bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptual Quality Assessment of NeRF and Neural View Synthesis Methods for Front‐Facing Views
Authors: Liang H. , Wu T. , Hanji P. , Banterle F. , Gao H. , Mantiuk R. , Öztireli C.
Published: April 2024

Neural view synthesis (NVS) is one of the most successful techniques for synthesizing free viewpoint videos, capable of achieving high fidelity from only a sparse set of captured images. This success has led to many variants of the techniques, each evaluated on a set of test views typically using image quality metrics such as PSNR, SSIM, or LPIPS. There has been a lack of research on how NVS methods perform with respect to perceived video quality. We present the first study on perceptual evaluation of NVS and NeRF variants. For this study, we collected two datasets of scenes captured in a controlled lab environment as well as in‐the‐wild. In contrast to existing datasets, these scenes come with reference video sequences, allowing us to test for temporal artifacts and subtle distortions that are easily overlooked when viewing only static images. We measured the quality of videos synthesized by several NVS methods in a well‐controlled perceptual quality assessment experiment as well as with many existing state‐of‐the‐art image/video quality metrics. We present a detailed analysis of the results and recommendations for dataset and metric selection for NVS evaluation.
Predicting Perceived Gloss: Do Weak Labels Suffice?
Authors: Guerrero‐Viu Julia , Subias J. Daniel , Serrano Ana , Storrs Katherine R. , Fleming Roland W. , Masia Belen , Gutierrez Diego
Published: April 2024

Estimating perceptual attributes of materials directly from images is a challenging task due to their complex, not fully‐understood interactions with external factors, such as geometry and lighting. Supervised deep learning models have recently been shown to outperform traditional approaches, but rely on large datasets of human‐annotated images for accurate perception predictions. Obtaining reliable annotations is a costly endeavor, aggravated by the limited ability of these models to generalise to different aspects of appearance. In this work, we show how a much smaller set of human annotations (“strong labels”) can be effectively augmented with automatically derived “weak labels” in the context of learning a low‐dimensional image‐computable gloss metric. We evaluate three alternative weak labels for predicting human gloss perception from limited annotated data. Incorporating weak labels enhances our gloss prediction beyond the current state of the art. Moreover, it enables a substantial reduction in human annotation costs without sacrificing accuracy, whether working with rendered images or real photographs.
Enhancing Spatiotemporal Resampling with a Novel MIS Weight
Authors: Pan Xingyue , Zhang Jiaxuan , Huang Jiancong , Liu Ligang
Published: April 2024

In real‐time rendering, optimizing the sampling of large‐scale candidates is crucial. The spatiotemporal reservoir resampling (ReSTIR) method provides an effective approach for handling large candidate samples, while the Generalized Resampled Importance Sampling (GRIS) theory provides a general framework for resampling algorithms. However, we have observed that when using the generalized multiple importance sampling (MIS) weight in previous work during spatiotemporal reuse, variances gradually amplify in the candidate domain when there are significant differences. To address this issue, we propose a new MIS weight suitable for resampling that blends samples from different sampling domains, ensuring convergence of results as the proportion of non‐canonical samples increases. Additionally, we apply this weight to temporal resampling to reduce noise caused by scene changes or jitter. Our method effectively reduces energy loss in the biased version of ReSTIR DI while incurring no additional overhead, and it also suppresses artifacts caused by a high proportion of temporal samples. As a result, our approach leads to lower variance in the sampling results.
Enhancing image quality prediction with self‐supervised visual masking
Authors: Çoğalan U. , Bemana M. , Seidel HP. , Myszkowski K.
Published: April 2024

Full‐reference image quality metrics (FR‐IQMs) aim to measure the visual differences between a pair of reference and distorted images, with the goal of accurately predicting human judgments. However, existing FR‐IQMs, including traditional ones like PSNR and SSIM and even perceptual ones such as HDR‐VDP, LPIPS, and DISTS, still fall short in capturing the complexities and nuances of human perception. In this work, rather than devising a novel IQM model, we seek to improve upon the perceptual quality of existing FR‐IQM methods. We achieve this by considering visual masking, an important characteristic of the human visual system that changes its sensitivity to distortions as a function of local image content. Specifically, for a given FR‐IQM metric, we propose to predict a visual masking model that modulates reference and distorted images in a way that penalizes the visual errors based on their visibility. Since the ground truth visual masks are difficult to obtain, we demonstrate how they can be derived in a self‐supervised manner solely based on mean opinion scores (MOS) collected from an FR‐IQM dataset. Our approach results in enhanced FR‐IQM metrics that are more in line with human prediction both visually and quantitatively.
PossibleImpossibles: Exploratory Procedural Design of Impossible Structures
Authors: Li Yuanbo , Ma Tianyi , Aljumayaat Zaineb , Ritchie Daniel
Published: April 2024

We present a method for generating structures in three‐dimensional space that appear to be impossible when viewed from specific perspectives. Previous approaches focus on helping users to edit specific structures and require users to have knowledge of structural positioning causing the impossibility. On the contrary, our system is designed to aid users without prior knowledge to explore a wide range of potentially impossible structures. The essence of our method lies in features we call visual bridges that confuse viewers regarding the depth of the resulting structure. We use these features as starting points and employ procedural modeling to systematically generate the result. We propose scoring functions for enforcing desirable spatial arrangement of the result and use Sequential Monte Carlo to sample outputs that score well under these functions. We also present a proof‐of‐concept user interface and demonstrate various results generated using our system.
Hierarchical Co‐generation of Parcels and Streets in Urban Modeling
Authors: Chen Zebin , Song Peng , Ortner F. Peter
Published: April 2024

We present a computational framework for modeling land parcels and streets. In the real world, parcels and streets are highly coupled with each other since a street network connects all the parcels in a certain area. However, existing works model parcels and streets separately to simplify the problem, resulting in urban layouts with irregular parcels and/or suboptimal streets. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical approach to co‐generate parcels and streets from a user‐specified polygonal land shape, guided by a set of fundamental urban design requirements. At each hierarchical level, new parcels are generated based on binary splitting of existing parcels, and new streets are subsequently generated by leveraging efficient graph search tools to ensure that each new parcel has a street access. At the end, we optimize the geometry of the generated parcels and streets to further improve their geometric quality. Our computational framework outputs an urban layout with a desired number of regular parcels that are reachable via a connected street network, for which users are allowed to control the modeling process both locally and globally. Quantitative comparisons with state‐of‐the‐art approaches show that our framework is able to generate parcels and streets that are superior in some aspects.
Strokes2Surface: Recovering Curve Networks From 4D Architectural Design Sketches
Authors: Rasoulzadeh S. , Wimmer M. , Stauss P. , Kovacic I.
Published: April 2024

We present Strokes2Surface, an offline geometry reconstruction pipeline that recovers well‐connected curve networks from imprecise 4D sketches to bridge concept design and digital modeling stages in architectural design. The input to our pipeline consists of 3D strokes' polyline vertices and their timestamps as the 4th dimension, along with additional metadata recorded throughout sketching. Inspired by architectural sketching practices, our pipeline combines a classifier and two clustering models to achieve its goal. First, with a set of extracted hand‐engineered features from the sketch, the classifier recognizes the type of individual strokes between those depicting boundaries (Shape strokes) and those depicting enclosed areas (Scribble strokes). Next, the two clustering models parse strokes of each type into distinct groups, each representing an individual edge or face of the intended architectural object. Curve networks are then formed through topology recovery of consolidated Shape clusters and surfaced using Scribble clusters guiding the cycle discovery. Our evaluation is threefold: We confirm the usability of the Strokes2Surface pipeline in architectural design use cases via a user study, we validate our choice of features via statistical analysis and ablation studies on our collected dataset, and we compare our outputs against a range of reconstructions computed using alternative methods.
Cinematographic Camera Diffusion Model
Authors: Jiang Hongda , Wang Xi , Christie Marc , Liu Libin , Chen Baoquan
Published: April 2024

Designing effective camera trajectories in virtual 3D environments is a challenging task even for experienced animators. Despite an elaborate film grammar, forged through years of experience, that enables the specification of camera motions through cinematographic properties (framing, shots sizes, angles, motions), there are endless possibilities in deciding how to place and move cameras with characters. Dealing with these possibilities is part of the complexity of the problem. While numerous techniques have been proposed in the literature (optimization‐based solving, encoding of empirical rules, learning from real examples,…), the results either lack variety or ease of control.

In this paper, we propose a cinematographic camera diffusion model using a transformer‐based architecture to handle temporality and exploit the stochasticity of diffusion models to generate diverse and qualitative trajectories conditioned by high‐level textual descriptions. We extend the work by integrating keyframing constraints and the ability to blend naturally between motions using latent interpolation, in a way to augment the degree of control of the designers. We demonstrate the strengths of this text‐to‐camera motion approach through qualitative and quantitative experiments and gather feedback from professional artists. The code and data are available at https://github.com/jianghd1996/Camera-control.
DivaTrack: Diverse Bodies and Motions from Acceleration‐Enhanced Three‐Point Trackers
Authors: Yang Dongseok , Kang Jiho , Ma Lingni , Greer Joseph , Ye Yuting , Lee Sung‐Hee
Published: April 2024

Full‐body avatar presence is important for immersive social and environmental interactions in digital reality. However, current devices only provide three six degrees of freedom (DOF) poses from the headset and two controllers (i.e. three‐point trackers). Because it is a highly under‐constrained problem, inferring full‐body pose from these inputs is challenging, especially when supporting the full range of body proportions and use cases represented by the general population. In this paper, we propose a deep learning framework, DivaTrack, which outperforms existing methods when applied to diverse body sizes and activities. We augment the sparse three‐point inputs with linear accelerations from Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) to improve foot contact prediction. We then condition the otherwise ambiguous lower‐body pose with the predictions of foot contact and upper‐body pose in a two‐stage model. We further stabilize the inferred full‐body pose in a wide range of configurations by learning to blend predictions that are computed in two reference frames, each of which is designed for different types of motions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our design on a large dataset that captures 22 subjects performing challenging locomotion for three‐point tracking, including lunges, hula‐hooping, and sitting. As shown in a live demo using the Meta VR headset and Xsens IMUs, our method runs in real‐time while accurately tracking a user's motion when they perform a diverse set of movements.
Peripheral inflammation triggering central anxiety through the hippocampal glutamate metabolized receptor 1
Authors: Wang Jun‐Meng , Wang Yue‐Mei , Zhu Yuan‐Bing , Cui Chan , Feng Tong , Huang Qin , Liu Shu‐Qing , Wu Qiao‐Feng
Published: April 2024

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and anxiety and explore its central mechanisms using colitis mice.

Methods

Anxiety‐like behavior was assessed in mice induced by 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) using the elevated plus maze and open‐field test. The spatial transcriptome of the hippocampus was analyzed to assess the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory synapses, and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor TAK‐242 (10 mg/kg) and AAV virus interference were used to examine the role of peripheral inflammation and central molecules such as Glutamate Receptor Metabotropic 1 (GRM1) in mediating anxiety behavior in colitis mice.

Results

DSS‐induced colitis increased anxiety‐like behaviors, which was reduced by TAK‐242. Spatial transcriptome analysis of the hippocampus showed an excitatory‐inhibitory imbalance mediated by glutamatergic synapses, and GRM1 in hippocampus was identified as a critical mediator of anxiety behavior in colitis mice via differential gene screening and AAV virus interference.

Conclusion

Our work suggests that the hippocampus plays an important role in brain anxiety caused by peripheral inflammation, and over‐excitation of hippocampal glutamate synapses by GRM1 activation induces anxiety‐like behavior in colitis mice. These findings provide new insights into the central mechanisms underlying anxiety in UC and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for UC‐associated anxiety.
Less efficient skin penetration of the metal allergen Pd2+ compared to Ni2+ and Co2+ from patch test preparations
Authors: Simon Konstantin , Reichardt Philipp , Luch Andreas , Roloff Alexander , Siewert Katherina , Riedel Franziska
Published: April 2024

Background

Contrary to Ni2+‐ and Co2+‐induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), reactions against Pd2+ are rare. However, Pd2+ activates a larger T cell fraction in vitro, suggesting an inefficient skin penetration.

Objectives

This study compares Ni2+, Co2+ and Pd2+ skin penetration from commonly used diagnostic patch test preparations (PTPs) and aqueous metal salt solutions.

Methods

Using Franz diffusion cell assays, we applied the metals in PTPs (5% NiSO4, 1% CoCl2, 2% PdCl2 and 3% Na2PdCl4) and in solution to pigskin for 48 h, thereby mirroring the time frame of a patch test. The different compartments were analysed individually by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results

Metal ions were mainly retained in the upper stratum corneum layers. After application of PTPs, concentrations in the viable skin were lower for Pd2+ (1 and 7 μM) compared to Ni2+ and Co2+ (54 and 17 μM).

Conclusions

Ni2+ and Co2+ penetrated the skin more efficiently than Pd2+ and thus may sensitize and elicit ACD more easily. This was observed for ions applied in petrolatum and aqueous solutions. We hypothesize that the differently charged metal complexes are responsible for the varying skin penetration behaviours.
Global International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons in collaboration with European Society of Coloproctology audit on office‐based and surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease: Study protocol
Authors: Dulskas Audrius , Cerkauskaite Dovile , Nunoo‐Mensah Joseph , Fortunato Richard , Gallo Gaetano , El Hussuna Alaa , Lohsiriwat Varut , Aukstikalnis Tomas , Samalavicius Narimantas E.
Published: April 2024

Aim

Haemorrhoidal disease (HD) is one of the most common anal disorders in the adult population. Despite that, treatment options differ among different countries and specialists, even for the same grade of HD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences in patient demographics, surgeon preference for the treatment option, outcomes as well as patient satisfaction rate for the procedure using an office‐based or surgical approach for the treatment of HD among International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ISUCRS) and European Society of Coloproctology (ECSP) fellows.

Method

A panel of the ISUCRS and ECSP members will answer questions that are included in a questionnaire about the treatment of HD. The questionnaire will be distributed electronically to ISUCRS and ECSP fellows included in our database and will remain open from 1 April 2024 to 31 May 2024.

Conclusion

This multicentre, global prospective audit will be delivered by consultant colorectal and general surgeons as well as trainees. The data obtained will lead to a better understanding of the incidence of HD, treatment and diagnostic possibilities. This snapshot audit will be hypothesis generating and inform areas the need future prospective study.
The pharmacist will see you now: Pharmacist prescriptive authority and access to care
Authors: Shakya Shishir , Plemmons Alicia , Bae Kihwan , Timmons Edward
Published: April 2024

In 2018, Idaho became the first state to grant broad prescriptive authority to pharmacists for select medications, such as rescue inhalers (a drug to prevent and treat asthmatic symptoms) and insulin pen needles (for people with diabetes). We analyze the impact of this reform on Medicare beneficiaries' access to these time‐sensitive treatments. Our findings reveal increased Medicare Part D claims, 30‐day fills, and 30‐day supplies of albuterol sulfate and insulin pen needles following expanded pharmacist authority. This translates to approximately three additional patients per pharmacist receiving timely care, potentially preventing costly alternatives such as emergency room visits.
Harnessing tetrahedral framework nucleic acids for enhanced delivery of microRNA‐149‐3p: A new frontier in oral squamous cell carcinoma therapy
Authors: Xu Siqi , Qin Xin , Liang Jiale , Fu Xiao , Xiao Dexuan , Lin Yunfeng , Wang Tao
Published: April 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a type of malignant tumour that primarily occurs in the oral mucosa, has drawn considerable attention owing to its aggressive growth and potentially high metastatic rate. Surgical resection is the primary treatment method for OSCC and is typically combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. microRNA‐149‐3p (miR‐149) is a negative regulator of the Pi3k/Akt pathway and can effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumour cells. However, the application of miR‐149 is limited owing to its relatively low efficiency of cellular uptake and poor stability when used alone. To overcome these challenges, this study adopted a novel nucleic acid nanostructured material, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs). The use of tFNAs as carriers to assemble the T‐miR‐149 complex reduced the expression of Pi3k and Akt involved in tumorigenesis and alterations in proteins related to cell apoptosis. The results indicated that the bionic drug delivery system has an effective tumour suppressive effect on OSCC in mice, revealing its potential clinical value in the treatment of OSCC.
Assessing the feasibility of time in tight range (TITR) targets with advanced hybrid closed loop (AHCL) use in children and adolescents: A single‐centre real‐world study
Authors: Eviz Elif , Killi Nesrin Ecem , Karakus Kagan Ege , Can Ecem , Gokce Tugba , Yesiltepe Mutlu Gul , Hatun Sukru
Published: April 2024

Aims

Time in Tight Range (TITR) is a novel glycaemic metric in monitoring type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. The aim of this study was to assess the attainability of the TITR target in children and adolescents using the advanced hybrid closed loop (AHCL).

Methods

The 2128‐day CGM data from 56 children and adolescents with T1D using AHCL (Minimed‐780G) were analysed. Time in Range (TIR) (3.9–10 mmol/L), TITR (3.9–7.7 mmol/L), and other glycaemic parameters were separately analysed in terms of whole day, daytime (06.00–23:59), and nighttime (00.00–05.59) results. The participants were divided into two groups by autocorrection rate where Group 1 had a rate of <30% and Group 2 had a rate of ≥30.

Results

All glycaemic parameters indicated a better glycaemic outcome in the nighttime with higher TIR and TITR values compared with daytime (for TIR 87.5 ± 9.5% vs. 78.8 ± 8%, p < 0.001, and TITR 68.2 ± 13.5% vs. 57.5 ± 8.8%, p < 0.001). The rates of TITR >50% and >60% were 87% and 52%, respectively. When those with TITR >60% (n: 29) and those without (n: 27) were evaluated in terms of hypoglycaemia, no statistically significant difference was found in time below range (TBR) 3–3.9 mmol/L (0.3% vs. 2.1%, p: 0.084) and TBR < 3 mmol/L (0.47% vs. 0.3%, p: 0.298). Group 1 had a significantly higher TIR and TITR compared to Group 2 (82.6 ± 6.1% vs. 75.6 ± 8.6%, p: 0.008 and 62.1 ± 7.5% vs. 53.8 ± 7.5%, p: 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

Most children and adolescents on AHCL achieved the 50% target for TITR whereas more than half achieved the >60% target. A target of >50% for TITR seems realistic in children with T1D using AHCL.
Oxidative stress, defective proteostasis and immunometabolic complications in critically ill patients
Authors: Galli Francesco , Bartolini Desirée , Ronco Claudio
Published: April 2024

Oxidative stress (OS) develops in critically ill patients as a metabolic consequence of the immunoinflammatory and degenerative processes of the tissues. These induce increased and/or dysregulated fluxes of reactive species enhancing their pro‐oxidant activity and toxicity. At the same time, OS sustains its own inflammatory and immunometabolic pathogenesis, leading to a pervasive and vitious cycle of events that contribute to defective immunity, organ dysfunction and poor prognosis. Protein damage is a key player of these OS effects; it generates increased levels of protein oxidation products and misfolded proteins in both the cellular and extracellular environment, and contributes to forms DAMPs and other proteinaceous material to be removed by endocytosis and proteostasis processes of different cell types, as endothelial cells, tissue resident monocytes‐macrophages and peripheral immune cells. An excess of OS and protein damage in critical illness can overwhelm such cellular processes ultimately interfering with systemic proteostasis, and consequently with innate immunity and cell death pathways of the tissues thus sustaining organ dysfunction mechanisms. Extracorporeal therapies based on biocompatible/bioactive membranes and new adsorption techniques may hold some potential in reducing the impact of OS on the defective proteostasis of patients with critical illness. These can help neutralizing reactive and toxic species, also removing solutes in a wide spectrum of molecular weights thus improving proteostasis and its immunometabolic corelates. Pharmacological therapy is also moving steps forward which could help to enhance the efficacy of extracorporeal treatments. This narrative review article explores the aspects behind the origin and pathogenic role of OS in intensive care and critically ill patients, with a focus on protein damage as a cause of impaired systemic proteostasis and immune dysfunction in critical illness.
Pathways to care in youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis in Switzerland: Current situation and clinical implementation of the PsyYoung project
Authors: Bailey Barbara , Solida Alessandra , Andreou Christina , Plessen Kerstin Jessica , Conus Philippe , Mercapide Mathieu , Kasparidi Afrodite , Conchon Caroline , Sprüngli‐Toffel Elodie , Genoud Davina , Caron Camille , Golay Philippe , Curtis Logos , Herbrecht Evelyn , Huber Christian G. , Alameda Luis , Armando Marco
Published: April 2024

Aim

We aim to give an insight into the current situation in Switzerland concerning the pathways to care of young people with clinical high risk of psychosis. In a second step we propose a procedure of optimizing pathways to care developed within the project PsyYoung.

Methods

A qualitative survey derived and adapted from Kotlicka‐Antczak et al. (2020) was conducted in large early detection services of three Swiss cantons (Geneva, Basel‐Stadt, Vaud) focusing on pathways to care. More specifically, using questionnaires delivered to the heads of participating services, information was collected on referral sources, on activities to implement outreach campaigns and on the use of a pre‐screening tool.

Results

Main results on referral source indicated that sources were variable but seemed to come primarily from the medical sector and more so from the psychiatric sector. Very few referrals came from non‐medical sectors. Outreach activities included the contact to other clinics as well as through brochures and posters. All services but one used the Prodromal Questionnaire – 16 as pre‐screening tool.

Conclusions

All in all, the results indicate a referral and care pathway system implemented mostly within the medical and particularly mental health sector. Accordingly, the PsyYoung project proposes a procedure for pathways to care which could help overcome the obstacle of referrals being restrained to a narrow field of mental health and to harmonize the referral process within services dedicated to the same aim of helping young people at high risk of developing a psychosis.
Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status as predictors of outcome following family therapy in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis
Authors: Ruiz‐Yu Bernalyn , Le Thanh P. , Weintraub Marc J. , Zinberg Jamie , Addington Jean , O'Brien Mary P. , Walsh Barbara C. , Friedman‐Yakoobian Michelle , Auther Andrea , Cornblatt  , Domingues Isabel , Cannon Tyrone D. , Miklowitz David J. , Bearden Carrie E.
Published: April 2024

Aim

There is limited research on the effects of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors on treatment outcomes in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHRp). This study examined sociodemographic factors that may affect functional outcomes within this population. Specifically, we investigated the influence of race/ethnicity (dichotomized as non‐Hispanic whites [NHW] vs. people of colour [POC]), socioeconomic status (SES; operationalized as parental years of education), and their interaction on change in psychosocial functioning and symptoms over 6 months in a randomized trial of family‐focused therapy.

Methods

CHRp youth (N = 128) participated in a randomized trial of family therapy (18 sessions of family therapy vs. 3 sessions of family psychoeducation). Sixty‐four participants who self‐identified as POC and 64 self‐identified NHW participants completed baseline and 6‐month follow‐up measures of positive and negative symptoms and psychosocial (global, role, and social) functioning. Multiple regression models were conducted to test the main effect of race/ethnicity on changes in positive and negative symptoms and functioning, and whether this effect was moderated by parental education.

Results

There was a significant interaction between race/ethnicity and parental education, such that higher parental education was associated with greater improvement in global functioning in NHW participants, but there was no relationship between parental education and global functioning in POC. Additionally, higher parental education was associated with a decrease in negative symptoms in NHW participants but not in POC. There were no significant effects of race/ethnicity or parental education on positive symptoms, nor on social or role functioning.

Conclusions

Clinicians may consider tailoring psychosocial treatments according to the needs of diverse families who vary in sociodemographic factors such as educational attainment and race/ethnicity.
Effectiveness of motivational interviewing on medication adherence for the prevention of recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wandscher Kathrin , Hoffmann Falk , Heesen Christoph , Thomalla Götz , Rahn Anne Christin , Helbach Jasmin
Published: April 2024

Background and purpose

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) on medication adherence for preventing recurrent stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods

MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to 12 June 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing MI with usual care or interventions without MI in participants with any stroke type were identified and summarized descriptively. Primary outcome was medication adherence. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QoL) and different clinical outcomes. We assessed risk of bias with RoB 2 (revised Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool) and intervention complexity with the iCAT_SR (intervention Complexity Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews).

Results

We screened 691 records for eligibility and included four studies published in five articles. The studies included a total of 2751 participants, and three were multicentric. Three studies had a high risk of bias, and interventions varied in complexity. Two studies found significantly improved medication adherence, one at 9 (96.9% vs. 88.2%, risk ratio = 1.098, 95% confidence interval = 1.03–1.17) and one at 12 months (97.0% vs. 95.0%, p = 0.026), but not at other time points, whereas two other studies reported no significant changes. No significant differences were found in QoL or clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Evidence on MI appears inconclusive for improving medication adherence for recurrent stroke and TIA prevention, with no benefits on QoL and clinical outcomes. There is a need for robustly designed studies and process evaluations of MI as a complex intervention for people with stroke.

Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42023433284).
Selection among critically endangered landlocked salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago) families in survival and growth traits across early life stages and in different environments
Authors: Janhunen Matti , Eronen Aslak , Kekäläinen Jukka , Primmer Craig R. , Donner Iikki , Hyvärinen Pekka , Huuskonen Hannu , Kortet Raine
Published: April 2024

Endangered wild fish populations are commonly supported by hatchery propagation. However, hatchery‐reared fish experience very different selective pressures compared to their wild counterparts, potentially causing genotype‐by‐environment interactions (G × E) in essential fitness traits. We experimentally studied early selection in a critically endangered landlocked Atlantic salmon population, first from fertilization to the swim‐up stage in a common hatchery setting, and thereafter until the age of 5 months in two contrasting rearing environments. Swim‐up progeny were moved either to standard indoor hatchery tanks involving conventional husbandry or to seminatural outdoor channels providing only natural food. After the first summer, sampled survivors were assigned to their families by genotyping. Early survival until the swim‐up stage was mostly determined by maternal effects, but also involved significant variation due to sires and full‐sib families (potential genetic effects). High on‐growing survival in hatchery tanks (88.7%) maintained a more even distribution among families (relative share 1.5%–4.2%) than the seminatural environment (0.0%–5.4%). This heterogeneity was mostly maternal, whereas no independent paternal effect occurred. Heritability estimates were high for body size traits in both environments (0.62–0.69). Genetic correlations between the environments were significantly positive for body size traits (0.67–0.69), and high body condition in hatchery was also genetically linked to rapid growth in the seminatural environment (0.54). Additive and phenotypic growth variation increased in the seminatural environment, but scaling effects probably played a less significant role for G × E, compared to re‐ranking of genotypes. Our results suggest that not only maternal effects, but also genetic effects, direct selection according to the environmental conditions experienced. Consistently high genetic variation in growth implies that, despite its low overall genetic diversity and long history in captive rearing (>50 years), this landlocked Atlantic salmon population still possesses adaptive potential for response to change from hatchery rearing back to more natural conditions.
Actionable mechanisms of drug tolerance and resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Datta Dipanwita , Jamwal Shaina , Jyoti Nishant , Patnaik Srinivas , Kumar Dhiraj
Published: April 2024

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across bacterial pathogens presents a serious threat to global health. This threat is further exacerbated in tuberculosis (TB), mainly due to a protracted treatment regimen involving a combination of drugs. A diversity of factors contributes to the emergence of drug resistance in TB, which is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). While the traditional genetic mutation‐driven drug resistance mechanisms operate in Mtb, there are also several additional unique features of drug resistance in this pathogen. Research in the past decade has enriched our understanding of such unconventional factors as efflux pumps, bacterial heterogeneity, metabolic states, and host microenvironment. Given that the discovery of new antibiotics is outpaced by the emergence of drug resistance patterns displayed by the pathogen, newer strategies for combating drug resistance are desperately needed. In the context of TB, such approaches include targeting the efflux capability of the pathogen, modulating the host environment to prevent bacterial drug tolerance, and activating the host anti‐mycobacterial pathways. In this review, we discuss the traditional mechanisms of drug resistance in Mtb, newer understandings and the shaping of a set of unconventional approaches to target both the emergence and treatment of drug resistance in TB.
PLK1‐activating IFI16–STING–TBK1 pathway induces apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with intestinal Behçet's syndrome
Authors: Bao Hua‐fang , She Chun‐hui , Hou Cheng‐cheng , Ji Da‐nian , Hu Dan , Zou Jun , Shen Yan , Jian Lei‐lei , Cai Jian‐fei , Ye Jing‐fen , Luo Dan , Ma Hai‐fen , Guan Jian‐long
Published: April 2024

Inflammatory signals from immunological cells may cause damage to intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), resulting in intestinal inflammation and tissue impairment. Interferon‐γ‐inducible protein 16 (IFI16) was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of Behçet's syndrome (BS). This study aimed to investigate how inflammatory cytokines released by immunological cells and IFI16 participate in the pathogenesis of intestinal BS. RNA sequencing and real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that the positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of intestinal BS patients may be related to the upregulation of polo like kinase 1 (PLK1) in PBMCs (P = 0.012). The plasma TNF‐α protein level in intestinal BS was significantly higher than in healthy controls (HCs; P = 0.009). PBMCs of intestinal BS patients and HCs were co‐cultured with human normal IECs (NCM460) to explore the interaction between immunological cells and IECs. Using IFI16 knockdown, PBMC‐NCM460 co‐culture, TNF‐α neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist 2′3′‐cGAMP, and the PLK1 inhibitor SBE 13 HCL, we found that PLK1 promotes the secretion of TNF‐α from PBMCs of intestinal BS patients, which causes overexpression of IFI16 and induces apoptosis of IECs via the STING–TBK1 pathway. The expressions of IFI16, TNF‐α, cleaved caspase 3, phosphorylated STING (pSTING) and phosphorylated tank binding kinase 1 (pTBK1) in the intestinal ulcer tissue of BS patients were significantly higher than that of HCs (all P < 0.05). PLK1 in PBMCs of intestinal BS patients increased TNF‐α secretion, inducing IEC apoptosis via activation of the IFI16–STING–TBK1 pathway. PLK1 and the IFI16–STING–TBK1 pathway may be new therapeutic targets for intestinal BS.
Diagnostic performance of linked color imaging for gastric cancer by Helicobacter pylori infection status: A subanalysis of the large‐scale, multicenter randomized controlled trial LCI‐FIND
Authors: Kato Mototsugu , Ono Shoko , Kawada Kenro , Dohi Osamu , Kitamura Shinji , Koike Tomoyuki , Hori Shinichiro , Kanzaki Hiromitsu , Murao Takahisa , Yagi Nobuaki , Sasaki Fumisato , Hashiguchi Keiichi , Oka Shiro , Katada Kazuhiro , Shimoda Ryo , Mizukami Kazuhiro , Suehiro Mitsuhiko , Takeuchi Toshihisa , Katsuki Shinichi , Tsuda Momoko , Naito Yuji , Kawano Tatsuyuki , Haruma Ken , Mori Keita , Ishikawa Hideki
Published: April 2024

Background

Linked color imaging (LCI) is a new image enhancement technology that facilitates the recognition of subtle differences in mucosal color. In the large‐scale, multicenter randomized controlled trial LCI‐FIND, LCI demonstrated good diagnostic performance for the detection of tumor lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the present study was to exploratively evaluate the diagnostic performance of LCI according to H. pylori infection status as a subanalysis of LCI‐FIND trial.

Methods

The patients were randomly allocated to receive white light imaging (WLI) first, followed by LCI (WLI group), or vice versa (LCI group), and the two groups were compared for the detection of tumors. Data from this trial were analyzed by the presence/absence of H. pylori infection and further analyzed by successful or unsuccessful eradication in the H. pylori infection group.

Results

The 752 patients in the WLI group and 750 patients in the LCI group who had participated in the LCI‐FIND trial were included. In the successful eradication group, more gastric lesions were detected by primary mode in the LCI group than in the WLI group, indicating that more lesions were missed by WLI. Fisher's exact probability test for the comparison of the WLI and LCI groups yielded a p‐value of 0.0068, with missed gastric lesions being detected 0.136 times (95% confidence interval: 0.020–0.923), significantly less with LCI than with WLI.

Conclusion

The current study suggests that LCI should be used for gastric cancer screening, particularly in patients with successful H. pylori eradication.
Fabrication and characterisation of electrospun zein‐based fibres functionalised by caffeic and p‐coumaric acid for potential active packaging applications
Authors: Noman Ragda Rashad Abdulhameed , Wong Chee Sien , Law Kung Pui , Neo Yun Ping
Published: April 2024

This study focused on the fabrication of zein‐based coatings functionalised by two phenolic acids, caffeic acid (CA) and p‐coumaric acid (pCA), using electrospinning. The electrospun fibres were fabricated with three different concentrations (5%, 10% and 20% w/w) of CA and pCA individually. The average fibre diameter (AFD) increased due to the addition of phenolic acids. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that degradation temperatures of the zein electrospun fibres were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) after the incorporation of CA and pCA. Meanwhile, interactions between zein and the phenolic acids were indicated by surface characterisation. CA‐loaded zein electrospun fibres exhibited increasing antioxidant activity with increasing CA concentration. Both phenolic acid‐loaded zein electrospun fibres displayed favourable antibacterial activities against S. aureus and E. coli foodborne pathogens. Overall, zein electrospun fibres with 20% w/w CA demonstrated the most desirable properties for potential active food packaging application.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated genome editing of Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips, via embryonic microinjection
Authors: Han Jinlong , Klobasa William , de Oliveira Lucas , Rotenberg Dorith , Whitfield Anna E. , Lorenzen Marcé D.
Published: April 2024

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, poses a significant challenge in global agriculture as a notorious pest and a vector of economically significant orthotospoviruses. However, the limited availability of genetic tools for F. occidentalis hampers the advancement of functional genomics and the development of innovative pest control strategies. In this study, we present a robust methodology for generating heritable mutations in F. occidentalis using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Two eye‐colour genes, white (Fo‐w) and cinnabar (Fo‐cn), frequently used to assess Cas9 function in insects were identified in the F. occidentalis genome and targeted for knockout through embryonic microinjection of Cas9 complexed with Fo‐w or Fo‐cn specific guide RNAs. Homozygous Fo‐w and Fo‐cn knockout lines were established by crossing mutant females and males. The Fo‐w knockout line revealed an age‐dependent modification of eye‐colour phenotype. Specifically, while young larvae exhibit orange‐coloured eyes, the colour transitions to bright red as they age. Unexpectedly, loss of Fo‐w function also altered body colour, with Fo‐w mutants having a lighter coloured body than wild type, suggesting a dual role for Fo‐w in thrips. In contrast, individuals from the Fo‐cn knockout line consistently displayed bright red eyes throughout all life stages. Molecular analyses validated precise editing of both target genes. This study offers a powerful tool to investigate thrips gene function and paves the way for the development of genetic technologies for population suppression and/or population replacement as a means of mitigating virus transmission by this vector.
Root canal conicity determination of primary second molars using nanotomography: An in vitro study
Authors: Lucisano Marília Pacífico , Ramos Gilmer Torres , Blanco‐Victorio Daniel José , Ramírez‐Sotelo Laura Ricardina , Lima Ricardo Barbosa , Nelson‐Filho Paulo , da Silva Raquel Assed Bezerra , Miranda Jessica Arieta , da Silva Léa Assed Bezerra
Published: April 2024

Background

The conicity of the root canals of primary teeth is an important measure for endodontic therapies. However, determining this conicity depends on the methods employed, which requires further investigation.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the conicity of the root canals of the upper and lower primary second molars using nanotomography (nCT).

Design

An in vitro study was performed using nine primary second molars, both upper and lower, subjected to nCT. Comparisons between the diameters of root canals were performed between the thirds (cervical—D0, middle—D5, and apical—D7). The conicity (%) was determined for each root canal from cervical to apical. Data were statistically analyzed with a significance level of 5%.

Results

The conicity ranged from 2% to 8% for the upper primary second molars. Significant differences in root canal diameter between the thirds (D0, D5, and D7 points) were observed in the mesio‐ and distobuccal roots (p < .05), but not in the palatal roots (p > .05). For the lower primary second molars, the conicity ranged from 2% to 17%, as well as significant differences in root canal diameter between the thirds (D0, D5, and D7 points) were observed in all roots (distal, mesiobuccal, and mesiolingual; p < .05).

Conclusion

The conicity of the upper primary second molars was different from that of the lower ones, which showed a greater variability.
Channelling feedback through audiovisual presentations: Do higher education students perceive, use and benefit from video feedback compared to written feedback?
Authors: Máñez Ignacio , Skrobiszewska Noemi , Descals Adela , Cantero María José , Cerdán Raquel , García Óscar Fernando , García‐Ros Rafael
Published: April 2024

Background

Delivering effective feedback to large groups of students represents a challenge for the academic staff at universities. Research suggests that undergraduate students often ignore the Elaborated Feedback (EF) received via digital learning environments. This may be because instructors provide feedback in written format instead of using more engaging channels (e.g., audiovisual).

Objectives

This quasi‐experimental study examines the extent to which feedback format (video vs. written) influences students' perceptions of feedback, their decision to access EF messages related to high‐stakes assignments in digital environments, and its impact on academic performance, while considering the effect of their academic engagement.

Methods

A total of 171 undergraduate students received generic EF messages through a learning platform the day after submitting each course assignment. 78 students received EF in written format and 93 in video format.

Results and Conclusions

Our results showed that feedback format influenced students' decision to access EF and their academic performance, but not their feedback perceptions. Students in the written‐feedback group accessed EF messages more often, but students who received video‐feedback performed better than their counterparts in the written‐feedback group. Moderation analysis showed that the relationship between the feedback format and students' academic performance was moderated by their academic engagement, suggesting that students with lower levels of academic engagement may benefit from video‐feedback.

Takeaways

The results reveal that using video feedback in digital environments may influence students' decisions to process EF and their academic achievement, especially when it comes to students with lower levels of academic engagement.
Pancreatic beta‐cell mass and function and therapeutic implications of using antidiabetic medications in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Moon Joon Ho , Choe Hun Jee , Lim Soo
Published: April 2024

Nowadays, the focus of diabetes treatment has switched from lowering the glucose level to preserving glycemic homeostasis and slowing the disease progression. The main pathophysiology of both type 1 diabetes and long‐standing type 2 diabetes is pancreatic β‐cell mass loss and dysfunction. According to recent research, human pancreatic β‐cells possess the ability to proliferate in response to elevated insulin demands. It has been demonstrated that in insulin‐resistant conditions in humans, such as obesity or pregnancy, the β‐cell mass increases. This ability could be helpful in developing novel treatment approaches to restore a functional β‐cell mass. Treatment strategies aimed at boosting β‐cell function and mass may be a useful tool for managing diabetes mellitus and stopping its progression. This review outlines the processes of β‐cell failure and detail the many β‐cell abnormalities that manifest in people with diabetes mellitus. We also go over standard techniques for determining the mass and function of β‐cells. Lastly, we provide the therapeutic implications of utilizing antidiabetic drugs in controlling the mass and function of pancreatic β‐cells.