bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated microlens-assisted perfectly vertical grating coupler for enhanced coupling efficiency
Authors: Lei Lei , Zhong Wentao , Zhang Xuanming , Xiao Gan , Ning Jianhua , Lou Fei , Cheng Xing
Published: November 2024

Perfectly vertical grating couplers (VGCs) are essential for the development of high-density, low-cost, and scalable photonic devices. This paper introduces an integrated microlens-assisted grating coupler (GC) designed to enhance coupling efficiency under vertical incidence conditions. The microlens, fabricated through a thermal reflow process, is integrated onto a standard 220 nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) grating coupler. This hybrid integration approach provides greater flexibility in manipulating the transmission angle of vertically incident light, aligning it with the optimal coupling angle of the underlying grating, thereby effectively improving the overall coupling efficiency (CE) of the device. Our proposed microlens-assisted grating coupler achieves 2 dB higher coupling efficiency under the TE mode in the C-band compared to a bare grating coupler, significantly reducing alignment complexity and enabling wavelength division multiplexing applications. Furthermore, this methodology is applicable to polarization-insensitive vertical grating couplers, providing an increase of 1.3 dB and 1.4 dB for TE and TM modes, respectively. Compared to traditional nanostructures, our method offers simpler fabrication processes and more flexible optical characteristics, highlighting its significant potential for applications in ultra-high-capacity optical communications, high-performance optical detection, real-time biochemical sensing, and other related fields.
Broadband plasmon waveguide resonance sensing for photoacoustic spectroscopic analysis
Authors: Song Wei , Yuan Hongwei , Wang Ya-chao , Liu Jing , Yang Zhengduo , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: November 2024

Sensitive detection of incident acoustic waves over a broad frequency band offers a faithful representation of photoacoustic pressure transients of biological microstructures. Here, we propose a plasmon waveguide resonance sensor for responding to the photoacoustic impulses. By sequentially depositing Au, MgF2, and SiO2 films on a coverslip, a composite waveguide layer produces a tightly confined optical evanescent field at the SiO2–water interface with extremely strong electric field intensity, enabling the retrieval of photoacoustic signals with an estimated noise-equivalent-pressure (NEP) sensitivity of ∼92 Pa and a −6-dB bandwidth of ∼208 MHz. An ultraviolet spectroscopically resolved photoacoustic detection system integrating our sensor allows for label-free spectral measurements of human glioma xenografts from mice brains ex vivo, in which photoacoustic measurement at the frequency domain differentiates the glioma from a healthy tissue that agrees with standard H&E-staining histologic examinations. We expect that our sensitive broadband sensor could potentially empower photoacoustic histopathological assessments of neoplasms.
Flexible transmissive colors with enhanced purity and brightness through overlapping multi-cavity resonances
Authors: Jung Incheol , Kim Hyeonwoo , Lim Donggyu , Kim Dohyun , Kang Cheolhun , Ju Seongcheol , Ok Jong G. , Lee Kyu-Tae , Park Dong Hyuk
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate flexible transmissive structural color filters with enhanced color purity and brightness by exploiting resonance overlap within multiple cavities in penta-layered structures. Using an inverse design method that combines optimization and exhaustive search algorithms, the material choices and layer thicknesses are determined through a loss function based on the CIE XYZ color space, optimizing both color purity and brightness. The resulting color gamut is comparable to standard RGB, as assessed in the CIE xy color space, with luminance (Y from CIE 1931 model) values for the fabricated transmissive RGB colors being 0.14, 0.51, and 0.14. The contribution of each cavity is thoroughly analyzed using optical admittance diagrams and resonant mode calculations. Furthermore, the transmissive colors on a flexible substrate exhibit excellent durability, retaining consistent transmission efficiency and color purity even after 4,000 bending cycles and performing reliably at a bending radius of 5 mm. The versatility of this design approach makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, including e-paper displays, image sensors, flexible wavelength-selective optoelectronic devices, and decorations.
Mathematical modeling suggests heterogeneous replication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rabbits
Authors: Ganusov Vitaly V. , Kolloli Afsal , Subbian Selvakumar
Published: November 2024

Tuberculosis (TB), the disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a major health problem with 10.6 million cases of the disease and 1.6 million deaths in 2021. It is well understood that pulmonary TB is due to Mtb growth in the lung but quantitative estimates of rates of Mtb replication and death in lungs of patients or animals such as monkeys or rabbits remain largely unknown. We performed experiments with rabbits infected with a novel, virulent clinical Mtb isolate of the Beijing lineage, HN878, carrying an unstable plasmid pBP10. In our in vitro experiments we found that pBP10 is more stable in HN878 strain than in a more commonly used laboratory-adapted Mtb strain H37Rv (the segregation coefficient being s = 0.10 in HN878 vs. s = 0.18 in H37Rv). Interestingly, the kinetics of plasmid-bearing bacteria in lungs of Mtb-infected rabbits did not follow an expected monotonic decline; the percent of plasmid-bearing cells increased between 28 and 56 days post-infection and remained stable between 84 and 112 days post-infection despite a large increase in bacterial numbers in the lung at late time points. Mathematical modeling suggested that such a non-monotonic change in the percent of plasmid-bearing cells can be explained if the lung Mtb population consists of several (at least 2) sub-populations with different replication/death kinetics: one major population expanding early and being controlled/eliminated, while another, a smaller population expanding at later times causing a counterintuitive increase in the percent of plasmid-bearing cells. Importantly, a model with one kinetically homogeneous Mtb population could not explain the data including when the model was run stochastically. Given that in rabbits HN878 strain forms well circumscribed granulomas, our results suggest independent bacterial dynamics in subsets of such granulomas. Our model predictions can be tested in future experiments in which HN878-pBP10 dynamics in individual granulomas is followed over time. Taken together, our new data and mathematical modeling-based analyses illustrate differences in Mtb dynamics in mice and rabbits confirming a perhaps somewhat obvious observation that “rabbits are not mice”.
Socially driven negative feedback regulates activity and energy use in ant colonies
Authors: Porfiri Maurizio , Abaid Nicole , Garnier Simon
Published: November 2024

Despite almost a century of research on energetics in biological systems, we still cannot explain energy regulation in social groups, like ant colonies. How do individuals regulate their collective activity without a centralized control system? What is the role of social interactions in distributing the workload amongst group members? And how does the group save energy by avoiding being constantly active? We offer new insight into these questions by studying an intuitive compartmental model, calibrated with and compared to data on ant colonies. The model describes a previously unexplored balance between positive and negative social feedback driven by individual activity: when activity levels are low, the presence of active individuals stimulates inactive individuals to start working; when activity levels are high, however, active individuals inhibit each other, effectively capping the proportion of active individuals at any one time. Through the analysis of the system’s stability, we demonstrate that this balance results in energetic spending at the group level growing proportionally slower than the group size. Our finding is reminiscent of Kleiber’s law of metabolic scaling in unitary organisms and highlights the critical role of social interactions in driving the collective energetic efficiency of group-living organisms.
Spectrum of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in a pediatric nephrology clinic in Ethiopia and factors associated with advanced chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Geleta Biniam Endale , Bekele Bezaye Abebe , Afework Mekbeb
Published: November 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant health concern for children with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). To address the limited data on CKD prevalence and risk factors in Ethiopia, this study focuses on a specific cohort of CAKUT patients at the pediatric renal unit of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital. We aim to determine the prevalence of CKD in Ethiopian CAKUT patients, identify independent predictors of advanced stage CKD, and explore the distribution of CKD among different CAKUT phenotypes. Medical charts of children with CAKUT who visited pediatric renal unit were reviewed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent predictors of advanced CKD. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.The study included 129 male subjects (70.9%). Only 25.3% of CAKUT cases were diagnosed prenatally. About 52.2% of patients had unilateral CAKUT. Posterior urethral valves (PUV) were the most commonly diagnosed CAKUT phenotypes (27.5%). Fifty-three (29.1%) of the patients had CKD, and stage 3 was the most diagnosed CKD (37.7%). CKD development was observed more frequently in patients with isolated PUV (39.6%). Factors like low birthweight, prematurity at birth, and the presence of bilateral CAKUT emerged as independent risk factors for developing advanced stage CKD. This study reveals a significant burden of CKD in children and adolescents with CAKUT. Despite its importance, prenatal CAKUT detection remains low. Posterior urethral valves are the most prevalent phenotype, associated with a higher risk of CKD. The research also highlights independent predictors for advanced CKD development.
Impact of mental health on burden of illness, septicemia and mortality among patients hospitalized for cancer
Authors: Satheeshkumar Poolakkad S. , Pili Roberto , Thazhe Sudheer B. Kurunthatil , Sukumar Rhine , Mohan Minu Ponnamma , Adjei Boakye Eric , Epstein Joel B.
Published: November 2024

Mental health problems are increasingly relevant for cancer patients struggling with the disease and its treatment. The purpose of this study was to further characterize and contrast variances between Mental illness (MI)—cognitive disorders—and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized in the United States in 2017 for the treatment of prostate (PC), lung (LC), leukemia, and oral cavity, lip, and pharyngeal cancers (OPC). While accounting for patient and clinical characteristics, we used generalized linear models to evaluate the association between MI and outcomes––mortality, septicemia, weight loss, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and illness burden (length of stay (LOS) and total charges). There were 16,910 (Weighted, original numbers) patients with MI among 209,410 PC patients. In the adjusted analysis, PC patients with MI had a prolonged LOS, coefficient: 1.52; 1.41–1.64. In addition, MI were associated with increased odds of septicemia (1.36; 1.22–1.51), weight loss (1.38; 1.23–1.56), and fluid and electrolyte imbalance (1.33; 1.21–1.53). These findings were comparable for the lung, leukemia, and oral cavity, lip, and pharyngeal cancers. In addition, unlike other cancer cohorts, MI were associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality in PC patients, 1.42, 1.21–1.58. Patients diagnosed with cancer who also suffered from cognitive impairments had poor clinical outcomes. The findings of this study bring to light a gap in the existing literature on cancer, and the recommendations emphasize the significance of psychosocial support in reaching a more favorable prognosis and improving quality of life.
Juvenile detachment, an early sign of departure from parental care, in the leech Orientobdelloides siamensis (Oka, 1917)
Authors: Trivalairat Poramad , Trivalairat Krittiya , Raquib Tashfia , Purivirojkul Watchariya
Published: November 2024

Glossiphoniidae is a family of freshwater leeches, notable for their unique behaviour of parental care. After hatching, juveniles remain on the ventral side of their parent, where they receive protection and grow until they are ready to depart from the parent leech. The detachment of juveniles is a crucial stage for their development and independence from their parents, potentially influenced by various factors. To investigate these factors, ten parental individuals of Orientobdelloides siamensis were studied in the laboratory. Three to five days after copulation, all parental leeches deposited approximately 361.6±37.79 eggs on the substrate, which were covered until the end of the brooding period. Incubation of their single-egg cocoons took 7–9 days. Subsequently, the newborns attached to the ventral annulus of the parent by their caudal sucker. Seven to eleven days after hatching, the caudal sucker of juveniles expanded over the parent’s annulus, indicating readiness to depart. The young leeches detached from the parental venter, moved to the substrate, and continued living under the ventral side of their parent. Finally, to determine the timing of juvenile detachment, the space availability beneath the parental venter and yolk depletion after hatching were analyzed. By observing morphological characteristics and behaviors, this study was able to investigate the interaction between these factors, and their correlation with juvenile detachment in O. siamensis.
Organizational debt—Roadblock to agility in software engineering: Exploring an emerging concept and future research for software excellence
Authors: Al-Baik Osama , Abu Alhija Mwaffaq , Abdeljaber Hikmat , Ovais Ahmad Muhammad
Published: November 2024

In software engineering, organizational debt (OD) is a crucial but little-researched phenomena. OD refers to the accumulation of outdated structures, policies, and processes that hinder an organization’s advancement and adaptability. This multivocal literature review (MLR) synthesizes insights from software practitioners to elucidate OD causes, consequences, identification, and mitigation approaches that is considered a first step in illuminating the OD for software practitioners. After a thorough search, nine peer-reviewed articles and twenty-two recent blog posts on OD were included, indicating an emerging topic. Through inductive thematic analysis, four key topics emerged: definitions, causes like poorly managed change and siloed efforts, effects such as reduced innovation and agility, and mitigation strategies including agile principles, decentralized decision-making, and leveraging staff insights. While relying partly on non-peer-reviewed sources raises validity concerns, the review still provides a holistic and practical understanding of OD dynamics and complexities grounded in diverse perspectives. Further empirical research across diverse organizations would strengthen these preliminary findings. Effective OD management necessitates collaboration between academia and industry, considering technical debt (TD) best practices while tailoring interventions to OD’s distinct socio-technical characteristics.
Fetal and neonatal outcomes in syphilis infected pregnant women in Reunion Island: An observational retrospective multicentric study
Authors: Cramez Camille , Lafont Marine , Boumahni Brahim , Boukerrou Malik , Tran Phuong Lien
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in pregnant women with syphilis during their pregnancy in Reunion Island, population benefiting from early and well-conducted screening and treatment.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study conducted in the four Reunion hospital centers between 2017 and 2022. The included patients were all pregnant patients with a biologically proven syphilitic infection and having given birth in one of the four centers mentioned.

Results

108 patients were included, with 113 fetuses and newborns. Fetal mortality rate was 2.7%, neonatal mortality rate was 1.8% and congenital syphilis rate was 7%. Despite 37% of patients with a vulnerable psycho-social context, 72% were screened early, 13% in the second trimester, 44% had received optimal treatment and 48% optimal syphilis monitoring. We found 43% of obstetric complications with 12% of IUGR and 4.6% of pre-eclampsia. 21% of newborns were preterm and 17% small for gestational age. There was a significant trend between psycho-social vulnerability and congenital syphilis.

Conclusions

Fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality is low in our Reunion Island population where screening and treatment of syphilis are early and well conducted, although a vulnerable group of patients remain who require specific antenatal care.
Functional regression clustering with multiple functional gene expressions
Authors: Conde Susana , Tavakoli Shahin , Ezer Daphne
Published: November 2024

Gene expression data is often collected in time series experiments, under different experimental conditions. There may be genes that have very different gene expression profiles over time, but that adjust their gene expression patterns in the same way under experimental conditions. Our aim is to develop a method that finds clusters of genes in which the relationship between these temporal gene expression profiles are similar to one another, even if the individual temporal gene expression profiles differ. We propose a K-means-type algorithm in which each cluster is defined by a function-on-function regression model, which, inter alia, allows for multiple functional explanatory variables. We validate this novel approach through extensive simulations and then apply it to identify groups of genes whose diurnal expression pattern is perturbed by the season in a similar way. Our clusters are enriched for genes with similar biological functions, including one cluster enriched in both photosynthesis-related functions and polysomal ribosomes, which shows that our method provides useful and novel biological insights.
Histology-specific long-term oncologic outcomes in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent complete tumor resection: The implication of occult seeds after initial surgery
Authors: Mogi Kazumasa , Yoshihara Masato , Emoto Ryo , Miyamoto Emiri , Fujimoto Hiroki , Uno Kaname , Tano Sho , Iyoshi Shohei , Kitami Kazuhisa , Yoshikawa Nobuhisa , Matsui Shigeyuki , Kajiyama Hiroaki
Published: November 2024

Objective

Assessing the histology-specific prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (OvCa) is clinically challenging, especially in a patient population with a favorable prognosis. This study investigated the histology-specific long-term oncologic outcomes in OvCa patients who underwent complete tumor resection using a large-scale patient cohort form multiple institutions under a central pathological review system.

Methods

A regional multi-institutional study was conducted from 1986 to 2019. Of the 4,898 patients with ovarian tumors enrolled, 1,175 patients who underwent complete tumor resection were classified into three classes based on clinically important prognostic factors: stage, cytology, ascites volume. For each class category, the effect of histology types on recurrence-free survival, the site of recurrence, and post-recurrence survival was evaluated.

Results

Recurrence-free survival varied significantly across different histologies (P < 0.001). The risk of recurrence was higher in serous carcinoma compare to other histologies (P < 0.001). The site of tumor recurrence varied by the histology type. Multinominal logistic regression analysis revealed that mucinous histology had a significantly higher likelihood of developing recurrent tumors at distant sites from the peritoneum compared to other histologies (P = 0.002). Conversely, serous histology was associated with better post-recurrence survival (Log-rank P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Long-term oncologic outcomes significantly differ by histology type in OvCa patients who have undergone complete tumor resection at the initial surgery. A careful evaluation of the clinical background is necessary for these patients, and further clinical research into individualized treatment approaches is essential.
The development of social sustainability through traditional sporting games. A temporal approach with the Elbow Tag
Authors: Lavega-Burgués Pere , Luchoro-Parrilla Rafael , Pla-Pla Paula , Pic Miguel
Published: November 2024

This manuscript is based on two studies that investigate the process of social construction of time in the two versions of traditional sports game (TSG) known as Elbow Tag. The internal logic of this TSG has an original role-change system. Changing a rule in version 1 (V1) implies a major modification of the role system in V2. It is a mixed methods design employing an associative and interpretive strategy. It involved 140 participants in two eight-minute games V1 and V2. Different statistical techniques (cross-tabulations, classification trees, T-Patterns) were used to analyse data on motor behaviours (external observation), and content analysis of the strategic and emotional meaning of motor conducts (internal gaze). Multidimensional internal temporal units were used: changes of subroles, (cognitive) number of interactions (relational) and time required for different physical efforts (organic). The temporal plot is constructed by deciphering the exchanges between the Cat, Mouse and Pitcher roles. In V1 and V2 of the Elbow Tag game, each Role caused a singular and multidimensional subjective time. This fact can be observed through the strategic chains, their decisional and emotional interpretation. The findings favour an innovative physical education, in order to educate the students’ temporal motor conducts.
Bear baiting risks and mitigations: An assessment using expert opinion analyses
Authors: Lafferty Diana J. R. , Trujillo Sarah M. , Hilderbrand Grant V. , Sears Andee , Christian Peter , Payer David , Hake Mary
Published: November 2024

Bear baiting is authorized in 12 states, 2 territories, and 8 provinces across North America. In Alaska, more than 70% of lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) are open to some form of hunting including National Preserves where non-conflicting state wildlife hunting regulations apply. Alaska state regulations authorize bear baiting with few restrictions on the type or amount of bait that can be used to attract bears; although, restrictions related to bait station distance from roads and trails (¼ mile) and cabins/dwellings (1 mile) apply. However, National Preserves host diverse recreational activities in addition to hunting (e.g., hiking, camping, fishing). Because road and trail access to and within Alaska National Park and Preserve lands is limited, hunting and non-hunting-related activities often occur in the same areas–increasing potential for conflict between potentially non-compatible activities. We developed questionnaires about potential impacts on NPS lands, which were distributed to 14 NPS and 27 non-NPS bear research and management experts. We collated respondents’ opinions regarding consistency of bear baiting practices with state and federal mandates for wildlife management. While minor differences in expert opinions were noted, findings from this study are unequivocal. Bear baiting is functionally equivalent to feeding bears, bears may defend a bait station similar to how they would defend a carcass, and bear baiting can lead to human food-conditioning in bears. Bear baiting also increases the likelihood bears will be killed in defense of life and property, and alters natural bear behaviors and ecological processes. Further, current mitigation strategies to minimize public safety risks and potential property damage are inadequate. For example, because bears are known to defend food resources, avoiding food conditioning of bears is central to the educational messaging of all entities that manage bears. In short, bear baiting is a harvest practice that challenges harmony between State mandates, which emphasize hunter opportunity, and NPS mandates that include public safety and natural processes.
Is transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation effective and safe for primary insomnia? A PRISMA-compliant protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Ting , Cai Yunhuo , Li Xingling , Fang Lianqiang , Hu Hantong
Published: November 2024

Background

Insomnia is a highly prevalent sleep disorder with substantial impacts on health and quality of life. Current treatment options have certain limitations, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) is gaining recognition as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for treating insomnia, but its efficacy has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, this protocol outlines the framework for a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to comprehensively assess the effectiveness and safety of ta-VNS in treating primary insomnia.

Methods

A thorough literature search will be carried out in Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, AMED, PEDro, Wangfang database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, covering publications from their inception until December 31, 2024. Randomized controlled trials evaluating ta-VNS for primary insomnia in adults will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, gather data, and evaluate the risk of bias based on the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analyses will be conducted where appropriate, and the quality of evidence will be evaluated using GRADE. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses are planned.

Discussion

This systematic review and meta-analysis will deliver a thorough synthesis of existing evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of ta-VNS for insomnia, potentially informing clinical practice and future research directions.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024529039.
CT-based and manual external skull measurements for Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia in Pomeranians
Authors: Santifort Koen M. , Bellekom Sophie , Carrera Ines , Mandigers Paul J. J.
Published: November 2024

Studies in Pomeranians as well as other breeds have looked at clinical signs or external features as predictors of Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM). The aim of this study is to describe and analyze morphometric factors of the skull of Pomeranians with and without CM/SM by means of CT as well as manual external measurements. Ninety-two Pomeranians >12 months of age were included that underwent both CT and MRI studies of the head and cervicothoracic vertebral column. Two observers independently reviewed the CT imaging studies and performed quantitative measurements. External measurements were taken from the head of dogs when under general anesthesia using a tape measure and a caliper. Externally measured mandible length was associated with the probability of having SM (p = 0.043). Mandible length was moderately correlated with weight (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.585, p < 0.001). A cutoff for mandible length of 58 mm yielded a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval 89–100%), meaning dogs in this study population with a mandible length shorter than 58 mm were highly likely to have SM. The measurement of the length of the mandible could help to determine the probability of a Pomeranian having SM, especially when combined with the presence or absence of owner reported clinicals signs as shown in previous studies.
Deep learning-based image classification of sea turtles using object detection and instance segmentation models
Authors: Baek Jong-Won , Kim Jung-Il , Kim Chang-Bae
Published: November 2024

Sea turtles exhibit high migratory rates and occupy a broad range of habitats, which in turn makes monitoring these taxa challenging. Applying deep learning (DL) models to vast image datasets collected from citizen science programs can offer promising solutions to overcome the challenge of monitoring the wide habitats of wildlife, particularly sea turtles. Among DL models, object detection models, such as the You Only Look Once (YOLO) series, have been extensively employed for wildlife classification. Despite their successful application in this domain, detecting objects in images with complex backgrounds, including underwater environments, remains a significant challenge. Recently, instance segmentation models have been developed to address this issue by providing more accurate classification of complex images compared to traditional object detection models. This study compared the performance of two state-of-the-art DL methods namely; the object detection model (YOLOv5) and instance segmentation model (YOLOv5-seg), to detect and classify sea turtles. The images were collected from iNaturalist and Google and then divided into 64% for training, 16% for validation, and 20% for test sets. Model performance during and after finishing training was evaluated by loss functions and various indexes, respectively. Based on loss functions, YOLOv5-seg demonstrated a lower error rate in detecting rather than classifying sea turtles than the YOLOv5. According to mean Average Precision (mAP) values, which reflect precision and recall, the YOLOv5-seg model showed superior performance than YOLOv5. The mAP0.5 and mAP0.5:0.95 for the YOLOv5 model were 0.885 and 0.795, respectively, whereas for the YOLOv5-seg, these values were 0.918 and 0.831, respectively. In particular, based on the loss functions and classification results, the YOLOv5-seg showed improved performance for detecting rather than classifying sea turtles compared to the YOLOv5. The results of this study may help improve sea turtle monitoring in the future.
Advantages of statin usage in preventing fractures for men over 50 in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Sun Xiaona , Liu Xiaoxiao , Wang Chenyi , Luo Yushuang , Li Xinyi , Yan Lijuan , Wang Yaling , Wang Kaifa , Li Qiang
Published: November 2024

Objectives

The relationship between statin treatment and fracture risk is still controversial, especially in in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aim to determine whether statin therapy affects the occurrence of fractures in the general US population and in patients with CVDs.

Methods

Epidemiological data of this cross-sectional study were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001–2020, n = 9,893). Statins records and fracture information were obtained from the questionnaires. Weighted logistic regressions were performed to explore the associations between statin and the risk of fracture.

Results

Statin use was found to be associated with reduced risk of fracture mainly in male individuals aged over 50 years old and taking medications for less than 3 years, after adjusted for confounders including supplements of calcium and vitamin D. The protective effects were only found in subjects taking atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. We found null mediation role of LDL-C and 25(OH)D in such effects. Statin was found to reduce fracture risk in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs, OR: 0.4366, 95%CI: 0.2664 to 0.7154, P = 0.0014), and in patients without diabetes (OR: 0.3632, 95%CI: 0.1712 to 0.7704, P = 0.0091).

Conclusions

Statin showed advantages in reducing risk of fracture in male individuals aged over 50 years old and taking medications for less than 3 years. More research is needed to determine the impact of gender variations, medication duration, and diabetes.
Perceived social support and associated factors among older people living in metropolitan cities of northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Mekonnen Habtamu Sewunet , Azagew Abere Woretaw , Mekonnen Chilot Kassa , Abate Hailemichael Kindie , Ferede Yohannes Mulu , Salih Mohammed Hassen , Tebeje Nigusie Birhan
Published: November 2024

Background

Perceived social support is a complex construct that includes tangible and supportive feedback in addition to emotional, instrumental, appraisal, and informational support. Social support shields older adults from the negative effects of aging, such as illness and death, as well as the negative outcomes of stressful life events. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived social support and associated factors among older people residing in metropolitan cities in northwest Ethiopia, as there is a dearth of evidence regarding this topic, particularly in the study area.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out between December 19, 2020, and February 21, 2021. The systematic random sampling technique was used to select 830 study participants. Data collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire was entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed using Stata version 14. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done. In the multivariate analysis, variables with P-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine the strength and direction of the association.

Results

A total of 816 participants were included with a 98.3% response rate. The mean age of participants was 68.2 (SD±7.2) years. In the current study, 339 (41.54%) of participants had low perceived social support. Having four and above children (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.66), likely to have a severe mental illness (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.68), medium and high sense of coherence (AOR = 1.79, 95%CI = 1.05, 3.06) and 2.86 (AOR = 2.86, 95%CI = 1.44, 5.67), respectively, middle, fourth, and highest quantiles of wealth index (AOR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.07, 3.60), 3.64 (AOR = 3.60, 95%CI = 1.91, 6.94), and 5.82 (AOR = 5.82, 95%CI = 2.90, 11.71),. Having no social service participation (AOR = 2.12, 95%CI = 1.06, 9.50) were significantly associated with low perceived social support.

Conclusion and recommendations

In this study more than two-fifth of older people have low perceived social support. Number of children, mental health, sense of coherence, wealth index, and participation in social services were had a significant association with the perceived social support of older people. In order for these vulnerable populations to age healthily, alternative forms of support should be provided as the societal culture supporting the elderly has declined. Particularly, emphasis should be given for older people with mental health problems and those having no social service participation. Besides, further research is crucial targeting the actual social support of the elderly people including those living in the street, temporal residents, and religious places.
Extraction of clinical data on major pulmonary diseases from unstructured radiologic reports using a large language model
Authors: Park Hyung Jun , Huh Jin-Young , Chae Ganghee , Choi Myeong Geun
Published: November 2024

Despite significant strides in big data technology, extracting information from unstructured clinical data remains a formidable challenge. This study investigated the utility of large language models (LLMs) for extracting clinical data from unstructured radiological reports without additional training. In this retrospective study, 1800 radiologic reports, 600 from each of the three university hospitals, were collected, with seven pulmonary outcomes defined. Three pulmonology-trained specialists discerned the presence or absence of diseases. Data extraction from the reports was executed using Google Gemini Pro 1.0, OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, and GPT-4. The gold standard was predicated on agreement between at least two pulmonologists. This study evaluated the performance of the three LLMs in diagnosing seven pulmonary diseases (active tuberculosis, emphysema, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, pleural effusion, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema) utilizing chest radiography and computed tomography scans. All models exhibited high accuracy (0.85–1.00) for most conditions. GPT-4 consistently outperformed its counterparts, demonstrating a sensitivity of 0.71–1.00; specificity of 0.89–1.00; and accuracy of 0.89 and 0.99 across both modalities, thus underscoring its superior capability in interpreting radiological reports. Notably, the accuracy of pleural effusion and emphysema on chest radiographs and pulmonary edema on chest computed tomography scans reached 0.99. The proficiency of LLMs, particularly GPT-4, in accurately classifying unstructured radiological data hints at their potential as alternatives to the traditional manual chart reviews conducted by clinicians.
Effect of immortal time bias on the association between immune-related adverse events and oncological outcomes following immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Tamura Koichi , Takenaka Yukinori , Hosokawa Kiyohito , Sato Takashi , Tsuda Takeshi , Eguchi Hirotaka , Suzuki Masami , Fukusumi Takahito , Suzuki Motoyuki , Inohara Hidenori
Published: November 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are pharmacological agents indicated for recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNCSCC). Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported as predictors of therapeutic response to ICIs. However, previous studies have not adequately addressed the immortal time bias. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between the onset of irAEs and oncological outcomes, accounting for immortal time bias. We conducted a retrospective study involving 130 patients with HNSCC who were treated with ICIs. The objective response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed using logistic regression analysis, the Kaplan–Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard (PH) model. The immortal time bias was considered using a landmark analysis and an extended Cox (EC) model. The odds ratios for response and disease control were smaller in the landmark than in the naïve analyses. In the landmark analysis, the 1-year PFS rates were 47.6% and 27.2% for irAE+ and irAE- patients, respectively (p = 0.049), and the 1-year OS rates were 85.7% and 66.5%, respectively (p = 0.006). Regarding PFS, the adjusted HRs for irAEs were 0.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28–0.85) in the PH analysis and 0.75 (95% CI 0.40–1.40) in the EC analysis. As for OS, the adjusted HRs for irAEs were 0.36 (95% CI 0.19–0.66) in the PH analysis and 0.51 (95% CI 0.27–0.95) in the EC analysis. IrAEs were an independent prognostic factor for OS but not PFS. Without considering the immortal time bias, the association between irAEs and oncologic outcomes in patients with HNSCC treated with ICIs was overestimated. Therefore, the balance between the benefits and risks of ICI therapy must be carefully weighed in clinical settings.
Salivary alpha-amylase: A marker of stress in gynecological residents during a shoulder dystocia simulation scenario
Authors: Aita Ada , Galozzi Paola , Zemin Filippo , Principi Giulia , Contran Nicole , Musso Giulia , Cosma Chiara , Ragusa Antonio , D’Antona Donato , Basso Daniela
Published: November 2024

Objective

Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) has been recently proposed as biomarker of stress responsiveness within the sympathetic nervous system, preferable to cortisol, since limitations related to cortisol measurement (e.g. diurnal and seasonal rhythms, drugs interferences). Several factors, as age, collection device and analytical methods, also influence sAA levels and interpretation. This study aims to assess whether sAA could be useful to evaluate the stress response, also verifying some sources of variability.

Methods

To identify any sources of sAA variability, saliva samples were collected from eight healthy subjects at five different times (8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00) over five consecutive days using two different collection devices. Saliva was then collected from 35 obstetric residents before and after a simulated shoulder dystocia scenario, one of the most traumatic birth events in the professional life of gynecologists, to assess the stress levels. Samples were analysed throughout two different assays. Heart rate (HR) of residents was also measured before and after simulation scenario. Residents self-collected two saliva samples 10 min apart on a typical day.

Results

Overall, sAA levels increased significantly from morning to afternoon. Levels varied between subjects, but no differences were found between days or sampling devices. sAA activity levels in samples from 35 residents were significantly higher than those obtained before the scenario took place (about ten minutes later). These results were confirmed by two different assays. Moreover, a similar trend was observed when HR was considered. No differences were observed between samples collected 10 minutes apart on a typical day.

Conclusions

Salivary alpha-amylase activity is a reliable, quick, and efficient marker for stress response, then its measurement will be of potential interest in the field of stress-related disorders. However, it is important to consider the timing of sample collection before introducing sAA in a clinical setting.
Sex differences persist in visuospatial mental rotation under 3D VR conditions
Authors: Jacobs Oliver L. , Andrinopoulos Katerina , Steeves Jennifer K. E. , Kingstone Alan
Published: November 2024

The classic Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Test (MRT) shows a male advantage for visuospatial rotation. However, MRTs that have been adapted for use with real or physical objects have found that sex differences are reduced or abolished. Previous work has also suggested that virtual 3D objects will eliminate sex differences, although this has not been demonstrated in a purely visuospatial paradigm without motor input. In the present study we sought to examine potential sex differences in mental rotation using a fully-immersive 3D VR adaptation of the original MRT that is purely visuospatial in nature. With unlimited time 23 females and 23 males completed a VR MRT designed to approximate the original Vandenberg and Kuse stimuli. Despite the immersive VR experience and lack of time pressure, we found a large male performance advantage in response accuracy, exceeding what has typically been reported for 2D MRTs. No sex differences were observed in response time. Thus, a male advantage in pure mental rotation for 2D stimuli can extend to 3D objects in VR, even when there are no time constraints.
Benzothiazinone analogs as Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis DprE1 irreversible inhibitors: Covalent docking, validation, and molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Ibrahim Mahmoud A. A. , Mahmoud Doaa G. M. , Abdelrahman Alaa H. M. , Abdeljawaad Khlood A. A. , Mekhemer Gamal A. H. , Shoeib Tamer , El-Tayeb Mohamed A. , Sidhom Peter A. , Paré Paul W. , Hegazy Mohamed-Elamir F.
Published: November 2024

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a lethal human pathogen, with the key flavoenzyme for catalyzing bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis, decaprenylphosphoryl-D-ribose oxidase (DprE1), considered an Achilles heal for tuberculosis (TB) progression. Inhibition of DprE1 blocks cell wall biosynthesis and is a highly promising antitubercular target. Macozinone (PBTZ169, a benzothiazinone (BTZ) derivative) is an irreversible DprE1 inhibitor that has attracted considerable attention because it exhibits an additive activity when combined with other anti-TB drugs. Herein, 754 BTZ analogs were assembled in a virtual library and evaluated against the DprE1 target using a covalent docking approach. After validation of the employed covalent docking approach, BTZ analogs were screened. Analogs with a docking score less than –9.0 kcal/mol were advanced for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, followed by binding energy evaluations utilizing the MM-GBSA approach. Three BTZ analogs–namely, PubChem-155-924-621, PubChem-127-032-794, and PubChem-155-923-972– exhibited higher binding affinities against DprE1 compared to PBTZ169 with ΔGbinding values of –77.2, –74.3, and –65.4 kcal/mol, versus –49.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Structural and energetical analyses were performed for the identified analogs against DprE1 throughout the 100 ns MD simulations, and the results demonstrated the great stability of the identified BTZ analogs. Physicochemical and ADMET characteristics indicated the oral bioavailability of the identified BTZ analogs. The obtained in-silico results provide promising anti-TB inhibitors that are worth being subjected to in-vitro and in-vivo investigations.
Viral genomic methylation and the interspecies evolutionary relationships of ranavirus
Authors: Pan Weiqiang , Liang Mincong , You Yanlin , Li Zhimin , Weng Shaoping , He Jianguo , Guo Changjun
Published: November 2024

Ranaviruses are capable of infecting both wild and farmed fish, amphibians, and reptiles, leading to significant economic losses and ecological risks. Currently, ranaviruses have been found in at least 175 species spanning six continents. Except for Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV), ranavirus genomes are generally regarded as highly methylated. Nevertheless, our comprehension of the methylation characteristics within ranaviruses remains limited. Despite the numerous genomes currently included in the GenBank database, a complete phylogenetic tree for ranaviruses has not yet been determined, and interspecific evolutionary relationships among ranaviruses have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the whole-genome methylation profile of mandarin fish ranavirus (MRV; a ranavirus) was investigated, revealing a methylation level of 16.04%, and hypomethylation of the MRV genome was detrimental to viral replication, speculating the genome methylation may play an important role in MRV replication. Furthermore, by combining with whole-genome DNA sequence phylogenetic analyses, we propose the possibility of an interspecies evolutionary relationship among ranaviruses, with the presence of four distinct evolutionary lineages within ranavirus evolution: "SGIV, SCRAV(MRV/LMBV), EHNV/ENARV/ATV, and CMTV/FV3", which might be also supported by the genomic collinearity, natural host range and host habitats. Furthermore, ranavirus genomic methylation levels may provide additional evidence for this hypothesis, but further proof is needed. Our work enhances the understanding of the role of genome methylation in ranaviruses and is beneficial for the prevention and control of ranavirus diseases; simultaneously, the proposed evolutionary hypothesis of ranavirus provides novel insights and ideas for exploring the evolutionary trajectory of viruses.
El uso de monedas como recurso iconográfico figlinario: A propósito de dos hallazgos lychnológicos en Augusta Emerita
Authors: González Blas Alejandro , Bustamante-Álvarez Macarena , Moreno Pulido Elena
Published: November 2024

Presentamos dos fragmentos cerámicos de lucernas procedentes del antiguo solar de Augusta Emerita. El interés de los mismos radica en poseer dos decoraciones que, claramente, evocan al uso de monedas bien como improntas o bien como inspiración iconográfica. Además, aparecen contextualizados, por lo que podemos aportar datos cronológicos de uso final. Este trabajo nos permite abordar, sin la pretensión de ser una exégesis, el fenómeno de las impressiones de monedas sobre diversos soportes y ahondar en otras prácticas artesanales.