bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroplasticity of Speech-in-Noise Processing in Older Adults Assessed by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Authors: Mai Guangting , Jiang Zhizhao , Wang Xinran , Tachtsidis Ilias , Howell Peter
Published: July 2024

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive optical neuroimaging technique that is portable and acoustically silent, has become a promising tool for evaluating auditory brain functions in hearing-vulnerable individuals. This study, for the first time, used fNIRS to evaluate neuroplasticity of speech-in-noise processing in older adults. Ten older adults, most of whom had moderate-to-mild hearing loss, participated in a 4-week speech-in-noise training. Their speech-in-noise performances and fNIRS brain responses to speech (auditory sentences in noise), non-speech (spectrally-rotated speech in noise) and visual (flashing chequerboards) stimuli were evaluated pre- (T0) and post-training (immediately after training, T1; and after a 4-week retention, T2). Behaviourally, speech-in-noise performances were improved after retention (T2 vs. T0) but not immediately after training (T1 vs. T0). Neurally, we intriguingly found brain responses to speech vs. non-speech decreased significantly in the left auditory cortex after retention (T2 vs. T0 and T2 vs. T1) for which we interpret as suppressed processing of background noise during speech listening alongside the significant behavioural improvements. Meanwhile, functional connectivity within and between multiple regions of temporal, parietal and frontal lobes was significantly enhanced in the speech condition after retention (T2 vs. T0). We also found neural changes before the emergence of significant behavioural improvements. Compared to pre-training, responses to speech vs. non-speech in the left frontal/prefrontal cortex were decreased significantly both immediately after training (T1 vs. T0) and retention (T2 vs. T0), reflecting possible alleviation of listening efforts. Finally, connectivity was significantly decreased between auditory and higher-level non-auditory (parietal and frontal) cortices in response to visual stimuli immediately after training (T1 vs. T0), indicating decreased cross-modal takeover of speech-related regions during visual processing. The results thus showed that neuroplasticity can be observed not only at the same time with, but also before, behavioural changes in speech-in-noise perception. To our knowledge, this is the first fNIRS study to evaluate speech-based auditory neuroplasticity in older adults. It thus provides important implications for current research by illustrating the promises of detecting neuroplasticity using fNIRS in hearing-vulnerable individuals.
PD-L2 mediates tobacco smoking-induced recruitment of regulatory T cells via the RGMB/NFκB/CCL20 cascade
Authors: Guo Hua , Zhang Chen , Shen Yu-Ke , Zhang Jian-Dong , Yang Fu-Ying , Liang Fan , Wang Wei , Liu Yu-Tao , Wang Gui-Zhen , Zhou Guang-Biao
Published: July 2024

Programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2), a ligand for the receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), has an identity of 34% with its twin ligand PD-L1 and exhibits higher binding affinity with PD-1 than PD-L1. However, the role of PD-L2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression, especially tobacco-induced cancer progression, has not been fully understood. Here, we found that PD-L2 promoted tumor growth in murine models with recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In patients with NSCLC, PD-L2 expression level in tumor samples was higher than in counterpart normal controls and was positively associated with patients’ response to anti-PD-1 treatment. Mechanismly, PD-L2 bound its receptor Repulsive guidance molecule B (RGMB) on cancer cells and activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and nuclear factor κB (NFκB), leading to increased production of chemokine CCL20, which recruited Tregs and contributed to NSCLC progression. Consistently, knockdown of RGMB or NFκB p65 inhibited PD-L2-induced CCL20 production, and silencing of PD-L2 repressed Treg recruitment by NSCLC cells. Furthermore, cigarette smoke and carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) upregulated PD-L2 in lung epithelial cells via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated transcription activation, whose deficiency markedly suppressed BaP-induced PD-L2 upregulation. These results suggest that PD-L2 mediates tobacco-induced recruitment of Tregs via the RGMB/NFκB/CCL20 cascade, and targeting this pathway might have therapeutic potentials in NSCLC.
Camouflaging in Autistic Adults is Modulated by Autistic and Neurotypical Characteristics of Interaction Partners
Authors: Funawatari Ren , Sumiya Motofumi , Iwabuchi Toshiki , Nishimura Tomoko , Komeda Hidetsugu , Senju Atsushi
Published: July 2024

Many autistic people reportedly engage in camouflaging to navigate everyday social interactions; however, the function of this behavior remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that autistic people camouflage more toward neurotypical others than toward autistic others, employing it as a strategy to “fit in” within the neurotypical-majority community. This study aimed to empirically investigate this hypothesis for the first time. Autistic and neurotypical participants took part in a web-based survey. Data from 48 autistic and 137 neurotypical participants were analyzed. Camouflaging toward autistic and neurotypical others was separately measured using the modified Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). For each CAT-Q item, a sentence describing a hypothetical interaction partner with autistic or neurotypical characteristics was added, creating respective sentence conditions. The interaction effect of the participants’ characteristics and sentence conditions was analyzed using a multilevel regression analysis, accounting for differing individual baselines. The analysis revealed an interaction effect between participants’ characteristics and sentence conditions. The autistic group showed significantly more camouflaging in the autistic sentence condition than in the neurotypical sentence condition. Conversely, the neurotypical group did not differ significantly in camouflaging levels in the sentence conditions. Contrary to our hypothesis, autistic people demonstrated more camouflaging toward autistic others than toward neurotypical others. This finding questions the assumption that autistic people camouflage to assimilate into a neurotypical-majority society. Instead, it could be conceptualized as a more general social strategy used by autistic people aiming to improve their relationships with others.
Jaccard-constrained dense subgraph discovery
Authors: Wickrama Arachchi Chamalee , Tatti Nikolaj
Published: July 2024

Finding dense subgraphs is a core problem in graph mining with many applications in diverse domains. At the same time many real-world networks vary over time, that is, the dataset can be represented as a sequence of graph snapshots. Hence, it is natural to consider the question of finding dense subgraphs in a temporal network that are allowed to vary over time to a certain degree. In this paper, we search for dense subgraphs that have large pairwise Jaccard similarity coefficients. More formally, given a set of graph snapshots and input parameter $$\alpha$$
α
, we find a collection of dense subgraphs, with pairwise Jaccard index at least $$\alpha$$
α
, such that the sum of densities of the induced subgraphs is maximized. We prove that this problem is NP-hard and we present a greedy, iterative algorithm which runs in $${\mathcal {O}} \mathopen {} \left( nk^2 + m\right)$$

O

n

k
2

+
m

time per single iteration, where k is the length of the graph sequence and n and m denote number of vertices and total number of edges respectively. We also consider an alternative problem where subgraphs with large pairwise Jaccard indices are rewarded. We do this by incorporating the indices directly into the objective function. More formally, given a set of graph snapshots and a weight $$\lambda$$
λ
, we find a collection of dense subgraphs such that the sum of densities of the induced subgraphs plus the sum of Jaccard indices, weighted by $$\lambda$$
λ
, is maximized. We prove that this problem is NP-hard. To discover dense subgraphs with good objective value, we present an iterative algorithm which runs in $${\mathcal {O}} \mathopen {}\left( n^2k^2 + m \log n + k^3 n\right)$$

O

n
2

k
2

+
m
log
n
+

k
3

n

time per single iteration, and a greedy algorithm which runs in $${\mathcal {O}} \mathopen {}\left( n^2k^2 + m \log n + k^3 n\right)$$

O

n
2

k
2

+
m
log
n
+

k
3

n

time. We show experimentally that our algorithms are efficient, they can find ground truth in synthetic datasets and provide good results from real-world datasets. Finally, we present two case studies that show the usefulness of our problem.
Deep learning approach to detect cyberbullying on twitter
Authors: Aliyeva Çinare Oğuz , Yağanoğlu Mete
Published: July 2024

In recent years, especially children and adolescents have shown increased interest in social media, making them a potential risk group for cyberbullying. Cyberbullying posts spread very quickly, often taking a long time to be deleted and sometimes remaining online indefinitely. Cyberbullying can have severe mental, psychological, and emotional effects on children and adolescents, and in extreme cases, it can lead to suicide. Turkey is among the top 10 countries with the highest number of children who are victims of cyberbullying. However, there are very few studies conducted in the Turkish language on this topic. This study aims to identify cyberbullying in Turkish Twitter posts. The Multi-Layer Detection (MLP) based model was evaluated using a dataset of 5000 tweets. The model was trained using both social media features and textual features extracted from the dataset. Textual features were obtained using various feature extraction methods such as Bag of Words (BOW), Term Frequency-Inverse Term Frequency (TF-IDF), Hashing Vectorizer, N-gram, and word embedding. These features were utilized in training the model, and their effectiveness was evaluated. The experiments revealed that the features obtained from TF-IDF and unigram methods significantly improved the model’s performance. Subsequently, unnecessary features were eliminated using the Chi-Square feature selection method. The proposed model achieved a higher accuracy of 93.2% compared to machine learning (ML) methods used in previous studies on the same dataset. Additionally, the proposed model was compared with popular deep learning models in the literature, such as LSTM, BLSTM, and CNN, demonstrating promising results.
Clinical use of [18F]fluoro-ethyl-L-tyrosine PET co-registered with MRI for localizing prolactinoma remnants
Authors: van Trigt Victoria R. , Bakker Leontine E. H. , Lu Huangling , Pelsma Iris C. M. , Verstegen Marco J. T. , van Furth Wouter R. , Pereira Arias-Bouda Lenka M. , Biermasz Nienke R.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To assess the utility of [18F]fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine PET co-registered with magnetic resonance imaging ([18F]FET-PET/MRICR) in patients with difficult-to-localize prolactinoma to inform clinical decision-making and (surgical) treatment planning.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 17 consecutive patients with prolactinoma undergoing [18F]FET-PET/MRICR between October 2020 and September 2022 for either (1) additional information in case of difficult-to-visualize remnants after prior transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), or pharmacological treatment, or (2) radiological diagnosis in absence of a (clear) adenoma on diagnostic/post-treatment conventional MRI.

Results

[18F]FET-PET/MRICR identified a lesion in 14/17 patients, yet failed to identify active lesions in 2 patients with negative conventional MRI despite prolactin > 7.5 times upper limit of normal. [18F]FET-PET/MRICR results were inconclusive in 1 patient due to diffuse tracer uptake 10 weeks post-surgery. [18F]FET-PET/MRICR was completely concordant with a suspected lesion on conventional MRI in 10/17 patients, and partially concordant in 3/17 patients. New foci were identified in 4/17 patients. The [18F]FET-PET/MRICR conclusions influenced clinical shared decision-making in 15/17 patients, of whom 7 patients underwent TSS and 8 refrained from TSS. One patient underwent TSS despite negative [18F]FET-PET/MRICR, and one patient underwent additional imaging. Intraoperative findings corresponded with [18F]FET-PET/MRICR in 5/8 patients, and immunohistochemistry was positive in 5/8 patients. The treatment goal was achieved in 7/8 patients, and remission was achieved in 5/7 patients in whom total resection was considered feasible.

Conclusion

[18F]FET-PET/MRICR can be of added value in the preoperative decision-making process for selected patients with difficult-to-localize prolactinoma (remnants), or patients lacking a substrate on conventional MRI.
Ulcerative and pyogranulomatous pododermatitis due to Pseudomonas luteola infection in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo): a case report with literature review of this emerging zoonotic disease in ferrets
Authors: Giner Jacobo , Lebrero María Eugenia , López-Sahuquillo Diego , Villanueva-Saz Sergio , Juan-Sallés Carles , Navarro Teresa , Fernández Antonio , Marteles Diana , Gómez Álex
Published: July 2024

Pseudomonas luteola (P.luteola), formerly called Chryseomonas luteola, is a strict aerobic gram-negative bacillus, 0.8 to 1.0 µm wide and 1.5 to 2.5 µm long, considered an opportunistic pathogen found ubiquitously in humid environments, both in soil and water. It sporadically causes disease in animals and immunosuppressed humans or those subjected to invasive procedures such us peritoneal dialysis or catheterization. In ferrets, this infection was first described in Spain in 2012 and since then, cases have appeared occasionally in Finland, Austria, Australia, France, the United States and also in Spain. This pathogen is considered an emerging zoonotic disease in ferrets, causing respiratory disease, panniculitis, and abscesses due to pyogranulomatous or suppurative inflammation predominantly of the pleura, lung, mediastinum, panniculus or salivary glands, frequently with lethal consequences. The clinical case of a ferret, infected by Pseudomona luteola, presenting with ulcerative suppurative pododermatitis and ipsilateral popliteal purulent lymphadenitis, is described. Together with a complete resolution of the clinical case by means of a non-invasive medical management likely due to the rapid detection, identification, and treatment of the infection.
Atmospheric bulk depositions: state-of-the-art and European legislative framework with focus on Italy
Authors: Ianiri Giuseppe , Settimo Gaetano , Avino Pasquale
Published: July 2024

The determination of total atmospheric deposition (bulk) is an essential tool to assess the state of environmental contamination and the consequent exposure of the population to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through the intake of contaminated food. Over the past 20 years, international authorities and the European Union through various pieces of legislation have emphasised the importance of conducting monitoring and studies on depositions to better understand their impact on the environment and human health without setting reference values. Despite the absence of such values, several European countries, through national laws, have adopted limit values and/or guideline values for the deposition fluxes of some organic (dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and inorganic persistent pollutants (metals). The aim of this review is both to summarise the present European legislation on depositions both to discuss the different legislations adopted by the various member states. Furthermore, a focus of this paper will be dedicated to the Italian legislation, where there is currently no specific guideline values for POPs in atmospheric deposition. In any case, some national authorities in Italy, such as the National Institute of Health (ISS) and the Regional Environmental Protection Agencies (ARPA), have conducted numerous monitoring activities on depositions, providing the scientific community and policymakers with numerous data on which to establish national reference values.
Conceptual Spaces: A Solution to Goodman’s New Riddle of Induction?
Authors: Scholz Sebastian
Published: July 2024

Nelson Goodman observed that we use only certain ‘good’ (viz. projectible) predicates during reasoning, with no obvious demarcation criterion in sight to distinguish them from the bad and gruesome ones. This apparent arbitrariness undermines the justifiability of our reasoning practices. Inspired by Quine’s 1969 paper on Natural Kinds, Peter Gärdenfors proposes a cognitive criterion based on his theory of Conceptual Spaces (CS). He argues the good predicates are those referring to natural concepts, and that we can capture naturalness in terms of similarity. In contrast to Quine, he does not primarily rely on logic, but geometry. He frames his account as a descriptive project, however, and it is not obvious how it addresses the normative dimension of Goodman’s Riddle. This paper develops a charitable reconstruction of his argument, based on the idea that the instrumental success of our projectible concepts is grounded in their cognitive-pragmatic naturalness. It then explores three lines of reasoning against the argument: Evolutionarily motivated skepticism, the miracles argument, and the relation between instrumental and pragmatic success. I conclude that in its current form, the CS account fails to provide any justification of reasoning beyond appealing to its instrumental success, and that a metaphysically robust notion of naturalness helps to achieve the desired goal.
Readmission and Dropout in Outpatient Centers: An Analysis of Real-World Data in Patients with Dual-Diagnosis
Authors: Mancheño-Velasco Cinta , Narváez-Camargo Marta , Lozano-Rojas Óscar M. , Sanchez-Garcia Manuel
Published: July 2024

Substance use disorder treatment faces challenges such as dropout, relapse, and readmission. This study aims to identify factors associated with readmission and those influencing dropout among dual diagnosis (DD) patients (those with both a substance use disorder and another psychiatric disorder) attending outpatient addiction centers. Retrospective cohort study using the electronic health records of 8383 outpatients diagnosed with DD. Bivariate analysis and regression analysis were applied to control for the variables. Age, incarceration for 30 days prior to admission, and specific patterns of consumption increased the likelihood of readmission. Specifically, individuals who reported no substance use in the 30 days before admission or those diagnosed with an opioid or cocaine use disorder were particularly susceptible to readmission. Of the dual diagnoses, patients with personality disorders were more likely to be readmitted. In relation to dropout, opioid dependence and frequency of use were associated with a higher probability of dropout. Patients with poorer adherence to treatment and previous readmissions were also more likely to drop out. Enhancing treatment adherence and reducing dropout and readmission rates poses a challenge in managing patients with DD. Leveraging electronic health records offers enhanced ecological validity concerning the outpatient treatment requirements for such patients. Therapeutic adherence, alongside specific sociodemographic variables and consumption patterns, emerges as pivotal factors in this context. Identifying and understanding these variables facilitates the customization of outpatient treatment strategies to better meet the needs of patients with comorbidities.
(Un)Eingeschränkte Selbstbestimmung? Gesellschaftliche Reproduktionsdiskurse als Regulativ von Körper, Wissen und Emotionen
Authors: Durnová Anna , Schmid Julia , Herzog Sylvia
Published: July 2024

Selbstbestimmung kann, wie auch in aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Diskursen ersichtlich, als ein wichtiger Kompass für politische Entscheidungen im Bereich der reproduktiven Gesundheit fungieren. Der vorliegende Artikel argumentiert für eine erweiterte Auseinandersetzung mit dem Begriff der Selbstbestimmung in zweifacher Hinsicht. Erstens wird Selbstbestimmung als eine Bedeutungskategorie vorgeschlagen, die über wechselseitige Bezüge zu Körper, Wissen und Emotionen diskursiv hergestellt wird. Zweitens wird mit dem Konzept der Reproduktiven Gerechtigkeit (Ross 1993) für eine intersektionale Ergänzung argumentiert und aufgezeigt, wie Klassen-, „Rassen“-, und Geschlechterverhältnisse den Reproduktionsdiskurs mitprägen. Der Fokus liegt in diesem Artikel auf den österreichischen „Pro Life“- und „Pro Choice“-Diskursen über den selbstbestimmten Schwangerschaftsabbruch, wobei die Daten dazu mittels dem Intersektionalen Mehrebenenansatz (Winker und Degele 2009) analysiert werden. Die Analyse leistet damit einen wesentlichen Beitrag zu einer systematischen Betrachtung von Diskursen rund um eine selbstbestimmte Reproduktion am Beispiel des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs.
Wenn Mama eine psychische Erkrankung hat, wer macht dann die Care-Arbeit? Eine qualitative Analyse zur innerfamiliären Organisation von Care
Authors: Schamschula Monika
Published: July 2024

Die Anzahl an psychischen Erkrankungen ist – nicht zuletzt im Zuge der Covid-19-Pandemie – gestiegen. Besonders Frauen sind von psychischen Erkrankungen betroffen. Zudem leisten Frauen den größeren Anteil an Care-Arbeit. Doch was passiert, wenn eine Mutter psychisch erkrankt, wer macht dann die Care-Arbeit? Der Beitrag stellt anhand von 20 teilnarrativen Interviews mit Müttern mit einer psychischen Erkrankung die Frage, wie Care-Arbeit in Familien, in denen eine Mutter psychisch erkrankt ist, verteilt wird und welche Veränderungen in der Care-Arbeit durch die psychische Erkrankung entstehen. In den untersuchten Daten zeigt sich, dass Care-Arbeit auch im Kontext einer psychischen Erkrankung in erster Linie von Müttern geleistet wird. Langfristige Veränderungen in der Organisation von Care-Arbeit betreffen zudem vor allem die Vorstellungen und Praktiken der Mutterschaft und weniger die Vorstellungen und Praktiken der Elternschaft im Allgemeinen oder der Vaterschaft im Speziellen.
Competing High-Temperature Deformation Mechanisms in Mo(Si,Al)2–Al2O3 Composites
Authors: Edgren Aina , Ström Erik , Colliander Magnus Hörnqvist
Published: July 2024

Mo(Si,Al)2–Al2O3 composites were tested in four-point bending at 1300 °C. The addition of Al2O3 led to a decrease in grain size, and a subsequent decrease in strength for materials containing up to 15 wt pct Al2O3. At higher Al2O3 fractions, the decrease in grain size saturates and the strength is recovered as the Al2O3 particles prevent grain boundary sliding.
Impact of ohmic heating extraction on the bioactive components of parsley: comparison with conventional and green extraction techniques
Authors: Aydın Cem , Eser Ferda
Published: July 2024

The extraction process is an important step that is widely used in food, agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, modern and alternative medicine, etc. Because of plants contain low amount of beneficial phytochemicals, obtaining high amounts of the desired compound is important in terms of extraction efficiency. In recent years, modern and green technologies have become more important; they also bring advantages such as high selectivity, less solvent, time, and energy requirements. Apigenin (4′, 5, 7-trihydroxyflavone), a naturally occurring flavonoid, possesses a variety of pharmaceutical properties such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties which are very important for human health. Parsley is one of the most common herbs used in cuisines and is known as the best source of apigenin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of various extraction methods on the extraction of biologically active compounds from parsley leaves. Conventional (maceration), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ohmic heating extraction (OHE) methods were compared in terms of yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activities, and apigenin quantities. The results showed that the UAE and OHE techniques had higher extraction efficiency than the maceration method. UAE achieved satisfactory extraction efficiency, shorter processing time, high energy savings, and retention of heat-labile compounds. OHE, as an advanced heating technology, increased the permeability of cell membranes, facilitating the release of bioactive compounds. The results revealed that the OHE technique was the most effective method for apigenin extraction (159.63 ppb) and antioxidant activity.
Intragastric Balloon as a First Step Before Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Patients with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2: are the Results After Balloon Related to Global Outcomes After Surgery?
Authors: Pinho André Costa , Manco Alexandra Luís , Silva Marco , Sousa Hugo Santos , Resende Fernando , Preto John , da Costa Eduardo Lima ,   CRI-O Group
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50 kg/m2, classified with obesity class IV/V, require complex treatments. Intragastric balloon (IGB) is a possible treatment before metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) that may reduce peri-operative complications. This study evaluates IGB outcomes and complications before MBS in patients with Obesity IV/V, and subsequent MBS results, regarding weight loss and comorbidity resolution.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all patients with BMI above 50 kg/m2 submitted to IGB before MBS between 2009 and 2023 in a high-volume center. Variables analyzed included weight loss after IGB and MBS, IGB complications, and comorbidity resolution. Suboptimal clinical responses were defined as %TWL < 5% for IGB, %TWL < 20% for MBS, and %TWL < 25% or BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 for IGB + MBS.

Results

Seventy-four patients (mean BMI 58.8 ± 8 kg/m2) were included. After IGB, the mean %TWL was 14.2 ± 8.5%, with a 21.6% complication rate, predominantly nausea and vomiting, and one death. Suboptimal clinical response of IGB affected 13.5% of patients, and 5.4% required early removal. Two years after MBS, the mean %TWL was 38.2 ± 11.6%, mainly due to MBS, yet approximately one-third of %TWL was attributed to IGB. No correlation was found between IGB and MBS outcomes. At 2-year follow-up, 45.1% patients had %TWL ≥ 25 and BMI < 35 kg/m2.

Conclusion

The IGB is a treatment option before MBS in patients with Obesity Class IV/V, with acceptable weight loss outcomes but not infrequent complications. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory, and all treatments must be considered in this difficult subset of patients.

Graphical Abstract
What does the Thinking about Relationalism and Humanness in African Philosophy imply for Different Modes of Being Present in the Metaverse?
Authors: Ewuoso Cornelius
Published: July 2024

In this article, I interrogate whether the deployment and development of the Metaverse should take into account African values and modes of knowing to foster the uptake of this hyped technology in Africa. Specifically, I draw on the moral norms arising from the components of communal interactions and humanness in Afro-communitarianism to contend that the deployment of the Metaverse and its development ought to reflect core African moral values to foster its uptake in the region. To adequately align the Metaverse with African core values and thus foster its uptake among Africans, significant technological advancement that makes simulating genuine human experiences possible must occur. Additionally, it would be necessary for the developers and deployers to ensure that higher forms of spiritual activities can be had in the Metaverse to foster its uptake in Africa. Finally, I justify why the preceding points do not necessarily imply that the Metaverse will have a higher moral status than real
life on the moral scale that can be grounded in Afro-communitarianism.
Early Versus Late Initiation of Endovascular Therapy in Patients with Severe Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Authors: Bücke Philipp , Henkes Hans , Kaesmacher Johannes , Heldner Mirjam R. , Scutelnic Adrian , Arnold Marcel , Meinel Thomas R. , Cimpoca Alexandru , Horvath Thomas , Henkes Elina , Bäzner Hansjörg , Hellstern Victoria
Published: July 2024

Background

Endovascular therapy (EVT) for severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is controversial in terms of indication and clinical benefit. The impact of delay of EVT on functional recovery is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of early versus late initiation of EVT in severe CVST.

Methods

From prospective EVT and CVST registries, patients with CVST diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2022 were retrospectively identified for this multicenter collaboration. EVT was considered in severe CVST with features prone to a poor prognosis. We compared early (< 24 h) with late (> 24 h) initiation of EVT after the presentation in the emergency department and subsequent CVST diagnosis. Outcome parameters included functional independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–2) at 90 days, mRS score at discharge, in-hospital mortality, and mortality at 3 months.

Results

Of 363 patients with CVST, 45 (12.4%; 31 [early EVT] vs. 14 [late EVT]) were included in this study. We found a higher proportion of patients with functional independence at 3 months among early versus late EVT (66.7% vs. 27.3%; odds ratio [OR] 5.3; 95% confidence interval 1.02–25; p = 0.036). In multivariate logistic regression, late EVT was inversely correlated with functional independence (OR 0.17 [0.04–0.83]; p = 0.011). The mortality rate was 16.7% versus 36.4% (mRS 6 at 3 months, OR 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.07–1.75; p = 0.217) at 90 days for early versus late EVT.

Conclusions

We observed a higher rate of functional independence in patients with early EVT. These preliminary findings must be confirmed in subsequent randomized controlled trials evaluating a “time-is-brain” paradigm for EVT in CVST.
A fuzzy-based emotion detection method to classify the attractiveness of urban green spaces
Authors: Cardone Barbara , Cerreta Maria , Di Martino Ferdinando , Miraglia Vittorio , Sacco Sabrina
Published: July 2024

In European studies, the most used definition of Urban Green Spaces (UGS) is based on the European Urban Atlas, which includes public green areas primarily used for recreation and green areas adjacent to urban areas that are managed or utilized for recreational purposes. UGS play a vital role in creating sustainable and resilient cities, as they provide essential social benefits for the well-being and health of urban residents. Both planners and scientists acknowledge the importance of involving, actively or passively, citizens in defining criteria for designing and managing inclusive and functional UGS. According to a post-normal science approach, the integration of hard data from scientific sources with soft data gathered from citizens’ engagement holds the potential to shape an innovative support system for public policies addressing significant, urgent, and uncertain challenges pertaining to UGS. Nowadays, the abundance of data generated through online reviews, opinions, and comments allows for collecting valuable information about people’s opinions and sentiments towards UGS. This study proposes a methodological framework that utilizes emotion detection techniques to identify and analyze citizens’ emotions concerning UGS through social reviews. To balance computational costs and classification accuracy, the framework introduces a fuzzy emotion-based classification method called FREDoC (Fuzzy Relevance Emotions Document Classification). This method incorporates a lightweight natural language pro-cessing (NLP) approach to detect and annotate terms associated with specific emotional categories within the text. The framework adopts the psycho-evolutionary classification approach based on R. Plutchik’s observations of general emotional responses. This model is implemented within a Geographical Information System (GIS) for the purpose of categorizing UGS, specifically green parks, according both to WHO report key indicators and to the detected relevant emotions. The outcome is a novel classification model of UGS that can assist decision-makers in identifying the attractiveness of UGS as catalysts for urban transformation processes.
Internalization of Borders: The Concept and Its Applications
Authors: Heins Volker M.
Published: July 2024

Europe and the United States are spending billions on the fortification of borders to stop migrants deemed unwanted by the government. The questionable effectiveness of this policy and its disastrous, often deadly consequences for people on the move have been studied extensively. The political project of closing borders to racially stigmatized migrants has serious consequences not only for outsiders who want to get in, but also for the internal organization of the society that is responsible for governing those borders. Taken together, these social and normative consequences constitute what we call the “internalization of borders.” Borders reach out far into society and are felt not only by would-be migrants in the places where they are stuck. Societies in the Global North, too, are being adversely affected and harmed by restrictive border regimes and their internalizing effects. Yet, unlike the “externalization” of borders, their “internalization” has so far not been researched systematically. To address the gap, this Introduction proposes a conceptual framework of how to study border internalization. The other articles in the Forum will offer diverse case studies on the dark side of border internalization as well as on ways of countering it.
Validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Salzburg Stress Eating Scale for children and adolescents
Authors: Zengin Hamide , Akdeniz Kudubes Aslı
Published: July 2024

Stress changes the food preferences of individuals, causing an increase in the intake of sweet food, and consequently, the total energy. Stress also leads to a short-term reduction in the appetite. These two contrary scenarios result in nutritional problems in the affected population. In this context, a validity and reliability study was conducted for the Salzburg Stress Eating Scale (SSES) adapted for children and adolescents and presented here. The study was designed as a methodological, descriptive, and correlational study, conducted with 9–18-year-old students (n = 257). A socio-demographic information form and the SSES were used for data collection. The collected data were evaluated based on factor analysis, discriminatory power, McDonald’s omega, Cronbach’s alpha, and the item–total score. The contribution of the ten-item scale to total variance was determined to be 48.869%. The factor loadings of the scale determined based on the exploratory factor analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were above 0.30. The fit indices were found to be well matched and the questionnaire had a one-factor structure. The McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha values determined for the scale were 0.884 and 0.881, respectively. The correlation analysis of the items with the scale’s total score revealed values ranging between 0.470 and 0.757. Accordingly, it was concluded that the SSES was a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish-speaking students in the 9–18 age group. Therefore, the SSES is applicable for the assessment of stress eating among children and adolescents aged 9–18 in the general population. It is recommended to adapt the scale in different cultures to determine the level of direct stress eating in children and adolescents and the affecting factors.
Assessment for acceleration and transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma using histologic and immunohistochemical features: a case series
Authors: Moore Margaret E. , Aguilera Nadine S. , Obiorah Ifeyinwa , Williams Eli , Courville Elizabeth
Published: July 2024

Morphologic features of aggressive/ “accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (aCLL/SLL) have been described. Richter transformation (RT) also occurs in a subset of CLL/SLL cases. This case series examined inter-observer variability when assessing for aCLL/SLL and RT, with attention to how immunohistochemical (IHC) markers may assist in this evaluation. Twelve cases of CLL/SLL with available FFPE tissue were identified. H&E staining and IHC (CD3, CD20, CD5, CD23, LEF1, LAG3, C-MYC, PD-1, MUM1, Cyclin D1, BCL-6, p53, and Ki-67) were performed. Three hematopathologists reviewed each case. The pathologists provided a final interpretation of (1) CLL/SLL, (2) CLL/SLL with expanded and/or confluent proliferation centers or increased Ki-67 (aCLL/SLL), or (3) large cell transformation/DLBCL. The pathologists lacked consensus in the diagnosis in 6/12 cases (50%). The reviewers disagreed on the presence of expanded/confluent proliferation centers in 8/12 cases (67%). With the exception of Ki-67, no IHC marker showed a difference in the staining profile in aCLL/SLL or RT compared to low-grade cases. This series showed inter-observer variability in the evaluation for aCLL/SLL and RT. A study that serially examines genetic alterations in FFPE tissue and correlates the features with histology and IHC, at diagnosis and throughout the disease course, may help refine indicators of aggressive disease.
A retrospective study of the efficacy of sulbactam in the treatment of patients with extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections
Authors: Yu Jiaxin , Zhang Baoshuang , Yang Yang , Dou Wei , Li Yuliu , Yang Anji , Ruan Xiao , Zuo Wei , Zhang Bo
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Sulbactam (SBT) is one of the most significant treatments for patients with extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB). However, the efficacy and safety of SBT and its high dose regimen has not been well documented. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of SBT-based treatment, particularly at high-dose (≥ 6 g/day), for XDR-AB infection.

Method

A total of 52 XDR-AB infected patients treated with intravenous SBT at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, while the secondary outcome was 14-day clinical response and the time of response. The formulation of SBT in our study is 0.5 g per vial.

Results

Among the patients, the 28-day all-cause mortality rate was 36.5% (19/52), and the favorable 14-day clinical response rate was 59.6% (31/52). The 28-day mortality was independently associated coinfection with gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and a shorter duration of therapy. Patients with intracranial infection might have a longer survival time. A favorable 14-day clinical response was associated with the dose of SBT, and a longer treatment duration. However, the higher creatinine clearance (CrCl) associated with a worse clincal response. In addition, a higher SBT dosage was significantly correlated with a shorter time to clinical response. No adverse effects related were reported.

Conclusion

The single-agent formulation of SBT emerges as a promising alternative for the treatment of XDR-AB infection, such as intracranial infection, particularly at high doses (≥ 6 g/day). Besides, longer duration of treatment correlates with higher survival rate and better favorable clinical response. Higher CrCl negatively correlates with favorable clinical response.
From perturbative methods to machine learning techniques in space science
Authors: Celletti Alessandra
Published: July 2024

Perturbation theory is a very useful tool to investigate the dynamics of models in space science. We start by presenting some results obtained implementing classical perturbation theory to investigate the motion of space debris, which are objects that populate the sky around the Earth after a satellite break-up event. When dealing with two or more break-up events, a clusterization of the fragments can be computed using machine learning techniques. We also present the celebrated KAM theory for symplectic and conformally symplectic systems. We recall several computer-assisted results in Celestial Mechanics in conservative and dissipative settings. Finally, we consider the spin-orbit problem and we show how machine learning methods can be conveniently used to classify regular and chaotic motions.
Introducing the Research Design of Phenomenography
Authors: Sims Danica Anne
Published: July 2024

This article introduces the lesser known qualitative research design of phenomenography to medical science and health professions education researchers. Phenomenography, as distinct from phenomenology, seeks to describe and organise the different ways people experience and understand a phenomenon. Here, the origins and philosophical underpinnings of phenomenography are briefly shared, and an outline of how a phenomenographic research study may be undertaken is presented. This includes data collection tools, analytic method, and examples from the field. Overall, phenomenography is valuable for better understanding the varied experiences of students, educators, practitioners, and patients, with implications for pedagogy, practice, and related outcomes.
Shadows in the Spotlight: Navigating Organizational Transparency in Digital Contexts
Authors: Albu Oana Brindusa , Thøger Christensen Lars
Published: July 2024

This article examines the potential implications of pursuing organizational transparency ideals in contemporary datafied societies, i.e., societies where multiple aspects of social life take the shape of digital data. The article develops a communication perspective of transparency which is valuable because it not only considers transparency as a matter of providing and accessing information about already existing practices but conceptualizes transparency as a performative practice with the potential to shape subjects, relations, and forms of organizing. The article identifies common trends in extant research on transparency, discusses different ways of thinking about transparency, and examines their implications for organizational settings. Taken together, the article problematizes predominant tendencies that theorize transparency simply from an informational standpoint, (i.e., as information disclosure) and identifies key challenges specific to digitally driven transparency. The article ends by discussing some implications of digitally driven transparency practices and sketches future research directions for organizations that face transparency challenges in the current social contexts where data is abundant.
Subchronic administration of scopolamine reverses UCMS-induced behavior in mice via eEF2 protein dephosphorylation
Authors: Babii Yana , Pałucha-Poniewiera Agnieszka , Rafało-Ulińska Anna , Brański Piotr , Pilc Andrzej
Published: July 2024

Background

The cholinergic system has been increasingly linked to the pathophysiology of mood disorders such as depression, with the potential involvement of nicotinic and/or muscarinic receptors. Conventional antidepressants usually require weeks of daily dosing to achieve a full antidepressant response. In contrast, clinical studies have shown that scopolamine, a nonselective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, can induce potent and rapid antidepressant effects, requiring only a few days of treatment. This study aimed to examine the suitability of the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model of depression to reproduce the above scopolamine antidepressant activity patterns.

Methods

Rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects were assessed by using the splash test, sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST) in animals undergoing the UCMS procedure and stress-naïve C57BL/6J mice. Western Blotting was used to measure tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), eukaryotic elongation factor (eEF2) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) levels.

Results

Scopolamine induced antidepressant-like effects in a dose-dependent manner only after subchronic, but not single, administration in the UCMS model of depression in C57BL/6J mice without affecting locomotor activity. Specifically, scopolamine administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg for four consecutive days significantly reversed the UCMS-induced depressive-like behavior, such as apathy, anhedonia, and behavioral despair, while scopolamine, given at the same dose but only once, did not relieve the above symptoms. Scopolamine treatment was accompanied by eEF2 protein dephosphorylation and its subsequent reactivation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC).

Conclusion

Subchronic administration of scopolamine is needed to ameliorate UCMS-induced depressive-like behavior. The suggested mechanism of scopolamine action covers eEF2 protein activity in the PFC.
Lagrangian Decomposition of the Atlantic Ocean Heat Transport at 26.5°N
Authors: Tooth Oliver J. , Foukal Nicholas P. , Johns William E. , Johnson Helen L. , Wilson Chris
Published: July 2024

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a critical role in the global climate system through the redistribution of heat, freshwater and carbon. At 26.5°N, the meridional heat transport has traditionally been partitioned geometrically into vertical and horizontal circulation cells; however, attributing these components to the AMOC and Subtropical Gyre (STG) flow structures remains widely debated. Using water parcel trajectories evaluated within an eddy‐rich ocean hindcast, we present the first Lagrangian decomposition of the meridional heat transport at 26.5°N. We find that water parcels recirculating within the STG account for 37% (0.36 PW) of the total heat transport across 26.5°N, more than twice that of the classical horizontal gyre component (15%). Our findings indicate that STG heat transport cannot be meaningfully distinguished from that of the basin‐scale overturning since water parcels cooled within the gyre subsequently feed the northward, subsurface limb of the AMOC.
Spatial Source Contribution and Interannual Variation in Deposition of Dust Aerosols Over the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Haugvaldstad Ove W. , Tang Hui , Kaakinen Anu , Bohm Katja , Groot Zwaaftink Christine D. , Grythe Henrik , Stevens Thomas , Zhang Zhongshi , Stordal Frode
Published: July 2024

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) in northern China is home to one of the most prominent loess records in the world, reflecting past eolian dust activity in East Asia. However, their interpretation is hampered by ambiguity in the origin of loess‐forming dust and an incomplete understanding of the circulation forcing dust accumulation. In this study, we used a novel modeling approach combining a dust emission model FLEXDUST with simulated back trajectories from FLEXPART to trace the dust back to where it was emitted. Over 21 years (1999–2019), we modeled back trajectories for fine (∼2 μm) and super‐coarse (∼20 μm) dust particles at six CLP sites during the peak dust storm season from March to May. FLEXPART source‐receptor relationships are combined with the dust emission inventory from FLEXDUST to create site‐dependent high‐resolution maps of the source contribution of deposited dust. The nearby dust emission areas were found to be the main source of dust to the CLP. Dust deposition across the CLP was found to predominantly occur via wet removal, with also some super‐coarse dust from distant emission regions being wet deposited following high‐level tropospheric transport. The high topography located on the downwind side of the emission area plays an essential role in forcing the emitted super‐coarse dust upward. On an interannual scale, the phase of the Arctic Oscillation in the preceding winter was found to have a strong association with the spring deposition rate on the CLP, while the strength of the East Asian Winter Monsoon was less influential.