklist has potential to help guide decisions about the quality of preprints on COVID-19 in our target audience and that this extends beyond COVID-19.
Modeling document labels using Latent Dirichlet allocation for archived documents in Integrated Quality Assurance System (IQAS)
Authors: Prianes Freddie , Palaoag Thelma
Published: January 2024

Background As part of the transition of every higher education institution into an intelligent campus here in the Philippines, the Commission of Higher Education has launched a program for the development of smart campuses for state universities and colleges to improve operational efficiency in the country. With regards to the commitment of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges to improve the accreditation operation and to resolve the evident problems in the accreditation process, the researchers propose this study as part of an Integrated Quality Assurance System that aims to develop an intelligent model that will be used in categorizing and automating tagging of archived documents used during accreditation. Methods As a guide in modeling the study, the researchers use an agile method as it promotes flexibility, speed, and, most importantly, continuous improvement in developing, testing, documenting, and even after delivery of the software. This method helped the researchers design the prototype with the implementation of the said model to aid the file searching process and label tagging. Moreover, a computational analysis is also included to understand the result from the devised model further. Results As a result, from the processed sample corpus, the document labels are faculty, activities, library, research, and materials. The labels generated are based on the total relative frequencies, which are 0.009884, 0.008825, 0.007413, 0.007413, and 0.006354, respectively, that have been computed between the ratio of how many times the term was used in the document and the total word count of the whole document. Conclusions The devised model and prototype support the organization in file storing and categorization of accreditation documents. Through this, retrieving and classifying the data is easier, which is the main problem for the task group. Further, other clustering, modeling, and text classification patterns can be integrated into the prototype.
Innovación docente en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Geodemografía
Authors: del Valle Ramos Carolina
Published: January 2024

La implementación de acciones docentes innovadoras en la asignatura «Técnicas y Análisis Demográfico», mediante la aplicación de un Ciclo de Mejora Docente en el Aula (CIMA), ha conseguido mejorar el grado en el que el alumnado adquiere una serie de competencias generales y específica fijadas en el proyecto docente de la misma. Constituye, por tanto, una nueva forma de enseñar Geodemografía, pero también una nueva forma de aprenderla. Para ello se ha modificado el mapa de contenidos de cursos anteriores, se ha desarrollado un nuevo modelo metodológico y se han planteado los nuevos principios docentes sobre los que seguir trabajando en los próximos cursos.
Three dimensional (3D) printing in Orthopaedics: Scope of application and future perspectives
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai-12, Hon Consultant, Jaslok, Nanavati & Shushrusha Hospitals, Mumbai, India., Mohanty Shubhranshu S , Kadam Tushar ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai-12, Hon Consultant, Jaslok, Nanavati & Shushrusha Hospitals, Mumbai, India., Srivastava Sushant ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Mata Gujri Memorial Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar, India.
Published: January 2024

Three dimensional (3D) printing also known as additive manufacturing has the potential to change the paradigm of Orthopaedic practice. Modern times have witnessed exponential growth in 3D-printing technology as well as its uses. A wide spectrum of printers are now available, ranging from the desktop printer to high end manufacturing units. The ability to use a plethora of materials and create almost limitless geometric shapes with varying surface topography makes this method of production highly appealing. Certain inherent advantages include easy customizability, small production runs, less wastage of material, smaller footprint. Challenges such as lack of data, absence of established government regulations and cost considerations remain, but one can expect these to be overcome as the economy of scale plays out and the medical fraternity becomes more accommodating of the new technology. Keywords: Three dimensional printing, Recent Advances, Arthroplasty, Spine, Tumor Implants
Recent Advances in Spine Surgery- Pros and Cons
Authors:   Consultant Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai- 400703, India,, Vatkar Arvind Janardhan , Shinde Sumedha ,   Assistant Professor, Sir JJ Blood Center, Byculla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400008, India,, Kale Sachin ,   Department of Orthopedics, D Y Patil Hospital and medical college, Ayyappa Temple Road, Dr D Y Patil Vidyanagar, Sector 5, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400706, India,, Bhor Pramod ,   Director of Department of Orthopaedics, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai- 400703, India.
Published: January 2024

Recent innovations in spine surgery, such as minimally invasive spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, robotic spine surgery, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and biomaterials, have resulted in significant gains, although more work need to be done. Minimally invasive and endoscopic spine operations provide the advantages of minimum tissue stress and early recovery, but they have a high learning curve. Robotic spine surgery and virtual reality can improve precision and planning, although they are expensive and may be restricted in availability. Artificial intelligence and biomaterials show promise for personalised therapy, but their long-term implications are still being investigated. To make educated judgments for their patients, surgeons must consider the benefits and drawbacks of various technologies. Keywords: Minimally invasive spine surgery, Artificial intelligence, Robotic spine surgery, Endoscopic spine surgery, Virtual reality, Biomaterials
Current Strategy of Management of Distal Radius Fractures in Geriatric Populations
Authors:   [1] Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, Pinnacle Orthocentre, Thane, Maharashtra, India, [2] Department of Orthopaedics, Jupiter Hospital, Thane, Maharashtra, India., Lad Parag B
Published: January 2024

The distal radius fractures in geriatric population is one of common emergency admission in hospitals. In view of increasing life expectancy, requirement of continuation of work for having independent life, expectation of better outcome in active elderly population is changed. Non-operatively treated undisplaced and extra-articular fractures give good functional outcome. Intra-articular fractures or grossly displaced fractures in active geriatric patients are treated by open reduction and volar locking plate osteosynthesis. This article described factors to consider for treatment, methodology of treatment for various fracture patterns depending upon physical fitness of patient and radiological parameters. Keywords: distal radius, geriatric, management
Delayed Onset Iatrogenic Femur fracture in a Child Primarily treated with Cerclage Wires: Unrecorded Complications of an Unconventional Treatment Method
Authors:   Gharote Clinic, Thane Maharashtra, India., Gharote Amol , Laud N S ,   Laud Clinic, Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Mehta Bhavika ,   Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Pune, Maharashtra, India., Shyam Ashok ,   Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2024

Paediatric femur shaft fractures are common bony injuries in children. Although there are set protocol for these fractures, sometimes a deviation from standard methods may lead to unpredicted consequences. We report a case of femoral shaft fracture in a 8 years old boy which was primarily treated with 3 cerclage wires. The fracture healed over next few months but the child presented with refracture at the same site 11 months post first surgery. There was vascular compromise at the cerclage site which caused the fracture. This was treated with plate fixation and fracture finally healed. In this case report we highlight how not following the basic principles of treatment and management can lead to further complications. We also bring to light a previously unreported complication of one such unfavoured and rather unconventional method of fixation. Keywords: Pediatric Femur Fracture, Cerclage, Nonunion, iatrogenic