bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties of a low-modulus bone cement for spinal applications
Authors: Ghandour Salim , Christie Iain , Öhman Mägi Caroline , Persson Cecilia
Published: November 2023

Background Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is extensively used in spinal procedures such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, while its use in percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) is not yet widely spread. A main issue for both application sites, vertebra and disc, is the mismatch in stiffness between cement and bone, potentially resulting in adjacent vertebral fractures and adjacent segment disease. Tailoring the cement modulus using additives is hence an interesting strategy. However, there is a lack of data on the tensile and tension-compression fatigue properties of these cements, relevant to the newly researched indication of PCD. Method A commercial PMMA cement (VS) was modified with 12%vol of linoleic acid (VSLA) and tested for quasi-static tensile properties. Additionally, tension-compression fatigue testing with amplitudes ranging from +/-5MPa to +/-7MPa and +/-9MPa was performed, and a Weibull three-parameter curve fit was used to calculate the fatigue parameters. Results Quasi-static testing revealed a significant reduction in VSLA’s Young’s Modulus (E=581.1±126.4MPa) compared to the original cement (E=1478.1±202.9MPa). Similarly, the ultimate tensile stress decreased from 36.6±1.5MPa to 11.6±0.8MPa. Thus, VSLA offers improved compatibility with trabecular bone properties. Fatigue testing of VSLA revealed that as the stress amplitude increased the Weibull mean number decreased from 3591 to 272 and 91 cycles, respectively. In contrast, the base VS cement reached run-out at the highest stress amplitude. However, the lowest stress amplitude used exceeds the pressures recorded in the disc in vivo, and VSLA displayed a similar fatigue life range to that of the annulus fibrosis tissue. Conclusions While the relevance of fully reversed tension-compression fatigue testing can be debated for predicting cement performance in certain spinal applications, the results of this study can serve as a benchmark for comparison of low-modulus cements for the spine. Further investigations are necessary to assess the clinical feasibility and effectiveness of these cements.
Algorithmization and programming: preparation for the Unified State Exam in computer science
Authors: Gurikov Sergey
Published: November 2023

The textbook discusses the basics of algorithmization and programming in Pascal, C++ and Python languages in relation to the tasks of the Unified State Exam (USE) in the discipline "Computer Science and ICT". The levels directly related to the test of the subject's mastery of algorithmic thinking skills, knowledge of the basic constructs of a high-level programming language, and the formation of program development skills in a programming environment are considered. The action of linear, branching and cyclic structures is described; attention is paid to programming based on functions and procedures, processing of strings and symbols.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary education of the latest generation.
For schoolchildren and people who are preparing for the Unified State Exam in the discipline "Informatics and ICT", applicants who are going to take internal entrance exams to universities.
Marketing Linguistics
Authors: Lyubov' Markovna , Ksenzenko Oksana , Nadeina Tat'yana , Solov'eva Yuliya , Medvedeva Elena , Marchenko Elena , Chubina Elena
Published: November 2023

Currently, the attention of linguists is attracted by language tools that implement a marketing model of consumer behavior and ensure that the recipient makes a purchase decision. Such studies have led to the formation of a new integrative direction — marketing linguistics. The purpose of this textbook is to reflect the specifics of the impact on the addressee in marketing communication through the use of linguistic means.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For undergraduates, postgraduates studying in the fields of "Linguistics", "Domestic Philology", "Philological support of public relations", "Advertising and public relations", "Marketing", as well as researchers and practitioners dealing with advertising and PR.
Computer science. Workshop
Authors: Kanakova Svetlana
Published: November 2023

The textbook offers 40 practical works on various topics. To fully master the necessary knowledge and skills, the student must complete the entire list of practical work proposed in the methodological development during the academic year. Tasks include recommendations for working with a personal computer, operating system and application software. As types of control, the analysis of the student's work performed, qualitative and quantitative assessment of the work are provided.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
For students of secondary vocational educational institutions studying in the specialty "Information systems and programming".
Formation of ecological worldview of schoolchildren
Authors: Grineva Elizaveta , Davletshina Larisa , Bibikova Nadezhda
Published: November 2023

The textbook outlines the theoretical foundations of the formation of an ecological worldview, provides a model of this process, reveals modern approaches and ideological aspects of environmental education. A conceptual analysis of creativity in the structure of the general abilities of the individual is proposed, innovative technologies in environmental education that contribute to the development of creativity are considered, and attention is also paid to socio-ecological design. The issues of diagnostics of the level of formation of the main indicators of the ecological worldview of students are considered. The manual includes a system of workshops on the development of creativity in the process of environmental education and socio-ecological design, educational tasks in the unity of intellectual, emotional-value and practical-active components, in the unity of global, national and local history components and in the unity of natural science, humanities and cultural components.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For undergraduate students studying in the areas of training "Preschool education", "Psychological and pedagogical education", "Pedagogical education", "Social work", as well as students of secondary vocational education institutions studying in the specialty "Teaching in primary classes".
The legal status of subjects of educational relations and its impact on the state of modern education in Russia and other countries
Authors: Krechetova Elena , Kriveenokiy Aleksandr , Rublevskaya Larisa
Published: November 2023

The monograph examines the problems of the legal status of subjects of educational relations in modern conditions in the world and in Russia.
For undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students studying the discipline "Educational Law".
Dynamics of the number of wolves and large ungulates in some regions of Western Siberia
Authors: Pereyaslovec Vladimir , Erdakov Lev
Published: November 2023

In the monograph, based on the authors' long—term observations in the Yugansky Nature Reserve (KhMAO — Yugra), as well as open literature data, the dynamics of the number of large ungulates living together: forest reindeer, elk, and also the wolf predator associated with them are analyzed. The authors used traditional statistical and dynamic methods of analysis, as well as some ecological indices: compensation coefficient and habitat fidelity indices. Landscape features of the long—term course of abundance and its cycles in deer and wolf, synchronization of dynamics in the predator-prey system, separation of populations over time are described. Variants of the forecast of the abundance of these species in various habitats and large regions are shown.
It is intended for biologists, students of biological faculties of universities, employees of nature reserves, national parks and hunting.
Durability of structural concrete under frost and salt influences: monitoring, testing, recommendations
Authors: Malyuk Viktor , Leonovich Sergey
Published: November 2023

The monograph considers a set of issues related to the production of durable concretes for aggressive media of class XF4. The work of concrete of port facilities in conditions characteristic of the sea coast of the Arctic and Far Eastern seas is highlighted. The factors of aggressiveness in conditions of frost exposure for concrete
of the zone of variable water level are considered. Today, in order to make optimal economic and environmental decisions, the task of transitioning the design and construction of structures according to operational characteristics has become obvious. Conceptual solutions for improving design methods and technology of durable
concrete in environments with frost and salt exposure are presented.
It is intended for engineering and technical workers and students studying in the bachelor's degree program "Construction".
The problem of addictive behavior in jurisprudence: a theoretical and legal study
Authors: Myakushkin Artem
Published: November 2023

The monograph presents the first comprehensive theoretical and legal study of addictive behavior in Russian legal science. Addictive behavior is described in the legal plane as a phenomenon of state-legal reality. The author substantiates the system, theoretical foundations, conceptual apparatus of legal addictology; formulated the author's legal definition of addictive behavior; developed a legal classification of addictive behavior. The addictive behavior of collective subjects of law is described for the first time, and the correlation of addictive behavior with lawful behavior and offense is revealed.
For students, postgraduates and teachers of law schools and faculties, as well as a wide range of readers interested in issues of addictive behavior in the aspect of jurisprudence.
Family Farm Succession of the First Post-Socialist Generation in the Czech Republic
Authors: Zagata Lukas , Lošťák Michal , Swain Nigel
Published: November 2023

The main goal of the paper is to provide insights into the family succession processes in terms of the first inter-generational renewal that has been re-started in the Czech agricultural sector. We want to understand how major transformation processes (i.e., collectivisation, restitution, the post-socialist economic transformation and EU membership) constituted social structures that framed inter-generational change on Czech farms. Such a framework includes the “farm succession gap” that has resulted from the long-term societal changes and that is still reflected in the ongoing succession processes.
Unexpected Counter-Movements to Nationalism: the Hidden Potential of Local Food Communities
Authors: Svensson Sara , Balogh Péter , Cartwright Andrew
Published: November 2023

This article identifies a hitherto understudied element of local food communities, namely their potential as counter-movements to nationalist discourses, practices and policies. This potential should be particularly valuable in Eastern Europe, where European integration has been severely contested over the past years by political elites. We support our argument by a closer qualitative inquiry into two cases; one with urban-rural dimensions in the metropolitan area of Budapest and one in a more sparsely populated cross-border region at the Slovak-Hungarian border. Based on 18 interviews with coordinators, producers and consumers, numerous visits to both sites, and studying the organisations’ documents we conclude that the growth of local food communities contributes to strengthened solidarity in local communities. Although nationalist discourses on buying domestic are rarely contested explicitly, the lack of any reference to national movements and discourses testifies to the primary importance of the local.
Some Experience of the Complex, National Human Resource Development Programmes in the Hungarian Rural Regions
Authors: Tésits Róbert , Alpek Levente , Hoványi Gábor
Published: November 2023

The key objective of this paper is the structural-regional examination of disadvantaged job seekers’ employability in the convergence regions of Hungary. One element of the comparative evaluation of the EU-supported, complex, national employability-enhancing programmes is the exploration of successful and unsuccessful factors and the formulation of recommendations for future projects of this kind. While the evaluation of the previous programme beginning nearly a decade ago was based on document analysis (technical procedures, budget summaries, communications plans, action and progress schedules and reports), in-depth interviews with the employment departments staff provided assistance in the evaluation accomplished five years later. The assessment of interviews was completed by the public, follow-up data about people successfully passing the programme and still being employed half a year after the closing of the programme. This data was the basis for the measurement of regional impact, which necessitated the development of two regional reintegration indicators. The group-specific evaluation pointed to the fact that low-skilled people can be involved with much less efficiency into employability-enhancing programmes. The present study also shows that the expected marginal utility of an employability programme is greater, which is realised in an economic environment driven by labour market demand.
The Importance of the System Category in Security Studies
Authors: Gierszewski Janusz
Published: November 2023

Using qualitative methods of source analysis and tracing the process of scientific discourse, an attempt was made to answer the research question: What is the relevance of the system category for security sciences? The study provides arguments in favour of confirming the author’s hypothesis that the category of system constitutes one of the universes of security sciences in terms of research object as well as methodology. In addition, the category is important for defining the identity of this scientific discipline.
The Importance of Myths and Legends in Shaping Polish Historical Policy in the 21st Century: Contemporary Determinants
Authors: Wojtaszak Andrzej
Published: November 2023

The aim of the article is to analyse the value of myth and legend in shaping historical policy. The activity of politicians and their influence on shaping historical policy is most often associated with political change, secession, reconstruction, or state renewal. The creators of these transformations seek to find historical connections in the past that would legitimise the changes and the purposefulness of the actions taken by the government. Historians play a considerable role in such endeavours; however, they should not forget historical truth, which may conflict with political needs.
Image of Migrants and Refugees in Sweden in 2015 and the Following Years as Emerging from the Opinions of Political Elites and the Media Discourse
Authors: Wybranowski Dariusz
Published: November 2023

The basis for the current analysis and the case-study method applied herein is provided by press reports, scholarly articles and books, both in the paper and online forms, containing the positions and statements by politicians from Sweden and elsewhere, the media community, public service officials, as well as average residents of Sweden who had encountered problems that resulted from the 2015 refugee crisis and the uncontrolled influx of migrants and refugees, especially those hailing from the Islamic world. Some of the research questions posed by the author are which Swedish political forces and circles supported this influx and which were against it, and how this was reflected in the political and media discourse. Other research questions concern the attitudes towards refugees and migrants presented by the country’s native residents and by persons of other origins who have lived there for a long time, as well as the factors influencing the media portrayal and the existing evaluation of events, in relation to the escalation of violence that occurred in some Swedish cities in the years 2016 and 2017. This issue is examined through an analysis of various statements made by residents of the Kingdom of Sweden: political figures, scholars, and ordinary people. The closing caesura is the year 2018 and the state of affairs after the parliamentary elections, in which the right-wing Sweden Democrats achieved a significant success. The analysis of the events of 2015–2018 as reflected in the media and political discourse, which is presented in the article, indicates how the massive influx of migrants and refugees has changed the sense of social security of the Swedes and what effects this “clash of civilisations” has already had and may have in the future.
Hybrid Regimes and Political (Dis)Order
Authors: Ficek Ryszard
Published: November 2023

This paper studies the concept of “hybrid regimes”, not so much in defining and authenticating their functionality but, above all, to exhibit them as so-called “partial” constitutional concepts. Articulating the tensions, divergences, and antagonisms characteristic of these regimes, as well as highlighting the blurring boundaries between democratic systems and authoritarianism “with adjectives”, emphasizes the importance of the examined issues. The author introduces an alternative conceptualization and typology of hybrid regimes and a configurational approach. Instead of placing political regimes on a linear continuum – from authoritarianism to democracy – multidimensional solutions facilitating an alternative typology of the analyzed concepts have been exposed. The configuration approach, however, provides an analytically valuable way to evaluate and integrate hybrid regimes with other classification schemes. Such innovations, therefore, help alleviate conceptual confusion in the literature. Moreover, deepening the understanding of the concept of hybrid regimes, along with emphasizing its conceptual ambiguities and complexity – especially concerning the “politically correct” discourse on the current problems of fragile and politically unstable states – is necessary to better understand the complex and confusing nature of modern regimes of power frequently operating in the most politically unstable regions of the contemporary world.
„Verstand! Ein wenig mehr Gehirne“.
Authors: Rossi Christina
Published: November 2023

Die menschliche Dummheit als Unvermögen und Unwille, sich seines eigenen Verstandes ohne Leitung anderer zu bedienen, bildet als Topos und Textstrategie eine zentrale Konstante im Werk von Christoph Martin Wieland. Die Helden verschiedener seiner Texte zeichnet Dummheit in vielen Facetten aus. Anhand ausgewählter diskursiver Kontextualisierungen, die im Zusammenhang mit dem Dummheitstopos entfaltet werden – etwa zeitgenössischer poetologischer Debatten des Märchengenres, Urteilspraktiken und ironischer Rhetorik sowie anthropologisch benachbarter Konzepte von Idiotie und Disability –, skizziert der Beitrag mit einem Fokus auf das Märchen Pervonte und das Singspiel Das Urtheil des Midas unterschiedliche Formen und Implikationen menschlicher Dummheit, wie Wieland sie inszeniert und reflektiert.
Die Weisheit eines Fallsüchtigen – über Dostojewskis Idiot
Authors: Brittnacher Hans Richard
Published: November 2023

In F. Dostojewskis Roman Der Idiot steht die Figur des verarmten und unter epileptischen Anfällen leidenden Fürsten Myschkin, der unverkennbar an die Gestalt von Jesus Christus erinnert, aber auch Züge der Schiller'schen schönen Seele trägt, im Zentrum der Handlung. Myschkin agiert jedoch in einem komplexen Figurennetz. Dies erlaubt es Dostojewki, den Fürsten zu den ideologischen, anthropologisch-religiösen und gesellschaftlichen Diskursen im Russland des 19. Jh. in Beziehung zu setzen. Die höhere Petersburger Gesellschaft, in der sich Myschkin bewegt, erweist sich dabei als ein Biotop, in dem Manipulation, Lüge und Intrige herrschen. Für eine christusähnlich Gestalt wie den Fürsten, die alles zu verzeihen und zu vergeben imstande ist, ist in dieser utilitaristischen, nur dem Primat des Geldes und des Nutzens gehorchenden Welt kein Platz. Eine Gesellschaft jedoch, die Güte und pragmatische Dummheit mit Einfältigkeit verwechselt, hat keinerlei Zukunft. Dies ist die pessimistisch-trostlose Diagnose, die Dostojewskis Roman dem zaristischen Russland stellt.
Credit Risk Modeling with Graph Machine Learning
Authors: Das Sanjiv , Huang Xin , Adeshina Soji , Yang Patrick , Bachega Leonardo
Published: November 2023

Accurate credit ratings are an essential ingredient in the decision-making process for investors, rating agencies, bond portfolio managers, bankers, and policy makers, as well as an important input for risk management and regulation. Credit ratings are traditionally generated from models that use financial statement data and market data, which are tabular (numeric and categorical). Using machine learning methods, we construct a network of firms using U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings (denoted CorpNet) to enhance the traditional tabular data set with a corporate graph. We show that this generates accurate rating predictions with comparable and better performance to tabular models. We ensemble graph convolutional networks with highly-performant ensembled machine learning models using AutoGluon. This paper demonstrates both transductive and inductive methodologies to extend credit scoring models based on tabular data, which have been used by the ratings industry for decades, to the class of machine learning models on networks. The methodology is extensible to other financial machine learning models that may be enhanced using a corporate graph.

History: David Martens served as the senior editor for this article.

Data Ethics & Reproducibility Note: No data ethics considerations are foreseen related to this article. The paper deals with corporate credit risk and not consumer credit, which usually entails issues around privacy and bias. The code capsule is available on Code Ocean at https://codeocean.com/capsule/5230264/tree/v2 and in the e-Companion to this article (available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijds.2022.00018 ).
Preface to Special Issue on Computational Advances in Short-Term Power System Operations
Authors: Baldick Ross , Low Steven , O’Neill Richard , Ralph Daniel , Zakeri Golbon
Published: November 2023

History: This paper has been accepted for the Operations Research Special Issue on Computational Advances in Short-Term Power System Operations.
Effectiveness of Nutrient Management for Reducing Phosphorus Losses from Agricultural Areas
Authors: Kamrath Brock , Yuan Yongping
Published: November 2023

Highlights

Dissolved reactive P concentration increased with an increased fertilization rate.

Subsurface placement of P fertilizer can reduce acute DRP export regardless of fertilization rates.

More research connecting P fertilizer use and P export at the field-scale is needed.

Abstract. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) export from agricultural areas is a leading cause of nutrient pollution in freshwater systems (e.g., the North American Great Lakes). A potential solution to mitigate the excessive release of DRP is the use of nutrient management. To evaluate the effectiveness of nutrient management for phosphorus (P) in the United States, we conducted a review to synthesize P management and DRP export data from peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 to 2022. We identified 15 publications and extracted 113 and 90 observations from plot- and field-scale studies, respectively. At the plot scale, mean DRP concentrations were approximately 60% lower when P application rates were below the maximum recommended rate. In addition to the lower mean value, more extreme DRP export events occurred when the P fertilization rate was greater than the maximum recommended rate. In terms of application method, subsurface placement reduced mean DRP concentrations during rainfall simulations by 88% relative to surface placement (i.e., broadcasting). For fertilizer sources, mean DRP concentrations were similar between inorganic and organic fertilizers. However, at high application rates, organic fertilizers had a greater potential to produce extreme DRP export events. At the field-scale, organic fertilizers applied at high rates had the potential to produce extreme DRP export events. However, field-scale results for the other nutrient management techniques were generally inconclusive due to a limited number of studies and confounding factors. Overall, these results displayed the potential adverse impacts of overfertilization and the surface application of P fertilizers and highlighted the need for further research into the influence of nutrient management on P losses. Keywords: 4R management, Agricultural runoff, Conservation practice, Phosphorus export.
Blockchain Technology Enabled Traceability Framework: Food Supply Chain Perspective
Authors: Ghode Dnyaneshwar J. , Wagire Aniruddha A. , Dwaramwar Pravin A. , Khobragade Rajesh H.
Published: November 2023

In the global market, consumers have expectations of good quality food products. To provide flawless food products, traceability has become dominant in a complex food supply chain (SC) network. Stakeholders of the food SC hesitate to share their data with each other, as they have different business strategies. Blockchain Technology (BCT) brings all the parties of food SC on single platform to improve interorganizational trust. The implementation of BCT in food SC offers the traceability of products. This paper proposes a framework for traceability of products in food SC using BCT that offers the consumers to trace the origin of the food products. Blockchain enhances the food traceability, minimize the data tampering, and improves data transparency in food SC. BCT enabled food SC framework has been tested using case study of rice SC and found the enhancement in traceability.
Effect of modified gastrointestinal decompression under abdominal CT in patients with intestinal obstruction
Authors: Wu X , Chen M , Yu X , Wu B
Published: November 2023

Introduction

We aimed to evaluate the effect of continuous quality improvement on modified gastrointestinal decompression under abdominal computed tomography (CT) in patients with intestinal obstruction.

Methods

The CT images of 74 patients with intestinal obstruction who underwent gastrointestinal decompression in our hospital from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019 were analysed retrospectively (Control group). Factors influencing unsatisfactory decompression effects were analysed, and corresponding improvement measures were formulated and implemented. A total of 77 patients from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2022 were enrolled prospectively (Study group). The position of the nasogastric tube end, the amount of gastric drainage within 24h and the degree of abdominal distension relief were compared before and after the improvement.

Results

After implementation of continuous quality improvement, the proportion of the end of the nasogastric tube reaching the antrum, the amount of gastric fluid drainage within 24h and the degree of abdominal distension relief were better than those before improvement (p<0.001, respectively). The execution rate and accuracy rate of CT interpretations by nurses reached 100% and 82%, respectively.

Conclusions

Modified gastrointestinal decompression based on abdominal CT scans can increase the success of gastrointestinal decompression and effectively reduce the discomfort of patients.
Enhancing in vitro photothermal therapy using plasmonic gold nanorod decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Oudjedi Fatma , Lee Seung Soo , Paliouras Miltiadis , Trifiro Mark , Kirk Andrew G.
Published: November 2023

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising approach for cancer treatment that selectively heats malignant cells while sparing healthy cells. Here, the light-to-heat conversion efficiency of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) within the near-infrared biological transmission window is enhanced by decorating them with plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs). The results reveal a significant photothermal enhancement of hybrid MWCNTs-GNRs compared to bare MWCNTs, displaying a 4.9 enhancement factor per unit mass. The enhanced plasmonic PTT properties of MWCNTs-GNRs are also investigated in vitro using PC3 prostate cancer cell lines, demonstrating a potent ablation efficiency. These findings advance innovative hybrid plasmonic nanostructures for clinical applications.
Sensitive Schrödinger Cat States
Authors: Ramezanpour Shahab
Published: November 2023

Strong laser-atom interactions can produce highly non-classical states of light by using the process of high-harmonic generation in atoms. When the high-harmonic generation is present, the quantum state of the fundamental mode following the interaction is known as the Schrödinger cat state, which is a superposition of the laser’s initial coherent state and the
coherent state with a smaller amplitude that results from its interaction with atoms. Here, we demonstrate that new light states with significantly different Wigner function distributions can be produced by combining two separate Schrödinger cat states. Through the engineering of Schrödinger cat states’ parameters, we are able to produce Wigner functions that exhibit high sensitivity in relation to the system parameter. Our research paves the way for the creation of non-classical light by superposing Schrödinger cat states with application in such as quantum sensing.
Head stabilization apparatus for high-resolution ophthalmic imaging
Authors: Vienola Kari , Holmes J. Andrew , Glasso Zolten , Rossi Ethan
Published: November 2023

Head movement must be stabilized to enable high-quality data collection from optical instrumentation such as eye trackers, and ophthalmic imaging devices. Though critically important for imaging, head stabilization is often an afterthought in the design of advanced ophthalmic imaging systems and experimental devices often adapt used and/or discarded equipment from clinical devices for this purpose. Alternatively, those seeking the most stable solution possible, including many users of adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy systems, utilize bite bars. Bite bars can provide excellent stability but are time consuming to fabricate, decreasing imaging efficiency, and uncomfortable for many patients, especially the elderly and/or those with prosthodontics such as dentures who may refuse participation in a study that requires one. No commercial vendors specifically offer head mount solutions for experimental ophthalmic imaging devices, resulting in nearly every custom device having a different solution for this commonly encountered problem. Parallelizing the head stabilization apparatus across different custom devices may improve standardization of experimental imaging systems for clinical trials and other multi-center investigations. Here we introduce a head mount design for ophthalmic imaging that is modular, adjustable, and customizable to the constraints of different experimental imaging configurations. The 3-points of head contact in our solution provides excellent stabilization across a range of head sizes and shapes from small children to adults, and the ease of adjustment afforded by our design minimizes the time to get participants stabilized and comfortable.
Overcoming chemotherapy resistance in low-grade gliomas: A computational approach
Authors: Delobel Thibault , Ayala-Hernández Luis E. , Bosque Jesús J. , Pérez-Beteta Julián , Chulián Salvador , García-Ferrer Manuel , Piñero Pilar , Schucht Philippe , Murek Michael , Pérez-García Víctor M.
Published: November 2023

Low-grade gliomas are primary brain tumors that arise from glial cells and are usually treated with temozolomide (TMZ) as a chemotherapeutic option. They are often incurable, but patients have a prolonged survival. One of the shortcomings of the treatment is that patients eventually develop drug resistance. Recent findings show that persisters, cells that enter a dormancy state to resist treatment, play an important role in the development of resistance to TMZ. In this study we constructed a mathematical model of low-grade glioma response to TMZ incorporating a persister population. The model was able to describe the volumetric longitudinal dynamics, observed in routine FLAIR 3D sequences, of low-grade glioma patients acquiring TMZ resistance. We used the model to explore different TMZ administration protocols, first on virtual clones of real patients and afterwards on virtual patients preserving the relationships between parameters of real patients. In silico clinical trials showed that resistance development was deferred by protocols in which individual doses are administered after rest periods, rather than the 28-days cycle standard protocol. This led to median survival gains in virtual patients of more than 15 months when using resting periods between two and three weeks and agreed with recent experimental observations in animal models. Additionally, we tested adaptive variations of these new protocols, what showed a potential reduction in toxicity, but no survival gain. Our computational results highlight the need of further clinical trials that could obtain better results from treatment with TMZ in low grade gliomas.
Exploring strategy differences between humans and monkeys with recurrent neural networks
Authors: Tsuda Ben , Richmond Barry J. , Sejnowski Terrence J.
Published: November 2023

Animal models are used to understand principles of human biology. Within cognitive neuroscience, non-human primates are considered the premier model for studying decision-making behaviors in which direct manipulation experiments are still possible. Some prominent studies have brought to light major discrepancies between monkey and human cognition, highlighting problems with unverified extrapolation from monkey to human. Here, we use a parallel model system—artificial neural networks (ANNs)—to investigate a well-established discrepancy identified between monkeys and humans with a working memory task, in which monkeys appear to use a recency-based strategy while humans use a target-selective strategy. We find that ANNs trained on the same task exhibit a progression of behavior from random behavior (untrained) to recency-like behavior (partially trained) and finally to selective behavior (further trained), suggesting monkeys and humans may occupy different points in the same overall learning progression. Surprisingly, what appears to be recency-like behavior in the ANN, is in fact an emergent non-recency-based property of the organization of the neural network’s state space during its development through training. We find that explicit encouragement of recency behavior during training has a dual effect, not only causing an accentuated recency-like behavior, but also speeding up the learning process altogether, resulting in an efficient shaping mechanism to achieve the optimal strategy. Our results suggest a new explanation for the discrepency observed between monkeys and humans and reveal that what can appear to be a recency-based strategy in some cases may not be recency at all.
EDIII-Fc induces protective immune responses against the Zika virus in mice and rhesus macaque
Authors: Su Hailong , Liu Jun , Yu Jianhai , Qiu Zhenzhen , Liang Wenhan , Wu Wangsheng , Mo Haifeng , Li Hongwei , Zhao Wei , Gu Weiwang
Published: November 2023

Zika virus can infect the fetus through the placental barrier, causing ZIKV congenital syndrome and even miscarriage, which can cause great harm to pregnant women and infants. Currently, there is no vaccine and drug available to combat the Zika virus. In this study, we designed a fusion protein named EDIII-Fc, including the EDIII region of Zika E protein and human IgG Fc fragment, and obtained 293T cells that stably secreted EDIII-Fc protein using the lentiviral expression system. Mice were immunized with the EDIII-Fc protein, and it was observed that viral replication was significantly inhibited in the immunized mice compared to non-immunized mice. In rhesus macaques, we found that EDIII-Fc effectively induce the secretion of neutralizing antibodies and T cell immunity. These experimental data provide valid data for further use of Zika virus E protein to prepare an effective, safe, affordable Zika vaccine.
Optimal energy management strategy for dual-power coupling tractor based on the adaptive control technology
Authors: Dou Haishi , Wei Hongqian , Ai Qiang , Zhang Youtong
Published: November 2023

Hybrid tractors (HT) are regarded as the efficient agricultural machine due to their energy conservation performance and faster torque response to deal with load fluctuations. However, the strategy to allocate the battery and fuel energy for demand power should be discussed. In this paper, an on-line management strategy of the HT is proposed to optimize the energy consumption of engine and motor and to reduce torque ripple for power units. A new architecture for replacing power shift and continuously variable transmission technology is proposed. Then, the modified equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is used to optimize the torque distribution in which the equivalent factor is further calculated for the real-time process. Besides, the modification of ECMS in variable working conditions can effectively analyse the torque distribution between the motor and engine. The numerical test is implemented that the effectiveness of the proposed energy strategy is validated in plowing conditions. The consequences indicated that the proposed power distribution strategy can adaptively allocate the torque demand according to the fluctuation load. Comparing with the traditional rule-based strategy, the proposed strategy can reduce 6.2% of the energy, and decrease torque ripple with the proposed tractor architecture.
Adults’ willingness to report sexual orientation and gender identity when registering for a digital health application: A cross-sectional quantitative study
Authors: Marshall Jaclyn , Zhang Xinyu , Green Benjamin B.
Published: November 2023

The collection of patient sexual orientation and gender identity information is crucial in identifying and addressing disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for sexual and gender minority individuals. While some studies have explored patients’ willingness to disclose this information in specific settings, little is known about response rates in digital health applications. In light of the growing use of digital health, including virtual care, we sought to determine whether adults would respond to optional sexual orientation and gender identity fields during registration for a digital health application offered through their employer-provided benefits. We analyzed response rates for sexual orientation and gender identity by age, race and ethnicity, and region among individuals over age 17 between September 9th and December 31, 2022. Our study, which included over 41,000 commercially-insured adults from all 50 states, found that nearly 80% were willing to report their sexual orientation and gender identity. However, we observed higher nonresponse rates among older adults and individuals living in central and southern regions, with no consistent pattern by race and ethnicity. Our findings indicate that digital health applications could be a valuable resource for collecting this data from a diverse group of adults. Nevertheless, digital health companies must ensure that they use the data responsibly, identifying quality improvement initiatives and contributing to research that can inform health policies for sexual and gender minority individuals.
The impact of frailty and illness perceptions on quality of life among people living with HIV in Greece: A network analysis
Authors: Kapetanakis Anargyros , Karakatsoulis Georgios , Kyrou Dimitrios , Ntourou Iliana , Vrontaras Nikolaos , Tsachouridou Olga , Meliou Maria , Basoulis Dimitrios , Protopapas Konstantinos , Petrakis Vasilis , Leonidou Leonidia , Katsarolis Ioannis , Metallidis Simeon , Chini Maria , Psichogiou Mina , Antoniadou Anastasia , Panagopoulos Periklis , Gogos Charalambos , Karamanidou Christina
Published: November 2023

Objective

Despite the significant advances in healthcare, people living with HIV still face challenges that affect their quality of life (QoL), both in terms of their physical state as represented by frailty and of their illness perceptions (IP). The aim of this study was to unravel the associations between these constructs (QoL, frailty, IP).

Methods

This multicenter, cross-sectional study included 477 people living with HIV (93% male; median age = 43 years, IQR = 51.7) from six HIV clinics in Greece. Frailty phenotype, QoL and IP were assessed using Fried’s criteria, EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), respectively. Network analysis model was utilized.

Results

Among frailty criteria, exhaustion had the highest expected influence, while the strongest correlation concerns exhaustion and weak grip strength (pr = 0.14). Regarding the QoL items, usual activities displayed the highest expected influence. The correlations of pain/discomfort with mobility (pr = 0.31), and usual activities with self-care (pr = 0.34) were the strongest. For the BIPQ items, the strongest correlation was found between illness concern and emotional response (pr = 0.45), whereas the latter item was the one that displayed the highest expected influence. Three communities were formed: 1) personal control, treatment control and coherence, 2) the frailty items with mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort, and 3) the rest BIPQ items with anxiety/depression. Identity displayed the highest bridge strength, followed by pain/discomfort, usual activities and consequences.

Conclusions

The interplay between QoL, frailty, and IP in people living with HIV requires clinical attention. Self-reported exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low physical activity affect the physical QoL dimensions, while anxiety/depression is strongly associated with illness-related concern and perceived emotional effects, leading to psychological distress. Symptom management can improve QoL, and information on the disease and treatment can enhance control over the disease. Developing interventions to address QoL, frailty, and IP is crucial.
Effectiveness of school-based psychological interventions for the treatment of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Tareke Minale , Asrat Yirdaw Biksegn , Gebeyehu Abebaw , Gelaye Bizu , Azale Telake
Published: November 2023

Background

Mental disorders among adolescents represent a high burden and early onset. They compromise their physical health, survival, and future potential. On the other hand, young people have inadequate access to essential health services in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to review school-based psychological interventions, contents, delivery, and evidence of effectiveness designed to treat depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents and young adults aged 10–24.

Method

We searched articles on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Science Direct from 17/10/2022 to 30/12/2022. Furthermore, relevant studies were searched from advanced google scholar, google and identified reference lists. We used MeSH browser for key words: psychological interventions, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and lists of Sub-Saharan Africa countries. We combined words using standard Boolean operators (OR, AND). The quality of studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool and the results were presented as a narrative synthesis since the interventions were very heterogenous.

Results

Fourteen randomized controlled trials were included for systematic review and more than half (57.14%) were from Kenya and Nigeria. Common school-based psychological interventions were cognitive behavioral therapy and Shamiri interventions (an intervention that focuses on youths to cultivate a growth mindset, practice gratitude and take the value). More than half (57.14%) of the interventions were delivered by non-specialists like teachers, lay providers and community health workers. Nearly one-fifth of the interventions were used individual modality. School-based psychological interventions provided by non-specialists also produced a greater reduction in adolescents’ depressive, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms compared to the control groups.

Conclusion

Cognitive behavioral therapy and Shamiri interventions were the common treatment delivered in school settings. The range of interventions could be effectively delivered by non- professionals that promote task-shifting of psychological interventions from very scarce mental health specialists in these countries.

Trial registration

Trial Registration: Prospero CRD42022378372. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022378372.
Healthcare data quality assessment for improving the quality of the Korea Biobank Network
Authors: Kim Ki-Hoon , Oh Seol Whan , Ko Soo Jeong , Lee Kang Hyuck , Choi Wona , Choi In Young
Published: November 2023

Numerous studies make extensive use of healthcare data, including human materials and clinical information, and acknowledge its significance. However, limitations in data collection methods can impact the quality of healthcare data obtained from multiple institutions. In order to secure high-quality data related to human materials, research focused on data quality is necessary. This study validated the quality of data collected in 2020 from 16 institutions constituting the Korea Biobank Network using 104 validation rules. The validation rules were developed based on the DQ4HEALTH model and were divided into four dimensions: completeness, validity, accuracy, and uniqueness. Korea Biobank Network collects and manages human materials and clinical information from multiple biobanks, and is in the process of developing a common data model for data integration. The results of the data quality verification revealed an error rate of 0.74%. Furthermore, an analysis of the data from each institution was performed to examine the relationship between the institution’s characteristics and error count. The results from a chi-square test indicated that there was an independent correlation between each institution and its error count. To confirm this correlation between error counts and the characteristics of each institution, a correlation analysis was conducted. The results, shown in a graph, revealed the relationship between factors that had high correlation coefficients and the error count. The findings suggest that the data quality was impacted by biases in the evaluation system, including the institution’s IT environment, infrastructure, and the number of collected samples. These results highlight the need to consider the scalability of research quality when evaluating clinical epidemiological information linked to human materials in future validation studies of data quality.