bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence for Cardiac Diseases Diagnosis and Prediction Using ECG Images on Embedded Systems
Authors: Mhamdi Lotfi , Dammak Oussama , Cottin François , Dhaou Imed Ben
Published: August 2022

The electrocardiogram (ECG) provides essential information about various human cardiac conditions. Several studies have investigated this topic in order to detect cardiac abnormalities for prevention purposes. Nowadays, there is an expansion of new smart signal processing methods, such as machine learning and its sub-branches, such as deep learning. These popular techniques help analyze and classify the ECG signal in an efficient way. Our study aims to develop algorithmic models to analyze ECG tracings to predict cardiovascular diseases. The direct impact of this work is to save lives and improve medical care with less expense. As health care and health insurance costs increase in the world, the direct impact of this work is saving lives and improving medical care. We conducted numerous experiments to optimize deep-learning parameters. We found the same validation accuracy value of about 0.95 for both MobileNetV2 and VGG16 algorithms. After implementation on Raspberry Pi, our results showed a small decrease in accuracy (0.94 and 0.90 for MobileNetV2 and VGG16 algorithms, respectively). Therefore, the main purpose of the present research work is to improve, in an easy and cheaper way, real-time monitoring using smart mobile tools (mobile phones, smart watches, connected T-shirts, etc.).
Risk of Dementia after Exposure to Contrast Media: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Yu Tung-Min , Chuang Ya-Wen , Huang Shih-Ting , Huang Jin-An , Chen Cheng-Hsu , Chung Mu-Chi , Wu Chun-Yi , Chang Pi-Yi , Hsu Chih-Cheng , Wu Ming-Ju
Published: August 2022

Contrast-medium-associated kidney injury is caused by the infusion of contrast media. Small vessel disease is significantly associated with various diseases, including simultaneous conditions of the kidney and brain, which are highly vulnerable to similar vascular damage and microvascular pathologies. Data to investigate the adverse effect of contrast media on the brain remain extremely lacking. In this study, 11,332,616 NHI enrollees were selected and divided into two groups, exposed and not exposed to a contrast medium during the observation period, from which 1,461,684 pairs were selected for analyses through matching in terms of age, sex, comorbidities, and frequency of outpatient visits during the previous year. In total, 1,461,684 patients exposed to a contrast medium and 1,461,684 controls not exposed to one were enrolled. In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, patients exposed to a contrast medium had an overall 2.09-fold higher risk of dementia. In multivariable-stratified analyses, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease was remarkably high in younger patients without any underlying comorbidity. This study is the first to discover that exposure to contrast media is significantly associated with the risk of dementia. A four-fold increased risk of vascular dementia was observed after exposure to a contrast medium. Further studies on the influence of exposure to contrast media on the brain are warranted.
The Supporting Role of Combined and Sequential Extracorporeal Blood Purification Therapies in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Nalesso Federico , Stefanelli Federica L. , Di Vico Valentina , Cattarin Leda , Cirella Irene , Scaparrotta Giuseppe , Garzotto Francesco , Calò Lorenzo A.
Published: August 2022

Critical clinical forms of COVID-19 infection often include Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in up to 20% of patients, further worsening the outcome of the disease. No specific medical therapies are available for the treatment of COVID-19, while supportive care remains the standard treatment with the control of systemic inflammation playing a pivotal role, avoiding the disease progression and improving organ function. Extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) has been proposed for cytokines removal in sepsis and could be beneficial in COVID-19, preventing the cytokines release syndrome (CRS) and providing Extra-corporeal organ support (ECOS) in critical patients. Different EBP procedures for COVID-19 patients have been proposed including hemoperfusion (HP) on sorbent, continuous kidney replacement therapy (CRRT) with adsorbing capacity, or the use of high cut-off (HCO) membranes. Depending on the local experience, the multidisciplinary capabilities, the hardware, and the available devices, EBP can be combined sequentially or in parallel. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how to perform EBPs, providing practical support to extracorporeal therapies in COVID-19 patients with AKI.
Chemerin Forms: Their Generation and Activity
Authors: Zhao Lei , Leung Lawrence L. , Morser John
Published: August 2022

Chemerin is the product of the RARRES2 gene which is secreted as a precursor of 143 amino acids. That precursor is inactive, but proteases from the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades, as well as from inflammatory reactions, process the C-terminus of chemerin to first activate it and then subsequently inactivate it. Chemerin can signal via two G protein-coupled receptors, chem1 and chem2, as well as be bound to a third non-signaling receptor, CCRL2. Chemerin is produced by the liver and secreted into the circulation as a precursor, but it is also expressed in some tissues where it can be activated locally. This review discusses the specific tissue expression of the components of the chemerin system, and the role of different proteases in regulating the activation and inactivation of chemerin. Methods of identifying and determining the levels of different chemerin forms in both mass and activity assays are reviewed. The levels of chemerin in circulation are correlated with certain disease conditions, such as patients with obesity or diabetes, leading to the possibility of using chemerin as a biomarker.
Depletion of Mdig Changes Proteomic Profiling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Thakur Chitra , Carruthers Nicholas J. , Zhang Qian , Xu Liping , Fu Yao , Bi Zhuoyue , Qiu Yiran , Zhang Wenxuan , Wadgaonkar Priya , Almutairy Bandar , Guo Chunna , Stemmer Paul M. , Chen Fei
Published: August 2022

Triple-negative breast cancers are highly aggressive with an overall poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We had previously investigated the role of mdig, an oncogenic gene induced by some environmental risk factors, on the pathogenesis of breast cancer. However, a comprehensive analysis of the proteomic profile affected by mdig in triple-negative breast cancer has not been determined yet. Using label-free bottom-up quantitative proteomics, we compared wildtype control and mdig knockout MDA-MB-231 cells and identified the proteins and pathways that are significantly altered with mdig deletion. A total of 904 differentially expressed (p < 0.005) proteins were identified in the KO cells. Approximately 30 pathways and networks linked to the pathogenicity of breast cancer were either up- or downregulated, such as EIF2 signaling, the unfolded protein response, and isoleucine degradation I. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis established that the differentially expressed proteins have relevant biological actions in cell growth, motility, and malignancy. These data provide the first insight into protein expression patterns in breast cancer associated with a complete disruption of the mdig gene and yielded substantial information on the key proteins, biological processes, and pathways modulated by mdig that contribute to breast cancer tumorigenicity and invasiveness.
Machine Learning Data Analysis Highlights the Role of Parasutterella and Alloprevotella in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Pietrucci Daniele , Teofani Adelaide , Milanesi Marco , Fosso Bruno , Putignani Lorenza , Messina Francesco , Pesole Graziano , Desideri Alessandro , Chillemi Giovanni
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the involvement of the gut microbiota in disease and health has been investigated by sequencing the 16S gene from fecal samples. Dysbiotic gut microbiota was also observed in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. However, despite the relevant number of studies, it is still difficult to identify a typical dysbiotic profile in ASD patients. The discrepancies among these studies are due to technical factors (i.e., experimental procedures) and external parameters (i.e., dietary habits). In this paper, we collected 959 samples from eight available projects (540 ASD and 419 Healthy Controls, HC) and reduced the observed bias among studies. Then, we applied a Machine Learning (ML) approach to create a predictor able to discriminate between ASD and HC. We tested and optimized three algorithms: Random Forest, Support Vector Machine and Gradient Boosting Machine. All three algorithms confirmed the importance of five different genera, including Parasutterella and Alloprevotella. Furthermore, our results show that ML algorithms could identify common taxonomic features by comparing datasets obtained from countries characterized by latent confounding variables.
The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Glioma
Authors: Goenka Anshika , Tiek Deanna Marie , Song Xiao , Iglesia Rebeca Piatniczka , Lu Minghui , Hu Bo , Cheng Shi-Yuan
Published: August 2022

For decades, research in cancer biology has been focused on the protein-coding fraction of the human genome. However, with the discovery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), it has become known that these entities not only function in numerous fundamental life processes such as growth, differentiation, and development, but also play critical roles in a wide spectrum of human diseases, including cancer. Dysregulated ncRNA expression is found to affect cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance, through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, or epigenetic processes in the cell. In this review, we focus on the recent development and advances in ncRNA biology that are pertinent to their role in glioma tumorigenesis and therapy response. Gliomas are common, and are the most aggressive type of primary tumors, which account for ~30% of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Of these, glioblastoma (GBM), which are grade IV tumors, are the most lethal brain tumors. Only 5% of GBM patients survive beyond five years upon diagnosis. Hence, a deeper understanding of the cellular non-coding transcriptome might help identify biomarkers and therapeutic agents for a better treatment of glioma. Here, we delve into the functional roles of microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) in glioma tumorigenesis, discuss the function of their extracellular counterparts, and highlight their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in glioma.
H3K27me3 Immunohistochemical Loss Predicts Lower Response to Neo-Adjuvant Chemo-Radiotherapy in Rectal Carcinoma
Authors: Ammendola Serena , Caldonazzi Nicolò , Rizzo Paola Chiara , Turri Giulia , Pedrazzani Corrado , Barresi Valeria
Published: August 2022

A watch-and-wait approach was suggested to avoid the possible complications related to surgery in patients with rectal carcinoma showing clinical complete response after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). Since clinical response may not correlate with pathological response, markers with higher accuracy are needed to identify patients who are likely responders and could be spared surgery. This study aims to assess whether H3K27me3 immunohistochemical expression in pre-treatment rectal carcinoma predicts response to neoadjuvant CRT or shows prognostic relevance. We assessed H3K27me3 immunostaining in 46 endoscopic biopsies of rectal carcinomas treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery. H3K27me3 immunostaining was lost in 20, retained in 19, and inconclusive (absent in neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells) in 7 cases. Retained H3K27me3 immuno-expression was significantly associated with ypTNM stage 0 (p = 0.0111) and high tumor regression, measured using either five-tiered (p = 0.0042) or two-tiered Dworak tumor regression grade (p = 0.0009). Poor differentiation, determined counting the number of poorly differentiated clusters (PDC grade) or tumor budding (TB) foci (TB grade), in the pre-treatment biopsy, was significantly associated with a shorter time to progression after surgery (p = 0.008; p = 0.0093). However, only PDC grade (p = 0.0023), together with radial margin involvement (p = 0.0001), retained prognostic significance in the multivariate analysis. The assessment of H3K27me3 immunostaining in pre-treatment endoscopic biopsy of rectal carcinoma could be useful to predict response to neo-adjuvant CRT and to identify patients who could safely undergo watch-and-wait approach. PDC and TB grade in the pre-treatment biopsy could provide additional prognostic information in patients with rectal carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery.
Early Diagnosis in Cerebellar Ataxia, Neuropathy, Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome (CANVAS) by Focusing on Major Clinical Clues: Beyond Ataxia and Vestibular Impairment
Authors: Magy Laurent , Chazelas Pauline , Richard Laurence , Deschamps Nathalie , Frachet Simon , Vallat Jean-Michel , Magdelaine Corinne , Favreau Frédéric , Bessaguet Flavien , Lia Anne-Sophie , Duchesne Mathilde
Published: August 2022

CANVAS, a rare disorder responsible for late-onset ataxia of autosomal recessive inheritance, can be misdiagnosed. We investigated a series of eight patients with sensory neuropathy and/or an unexplained cough, who appeared to suffer from CANVAS, and we emphasized the clinical clues for early diagnosis. Investigations included clinical and routine laboratory analyses, skin biopsy, nerve biopsy and molecular genetics. The eight patients had clinical and/or laboratory evidence of sensory neuronopathy. All but one had neuropathic pain that had started in an asymmetric fashion in two patients. A chronic cough was a prominent feature in our eight patients and had started years before neuropathic symptoms in all but one. The course of the disease was slow, and ataxia remained mild in all. Five patients were initially thought to have immune-mediated sensory neuronopathy and received immunotherapy. Skin biopsies showed a near complete and non-length-dependent loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. Moreover, nerve biopsy findings suggested a prominent involvement of small myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. The burden of CANVAS extends far beyond cerebellar ataxia and vestibular manifestations. Indeed, our study shows that a chronic cough and neuropathic pain may represent a major source of impairment in these patients and should not be overlooked to allow an early diagnosis and prevent unnecessary immunotherapy.
Wing Kinematics and Unsteady Aerodynamics of a Hummingbird Pure Yawing Maneuver
Authors: Menzer Alec , Ren Yan , Guo Jiacheng , Tobalske Bret W. , Dong Haibo
Published: August 2022

As one of few animals with the capability to execute agile yawing maneuvers, it is quite desirable to take inspiration from hummingbird flight aerodynamics. To understand the wing and body kinematics and associated aerodynamics of a hummingbird performing a free yawing maneuver, a crucial step in mimicking the biological motion in robotic systems, we paired accurate digital reconstruction techniques with high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Results of the body and wing kinematics reveal that to achieve the pure yaw maneuver, the hummingbird utilizes very little body pitching, rolling, vertical, or horizontal motion. Wing angle of incidence, stroke, and twist angles are found to be higher for the inner wing (IW) than the outer wing (OW). Unsteady aerodynamic calculations reveal that drag-based asymmetric force generation during the downstroke (DS) and upstroke (US) serves to control the speed of the turn, a characteristic that allows for great maneuvering precision. A dual-loop vortex formation during each half-stroke is found to contribute to asymmetric drag production. Wake analysis revealed that asymmetric wing kinematics led to leading-edge vortex strength differences of around 59% between the IW and OW. Finally, analysis of the role of wing flexibility revealed that flexibility is essential for generating the large torque necessary for completing the turn as well as producing sufficient lift for weight support.
Update on an Observational, Clinically Useful Gait Coordination Measure: The Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.)
Authors: Daly Janis J. , McCabe Jessica P. , Gor-García-Fogeda María Dolores , Nethery Joan C.
Published: August 2022

With discoveries of brain and spinal cord mechanisms that control gait, and disrupt gait coordination after disease or injury, and that respond to motor training for those with neurological disease or injury, there is greater ability to construct more efficacious gait coordination training paradigms. Therefore, it is critical in these contemporary times, to use the most precise, sensitive, homogeneous (i.e., domain-specific), and comprehensive measures available to assess gait coordination, dyscoordination, and changes in response to treatment. Gait coordination is defined as the simultaneous performance of the spatial and temporal components of gait. While kinematic gait measures are considered the gold standard, the equipment and analysis cost and time preclude their use in most clinics. At the same time, observational gait coordination scales can be considered. Two independent groups identified the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.) as the most suitable scale for both research and clinical practice, compared to other observational gait scales, since it has been proven to be valid, reliable, sensitive to change, homogeneous, and comprehensive. The G.A.I.T. has shown strong reliability, validity, and sensitive precision for those with stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS). The G.A.I.T. has been translated into four languages (English, Spanish, Taiwanese, and Portuguese (translation is complete, but not yet published)), and is in use in at least 10 countries. As a contribution to the field, and in view of the evidence for continued usefulness and international use for the G.A.I.T. measure, we have provided this update, as well as an open access copy of the measure for use in clinical practice and research, as well as directions for administering the G.A.I.T.
Quantitative Distribution of Cerebral Venous Oxygen Saturation and Its Prognostic Value in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Cao Fengqiu , Wang Mingming , Han Shanhua , Fan Shengyu , Guo Yingwei , Yang Yingjian , Luo Yu , Guo Jia , Kang Yan
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the quantitative distribution of cerebral venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) based on quantitative sensitivity mapping (QSM) and determined its prognostic value in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A retrospective study was conducted on 39 hospitalized patients. Reconstructed QSM was used to calculate the cerebral SvO2 of each region of interest (ROI) in the ischemic hemisphere. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman analysis were conducted to define the best resolution of the distribution map. The correlation between the cerebral SvO2 in hypoxic regions (SvO2ROI < 0.7) and clinical scores was obtained by Spearman and power analysis. The associations between cerebral SvO2 and unfavorable prognosis were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Excellent agreement was found between the cerebral SvO2 in hypoxic regions with a resolution of 7.18 × 7.18 × 1.6 mm3 and asymmetrically prominent cortical veins regions (ICC: 0.879 (admission), ICC: 0.906 (discharge)). The cerebral SvO2 was significantly negative with clinical scores (all |r| > 0.3). The cerebral SvO2 and its changes at discharge were significantly associated with an unfavorable prognosis (OR: 0.812 and 0.866). Therefore, the cerebral SvO2 in hypoxic regions measured by the quantitative distribution map can be used as an indicator for evaluating the early prognosis of AIS.
Dual Diagnosis in Adolescents with Problematic Use of Video Games: Beyond Substances
Authors: Esteve Arturo , Jovani Antonio , Benito Ana , Baquero Abel , Haro Gonzalo , Rodríguez-Ruiz Francesc
Published: August 2022

The technological revolution has led to the birth of new diagnoses, such as gaming disorder. When any addiction, including this one, is associated with other mental disorders, it is considered a dual diagnosis. The objectives of this current work were to estimate the prevalence of dual diagnoses in the adolescent general population while also considering the problematic use of video games and substance addiction and assessing its psychosocial risk factors. Thus, we carried out a cross-sectional study with a sample of 397 adolescents; 16.4% presented problematic videogame use and 3% presented a dual diagnosis. Male gender increased the probability of both a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 7.119 [1.132, 44.785]; p = 0.036) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 9.85 [4.08, 23.77]; p < 0.001). Regarding personality, low conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness scores were predictors of a dual diagnosis and problematic videogame use, while emotional stability predicted a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 1.116 [1.030, 1.209]; p = 0.008). Regarding family dynamics, low affection and communication increased both the probability of a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 0.927 [0.891, 0.965]; p < 0.001) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 0.968 [0.945, 0.992]; p = 0.009). Regarding academic performance, bad school grades increased the probability of a dual diagnosis. In summary, male gender, certain personality traits, poor communication, and poor affective family dynamics should be interpreted as red flags that indicate an increased risk of a dual diagnosis in adolescents, which could require early intervention through specific detection programs.
Effects of Potassium Loading over Iron–Silica Interaction, Phase Evolution and Catalytic Behavior of Precipitated Iron-Based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Chang Hai , Lin Quan , Cheng Meng , Zhang Kui , Feng Bo , Chai Jiachun , Lv Yijun , Men Zhuowu
Published: August 2022

Potassium (K) promoter and its loading contents were shown to have remarkable effects on the Fe–O–Si interaction of precipitated Fe/Cu/K/SiO2 catalysts for low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). With the increase in K content from 2.3% (100 g Fe based) up to 7% in the calcined precursors, Fe–O–Si interaction was weakened, as reflected by ATR/FTIR, H2-TPR and XPS investigations. XRD results confirmed that the diffraction peak intensity from (510) facet of χ-Fe5C2 phase strengthened with increasing K loading, which indicates the crystallite size of χ-Fe5C2 increased with the increase in K contents either during the syngas reduction/carburization procedure or after FTS reaction. H2-TPH results indicated that more reactive surface carbon (alpha-carbon) was obtained over the higher K samples pre-carburized by syngas. Raman spectra illustrated that a greater proportion of graphitic carbon was accumulated over the surface of spent samples with higher K loading. At the same time, ATR-FTIR, XRD and Mössbauer spectra (MES) characterization results showed that a relatively higher level of bulk phase Fayalite (Fe2SiO4) species was observed discernibly in the lowest K loading sample (2.3 K%) in this work. The catalytic evaluation results showed that the CO conversion, CO2 selectivity and O/P (C2–C4) ratio increased progressively with the increasing K loading, whereas a monotonic decline in both CO conversion and O/P (C2–C4) ratio was observed on the highest K loading sample during c.a. 280 h of TOS.
Factors Affecting High-Risk for Diabetes among Korean Adolescents: An Analysis Using the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2020)
Authors: Bang Kyung-Sook , Jang Sang-Youn , Choe Ji-Hye
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify significant factors affecting diabetes and pre-diabetes in South Korean adolescents, including adolescents’ and parental factors. We used data on 416 Korean adolescents aged 12–18 years and their parents (302 fathers and 375 mothers) from the eighth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey gained in 2020. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, Rao–Scott χ2 test, and univariate logistic regression using complex sample analysis. Among the participants, 101 adolescents (22.7%) were classified as the high-risk group for diabetes. Significant factors affecting the risk for adolescent diabetes in both sexes were higher BMI, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and insulin. The father’s high degree of stress perception was only related to male adolescents, and the father’s poor subjective health status was related to females at risk for diabetes. In mothers, physician-diagnosed diabetes, fasting plasma glucose, and hemoglobin A1c were factors affecting both sexes. Results from this study can be used as preliminary data for the early detection of high-risk groups for diabetes in adolescents, and for the development of systematic health care guidelines to prevent diabetes in adolescents.
Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Stickler Syndrome in Spain
Authors: Fernández-Pérez Juan José , Mascaraque-Ruiz Paloma , Martín Gómez Carlos , Martínez-Caballero Ignacio , Otón Teresa , Carmona Loreto , Lara Sergio Lerma
Published: August 2022

Objective: To describe the quality of life and daily functioning of Spanish children and adolescents living with Stickler syndrome (SS) and to estimate the prevalence of associated disease features in a representative sample. Methods: A cross-sectional study of children and adolescents with SS were recruited via telephone calls through the Spanish SS Association. All participants underwent a structured clinical interview and filled in questionnaires reporting their quality of life (EuroQol-5D, TSK-11, CHAQ and PedsQoL). The prevalence of the main features associated with the syndrome and the mean scores of the questionnaires were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The recruited sample included 26 persons who were mainly children (mean age 10.4 ± 4.5 (SD) range: 5–14) and male (65.4%). The prevalence estimates of SS features were as follows: the presence of moderate pain (52%), hearing loss 67% (95% CI: 54.8 to 91.3) and myopia 96% (95% CI: 87.2 to 104.4). The mean scores of the QoL indices were as follows: 22.4 (95% CI: 19.2 to 25.5) (±7.5) for TSK-11; 76.2 (95% CI: 68.8 to 83.6) (±17.1) for PedsQoL, 0.8 (95% CI: 0.7 to 0.9) (±0.3) for EQ-5D and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.24 to 1.0) (±0.9) for the cHAQ functional index. Conclusions: Our results confirmed a high variability in syndrome-related manifestations, with a large prevalence of visual and hearing deficits, pain and maxillofacial alterations. These findings may facilitate the detection of the most prevalent problems in this population, which could be a target to be addressed during the treatment of children and adolescents with SS.
A Point-of-Care Digital Workflow for 3D Printed Passive Presurgical Orthopedic Plates in Cleft Care
Authors: Zarean Parichehr , Zarean Paridokht , Thieringer Florian M. , Mueller Andreas A. , Kressmann Sabine , Erismann Martin , Sharma Neha , Benitez Benito K.
Published: August 2022

Cleft lip and palate are one of the most common congenital craniofacial malformations. As an initial treatment, presurgical orthopedics is considered standard treatment at many cleft centers. Digital impressions are becoming feasible in cleft care. Computer-aided design (CAD) and three-dimensional (3D) printing are manufacturing standards in dentistry. The assimilation of these technologies has the potential to alter the traditional workflow for the fabrication of customized presurgical orthopedic plates. We present a digital workflow comprising three steps: 3D digital image acquisition with an intraoral scanner, open-source CAD modeling, and point-of-care 3D printing for the fabrication of personalized passive presurgical plates for newborns with cleft lip and palate. The digital workflow resulted in patient-related benefits, such as no risk of airway obstruction with quicker data acquisition (range 1–2.5 min). Throughput time was higher in the digital workflow 260–350 min compared to 135 min in the conventional workflow. The manual and personal intervention time was reduced from 135 min to 60 min. We show a clinically useful digital workflow for presurgical plates in cleft treatment. Once care providers overcome procurement costs, digital impressions, and point-of-care 3D printing will simplify these workflows and have the potential to become standard for cleft care.
Molecular Profiling of Tumor Tissue in Mexican Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Flores-López Beatriz Armida , Ayala-Madrigal María de la Luz , Moreno-Ortiz José Miguel , Peregrina-Sandoval Jorge , Trujillo-Rojas Miguel Ángel , Venegas-Rodríguez José Luis , Hernández-Ramírez Rosario , Fernández-Galindo Martha Alejandra , Gutiérrez-Angulo Melva
Published: August 2022

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease with multiple genomic changes that influence the clinical management of patients; thus, the search for new molecular targets remains necessary. The aim of this study was to identify genetic variants in tumor tissues from Mexican patients with colorectal cancer, using massive parallel sequencing. A total of 4813 genes were analyzed in tumoral DNA from colorectal cancer patients, using the TruSight One Sequencing panel. From these, 192 variants with clinical associations were found distributed in 168 different genes, of which 46 variants had not been previous reported in the literature or databases, although genes harboring those variants had already been described in colorectal cancer. Enrichment analysis of the affected genes was performed using Reactome software; pathway over-representation showed significance for disease, signal transduction, and immune system subsets in all patients, while exclusive subsets such as DNA repair, autophagy, and RNA metabolism were also found. Those characteristics, whether individual or shared, could give tumors specific capabilities for survival, aggressiveness, or response to treatment. Our results can be useful for future investigations targeting specific characteristics of tumors in colorectal cancer patients. The identification of exclusive or common pathways in colorectal cancer patients could be important for better diagnosis and personalized cancer treatment.
A Qualitative Study of Patient and Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Building Multiphasic Exercise Prehabilitation into the Surgical Care Pathway for Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Daun Julia T. , Twomey Rosie , Dort Joseph C. , Capozzi Lauren C. , Crump Trafford , Francis George J. , Matthews T. Wayne , Chandarana Shamir P. , Hart Robert D. , Schrag Christiaan , Matthews Jennifer , McKenzie C. David , Lau Harold , Culos-Reed S. Nicole
Published: August 2022

Head and neck cancer (HNC) surgical patients experience a high symptom burden. Multiphasic exercise prehabilitation has the potential to improve patient outcomes, and to implement it into the care pathway, the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) must be considered. The purpose of this study was thus to gather feedback from HNC surgical patients and HCPs on building exercise into the standard HNC surgical care pathway. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and HCPs as part of a feasibility study assessing patient-reported outcomes, physical function, and in-hospital mobilization. Interview questions included satisfaction with study recruitment, assessment completion, impact on clinical workflow (HCPs), and perceptions of a future multiphasic exercise prehabilitation program. This study followed an interpretive description methodology. Results: Ten patients and ten HCPs participated in this study. Four themes were identified: (1) acceptability and necessity of assessments, (2) the value of exercise, (3) the components of an ideal exercise program, and (4) factors to support implementation. Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of exercise across the HNC surgical timeline from both the patient and the HCP perspective. Results have informed the implementation of a multiphasic exercise prehabilitation trial in HNC surgical patients.
Dose Descriptors and Assessment of Risk of Exposure-Induced Death in Patients Undergoing COVID-19 Related Chest Computed Tomography
Authors: Čiva Lejla M. , Beganović Adnan , Busuladžić Mustafa , Jusufbegović Merim , Awad-Dedić Ta’a , Vegar-Zubović Sandra
Published: August 2022

For more than two years, coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has represented a threat to global health and lifestyles. Computed tomography (CT) imaging provides useful information in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, this diagnostic modality is based on exposure to ionizing radiation, which is associated with an increased risk of radiation-induced cancer. In this study, we evaluated the common dose descriptors, CTDIvol and DLP, for 1180 adult patients. This data was used to estimate the effective dose, and risk of exposure-induced death (REID). Awareness of the extensive use of CT as a diagnostic tool in the management of COVID-19 during the pandemic is vital for the evaluation of radiation exposure parameters, dose reduction methods development and radiation protection.
Expression of CD44 in Leukocyte Subpopulations in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Franić Ivana , Režić-Mužinić Nikolina , Markotić Anita , Živković Piero Marin , Vilović Marino , Rušić Doris , Božić Joško
Published: August 2022

CD44 expressed in monocytes and lymphocytes seems to play a crucial role in gastrointestinal inflammation, such as the one occurring in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases. Differentially methylated genes are distinctly expressed across monocyte subpopulations related to the state of Crohn’s disease. Hence, the aim of this study was to detect CD44 expression in leukocyte subpopulations in relation to the type of IBD, therapy, and disease duration. Monocyte subpopulations CD14++CD16−, CD14++CD16++, and CD14+CD16+ as well as other leukocytes were analyzed for their CD44 expression using flow cytometry in 46 patients with IBD and 48 healthy controls. Patients with Crohn’s disease treated with non-biological therapy (NBT) exhibited a lower percentage of anti-inflammatory CD14+CD16++ monocytes, whereas NBT-treated patients with ulcerative colitis had lower expression of CD44 on CD14+CD44+ lymphocytes in comparison to controls, respectively. Conversely, patients with Crohn’s disease treated with biological therapy had a higher percentage of CD44+ granulocytes but lower expression of CD44 on anti-inflammatory monocytes compared to controls. Median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD44 on CD44+CD14+ lymphocytes was higher in ulcerative colitis patients treated with biological therapy compared to NBT. The percentage of classical CD14++CD16− monocytes was lower in the <9 years of IBD duration subgroup compared with the longer disease duration subgroup. The present study addresses the putative role of differentiation and regulation of leukocytes in tailoring IBD therapeutic regimes.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the Setting of Therapy-Induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Autopsy Report
Authors: Bahmad Hisham F. , Gogola Samantha , Elajami Mohamad K. , Brathwaite Carole , Castellano-Sánchez Amilcar A. , Sriganeshan Vathany , Omarzai Yumna
Published: August 2022

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyper-inflammatory disorder that occurs due to immunologic dysregulation. HLH can be primary (hereditary) or secondary to infections, autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, metabolic diseases, drugs, or malignancies. Lymphoid neoplasms mostly accompany malignancy-associated HLH. We present a case of a 12-year-old boy with a history of precursor B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), who subsequently developed chemotherapy-induced acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML). The patient was admitted for febrile neutropenia and initial laboratory tests revealed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The hospital course was complicated by multiple infections and septic shock. The patient received several broad-spectrum antimicrobials, dexamethasone, as well as a pericardial drain to drain the hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Despite intervention, the patient expired, and an autopsy was performed. We provide a synopsis of the main autopsy findings.
Stochastic Model of Block Segmentation Based on Improper Quadtree and Optimal Code under the Bayes Criterion
Authors: Nakahara Yuta , Matsushima Toshiyasu
Published: August 2022

Most previous studies on lossless image compression have focused on improving preprocessing functions to reduce the redundancy of pixel values in real images. However, we assumed stochastic generative models directly on pixel values and focused on achieving the theoretical limit of the assumed models. In this study, we proposed a stochastic model based on improper quadtrees. We theoretically derive the optimal code for the proposed model under the Bayes criterion. In general, Bayes-optimal codes require an exponential order of calculation with respect to the data lengths. However, we propose an algorithm that takes a polynomial order of calculation without losing optimality by assuming a novel prior distribution.
Relative Entropy of Distance Distribution Based Similarity Measure of Nodes in Weighted Graph Data
Authors: Liu Shihu , Liu Yingjie , Yang Chunsheng , Deng Li
Published: August 2022

Many similarity measure algorithms of nodes in weighted graph data have been proposed by employing the degree of nodes in recent years. Despite these algorithms obtaining great results, there may be still some limitations. For instance, the strength of nodes is ignored. Aiming at this issue, the relative entropy of the distance distribution based similarity measure of nodes is proposed in this paper. At first, the structural weights of nodes are given by integrating their degree and strength. Next, the distance between any two nodes is calculated with the help of their structural weights and the Euclidean distance formula to further obtain the distance distribution of each node. After that, the probability distribution of nodes is constructed by normalizing their distance distributions. Thus, the relative entropy can be applied to measure the difference between the probability distributions of the top d important nodes and all nodes in graph data. Finally, the similarity of two nodes can be measured in terms of this above-mentioned difference calculated by relative entropy. Experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm proposed by considering the strength of node in the relative entropy has great advantages in the most similar node mining and link prediction.
Financial Fraud Detection and Prediction in Listed Companies Using SMOTE and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Zhao Zhihong , Bai Tongyuan
Published: August 2022

This paper proposes a new method that can identify and predict financial fraud among listed companies based on machine learning. We collected 18,060 transactions and 363 indicators of finance, including 362 financial variables and a class variable. Then, we eliminated 9 indicators which were not related to financial fraud and processed the missing values. After that, we extracted 13 indicators from 353 indicators which have a big impact on financial fraud based on multiple feature selection models and the frequency of occurrence of features in all algorithms. Then, we established five single classification models and three ensemble models for the prediction of financial fraud records of listed companies, including LR, RF, XGBOOST, SVM, and DT and ensemble models with a voting classifier. Finally, we chose the optimal single model from five machine learning algorithms and the best ensemble model among all hybrid models. In choosing the model parameter, optimal parameters were selected by using the grid search method and comparing several evaluation metrics of models. The results determined the accuracy of the optimal single model to be in a range from 97% to 99%, and that of the ensemble models as higher than 99%. This shows that the optimal ensemble model performs well and can efficiently predict and detect fraudulent activity of companies. Thus, a hybrid model which combines a logistic regression model with an XGBOOST model is the best among all models. In the future, it will not only be able to predict fraudulent behavior in company management but also reduce the burden of doing so.
Introducing Robust Statistics in the Uncertainty Quantification of Nuclear Safeguards Measurements
Authors: Cerasa Andrea
Published: August 2022

The monitoring of nuclear safeguards measurements consists of verifying the coherence between the operator declarations and the corresponding inspector measurements on the same nuclear items. Significant deviations may be present in the data, as consequence of problems with the operator and/or inspector measurement systems. However, they could also be the result of data falsification. In both cases, quantitative analysis and statistical outcomes may be negatively affected by their presence unless robust statistical methods are used. This article aims to investigate the benefits deriving from the introduction of robust procedures in the nuclear safeguards context. In particular, we will introduce a robust estimator for the estimation of the uncertainty components of the measurement error model. The analysis will prove the capacity of robust procedures to limit the bias in simulated and empirical contexts to provide more sounding statistical outcomes. For these reasons, the introduction of robust procedures may represent a step forward in the still ongoing development of reliable uncertainty quantification methods for error variance estimation.
Quantum Statistical Complexity Measure as a Signaling of Correlation Transitions
Authors: Cesário André T. , Ferreira Diego L. B. , Debarba Tiago , Iemini Fernando , Maciel Thiago O. , Vianna Reinaldo O.
Published: August 2022

We introduce a quantum version for the statistical complexity measure, in the context of quantum information theory, and use it as a signaling function of quantum order–disorder transitions. We discuss the possibility for such transitions to characterize interesting physical phenomena, as quantum phase transitions, or abrupt variations in correlation distributions. We apply our measure on two exactly solvable Hamiltonian models: the 1D-Quantum Ising Model (in the single-particle reduced state), and on Heisenberg XXZ spin-1/2 chain (in the two-particle reduced state). We analyze its behavior across quantum phase transitions for finite system sizes, as well as in the thermodynamic limit by using Bethe Ansatz technique.
Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk Assessment in Soils of the Pawara Gold Mining Area, Eastern Cameroon
Authors: Fodoué Yaya , Ismaila Ahmadou , Yannah Mero , Wirmvem Mengnjo Jude , Mana Christian Bouba
Published: August 2022

Pawara area is a mining district in the eastern region of Cameroon. Mining in the area is generally artisanal and semi-mechanized, practiced by the local miners and immigrants from neighboring African countries and China. The lack of strict regulations and control of mining activities permits the miners to use illegal substances, especially Hg in gold separation. These expose the area to toxic and heavy metals pollution. This study highlights the source of heavy metals concentration in the Pawara soils and the potential adverse effects of Hg on gold separation to the environment and health. Three mining sites and one control site were investigated, namely Site A, Site B and Site C. The control Site 0 (background) is an area where no mining and agricultural activities have taken place. Soil samples were collected at depth of 20 cm, with six from each site (24 samples). Samples were analyzed for Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Cd and Zn content using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a graphite furnace. The metals, except for Fe, show high values for all three sites exceeding the background levels in the soils. Hg shows the highest concentration on Site A with a value of 1590 mg kg−1. Pb is highest on Site B with a concentration of 12,274 mg kg−1. The contamination degree was assessed with the help of contamination indices (Igeo—index of geo-accumulation; PLI—pollution load index; RI—potential ecological risk; Eri—ecological risk; Pi—single pollution index; CF—contamination factor) and all parameters show a high degree of contamination on all three sites compared to the control site. Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu as single pollutants show the highest ecological risk on Site A and Site B where intense mining is taking place. The absence of industrial and large-scale agricultural activities in the Pawara area, the nonexistence of contaminants on the control site and the presence of contaminants on Site C where farming is high and mining is low jointly show that the discharge of mine wastes onto the soils and stream channels are the main source of contaminants and potential pollutants of the Pawara ecological environment.
Uncertainty Analysis of Business Interruption Losses in the Philippines Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Santos Joost R. , Tapia John Frederick D. , Lamberte Albert , Solis Christine Alyssa , Tan Raymond R. , Aviso Kathleen B. , Yu Krista Danielle S.
Published: August 2022

In this study, we utilize an input–output (I–O) model to perform an ex-post analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic workforce disruptions in the Philippines. Unlike most disasters that debilitate physical infrastructure systems, the impact of disease pandemics like COVID-19 is mostly concentrated on the workforce. Workforce availability was adversely affected by lockdowns as well as by actual illness. The approach in this paper is to use Philippine I–O data for multiple years and generate Dirichlet probability distributions for the Leontief requirements matrix (i.e., the normalized sectoral transactions matrix) to address uncertainties in the parameters. Then, we estimated the workforce dependency ratio based on a literature survey and then computed the resilience index in each economic sector. For example, sectors that depend heavily on the physical presence of their workforce (e.g., construction, agriculture, manufacturing) incur more opportunity losses compared to sectors where workforce can telework (e.g., online retail, education, business process outsourcing). Our study estimated the 50th percentile economic losses in the range of PhP 3.3 trillion (with telework) to PhP 4.8 trillion (without telework), which is consistent with independently published reports. The study provides insights into the direct and indirect economic impacts of workforce disruptions in emerging economies and will contribute to the general domain of disaster risk management.