bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reossification of Bone Defects After Surgical Correction of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: A Review and An Original Study
Authors: Berton Quentin , Arrighi Marta , Barthélémy Isabelle , Garcier Jean-Marc , Loit Marie-Pierre , Cambier Sébastien , Coll Guillaume
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Surgical correction of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) aims to restore cranial shape. Reossification of bone defects is paramount for the best aesthetic prognosis. However, the literature on the quantitative evaluation of bone defects after NSC surgery is scarce. This study aimed to quantify and analyze the surface area of bone defects after NSC surgery and establish a threshold value for predicting persistent defects.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review and a prospective study of 28 children undergoing surgical treatment for NSC. We analyzed 426 defects on the first computed tomography scan (1 year postoperative) and 132 defects on the second computed tomography scan (4.6 years postoperative). Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and Youden's J statistic.

RESULTS:

Our systematic review identified three studies reporting on bone defects' surface area and reossification rate. In our study, we found no statistically significant differences in the number or size of defects between sex or type of NSC. The threshold value for the surface area of bone defects above which there was a higher probability of persistent defects was 0.19 cm2 (Youden point), with an 89.47 % probability of persistence. Defects with a surface area below 0.19 cm2 had a considerably lower probability, only 15.07%, of persistence over time.

CONCLUSION:

Our study provides valuable quantitative data for managing bone defects after NSC surgery. Defects with a surface area above 0.19 cm2 should be monitored with radiological imaging because of the risk of persistence. Our findings highlight the importance of developing robust and reproducible methods for the quantitative analysis of bone defects after NSC surgery.
Steroid hormone signaling synchronizes cell migration machinery, adhesion and polarity to direct collective movement
Authors: Bhattacharya Mallika , Starz-Gaiano Michelle
Published: February 2024

Migratory cells – either individually or in cohesive groups – are critical for spatiotemporally regulated processes such as embryonic development and wound healing. Their dysregulation is the underlying cause of formidable health problems such as congenital abnormalities and metastatic cancers. Border cell behavior during Drosophila oogenesis provides an effective model to study temporally regulated, collective cell migration in vivo. Developmental timing in flies is primarily controlled by the steroid hormone ecdysone, which acts through a well-conserved, nuclear hormone receptor complex. Ecdysone signaling determines the timing of border cell migration, but the molecular mechanisms governing this remain obscure. We found that border cell clusters expressing a dominant-negative form of ecdysone receptor extended ineffective protrusions. Additionally, these clusters had aberrant spatial distributions of E-cadherin (E-cad), apical domain markers and activated myosin that did not overlap. Remediating their expression or activity individually in clusters mutant for ecdysone signaling did not restore proper migration. We propose that ecdysone signaling synchronizes the functional distribution of E-cadherin, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), Discs large (Dlg1) and activated myosin post-transcriptionally to coordinate adhesion, polarity and contractility and temporally control collective cell migration.
Harnessing artificial intelligence to reduce phototoxicity in live imaging
Authors: Gómez-de-Mariscal Estibaliz , Del Rosario Mario , Pylvänäinen Joanna W. , Jacquemet Guillaume , Henriques Ricardo
Published: February 2024

Fluorescence microscopy is essential for studying living cells, tissues and organisms. However, the fluorescent light that switches on fluorescent molecules also harms the samples, jeopardizing the validity of results – particularly in techniques such as super-resolution microscopy, which demands extended illumination. Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software capable of denoising, image restoration, temporal interpolation or cross-modal style transfer has great potential to rescue live imaging data and limit photodamage. Yet we believe the focus should be on maintaining light-induced damage at levels that preserve natural cell behaviour. In this Opinion piece, we argue that a shift in role for AIs is needed – AI should be used to extract rich insights from gentle imaging rather than recover compromised data from harsh illumination. Although AI can enhance imaging, our ultimate goal should be to uncover biological truths, not just retrieve data. It is essential to prioritize minimizing photodamage over merely pushing technical limits. Our approach is aimed towards gentle acquisition and observation of undisturbed living systems, aligning with the essence of live-cell fluorescence microscopy.
Determination of Glyoxalase-1 levels and Identification of Genetic Variants in GLO1 Gene in Patients of Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Shah Syed Zubair Hussain , Rashid Amir , Majeed Asifa
Published: February 2024

Objective: To determine the association of diabetic nephropathy with glyoxalase-1 enzyme levels and a genetic missense variation (SNP rs4746) in its gene (GLO-1).

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from November 2020 to December 2022. One hundred patients and one hundred and thirteen healthy controls were enrolled using the nonprobability convenience sampling method. Medical history and 10ml blood were obtained from each individual after written informed consent. Blood samples were subjected to biochemical tests and DNA extraction which was later used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis (C332C variant of rs4741 GLO-1 gene) using Tetra primer ARMS PCR and gel electrophoresis. Glyoxalase-1 enzyme activity in serum was measured using ELISA.

Results: There was a significant difference in serum glyoxalase-1 levels in the two groups (p-value< 0.001). The patient group had lower levels (16.24 ± 22.51mg/dl) of glyoxalase-1 as compared to the control group (48.70 ± 42.54mg/dl). In genotypic analysis, 98 out of 100 control individuals had AA genotype-while only one had CC and another AC genotype. In the patient group, 94 out of 100 patients showed AA genotype, three AC, and three CC genotypes. As the statistical significance (p-value) was 0.37, there was no significant association found between AC or CC genotype and diabetic nephropathy.

Conclusion: Glyoxalase-1 levels are linked to the development of diabetic nephropathy in our patients while a known missense variant rs4746 in the GLO-1 gene is not associated with increased risk.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8258

How to cite this: Shah SZH, Rashid A, Majeed A. Determination of Glyoxalase-1 levels and Identification of Genetic Variants in GLO1 Gene in Patients of Diabetic Nephropathy. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(4):652-656. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8258

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Complete recovery after fulminant myocarditis in a patient with COVID-19
Authors: Kitsou Vasiliki , Lunde Torbjørn , Solholm Atle , Blomberg Bjørn , Saeed Sahrai
Published: February 2024

The clinical spectrum of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies from asymptomatic infection to severe disease with multiorgan dysfunction. Cardiovascular involvement is common and in rare cases can lead to serious complications, such as fulminant myocarditis. The clinical course of COVID-19 myocarditis varies from complete recovery to death in rare cases. The pathophysiology of COVID-19-related myocarditis is still unclear but is believed to involve direct viral injury and cardiac damage due to the host’s immune response. Guidelines on the management of COVID-19-related myocarditis are yet to be established. We present here the case of a male patient in his early fifties admitted with life-threatening myocarditis in the course of COVID-19 infection who was successfully treated and recovered without any sequelae.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8685

How to cite this: Kitsou V, Lunde T, Solholm A, Blomberg B, Saeed S. Complete recovery after fulminant myocarditis in a patient with COVID-19. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(4):785-789. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8685

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Una campaña en imágenes: Análisis de los candidatos a las elecciones catalanas del 14F en Facebook e Instagram.
Authors: Bustos Díaz Javier , Caballero-Escusol Adrián
Published: February 2024

Las redes sociales han cambiado la forma de gestionar la política, sin embargo, el fenómeno de la comunicación política en redes sociales ha tenido que evolucionar con la tecnología. Ahora no solo se trata de tener presencia en redes sociales, sino de saber conectar con la audiencia y la audiencia ha evolucionado en estos últimos años hacia una comunicación basada en la imagen, claro ejemplo de ello es Instagram. En base a ello, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto que han tenido en la red social Instagram los principales candidatos que se presentaron a las elecciones del 14F. De otra parte, y dado que la comunicación política surge en Facebook, plantea como objetivo secundario examinar la evolución de la comunicación política en Facebook, así como compararla con Instagram
Scheduling in the High-Uncertainty Heavy Traffic Regime
Authors: Atar Rami , Castiel Eyal , Shadmi Yonatan
Published: February 2024

We propose a model uncertainty approach to heavy traffic asymptotics that allows for a high level of uncertainty. That is, the uncertainty classes of underlying distributions accommodate disturbances that are of order 1 at the usual diffusion scale as opposed to asymptotically vanishing disturbances studied previously in relation to heavy traffic. A main advantage of the approach is that the invariance principle underlying diffusion limits makes it possible to define uncertainty classes in terms of the first two moments only. The model we consider is a single-server queue with multiple job types. The problem is formulated as a zero sum stochastic game played between the system controller, who determines scheduling and attempts to minimize an expected linear holding cost, and an adversary, who dynamically controls the service time distributions of arriving jobs and attempts to maximize the cost. The heavy traffic asymptotics of the game are fully solved. It is shown that an asymptotically optimal policy for the system controller is to prioritize according to an index rule, and for the adversary, it is to select distributions based on the system’s current workload. The workload-to-distribution feedback mapping is determined by a Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation, which also characterizes the game’s limit value. Unlike in the vast majority of results in the heavy traffic theory and as a direct consequence of the diffusive size disturbances, the limiting dynamics under asymptotically optimal play are captured by a stochastic differential equation where both the drift and the diffusion coefficients may be discontinuous.

Funding: R. Atar is supported by the Israeli Science Foundation [Grant 1035/20].
Polynomial Voting Rules
Authors: Tang Wenpin , Yao David D.
Published: February 2024

We propose and study a new class of polynomial voting rules for a general decentralized decision/consensus system, and more specifically for the proof-of-stake protocol. The main idea, inspired by the Penrose square-root law and the more recent quadratic voting rule, is to differentiate a voter’s voting power and the voter’s share (fraction of the total in the system). We show that, whereas voter shares form a martingale process that converges to a Dirichlet distribution, their voting powers follow a supermartingale process that decays to zero over time. This prevents any voter from controlling the voting process and, thus, enhances security. For both limiting results, we also provide explicit rates of convergence. When the initial total volume of votes (or stakes) is large, we show a phase transition in share stability (or the lack thereof), corresponding to the voter’s initial share relative to the total. We also study the scenario in which trading (of votes/stakes) among the voters is allowed and quantify the level of risk sensitivity (or risk aversion) in three categories, corresponding to the voter’s utility being a supermartingale, a submartingale, and a martingale. For each category, we identify the voter’s best strategy in terms of participation and trading.

Funding: W. Tang gratefully acknowledges financial support through the National Science Foundation [Grants DMS-2113779 and DMS-2206038] and through a start-up grant at Columbia University. D. D. Yao’s work is part of a Columbia–City University/Hong Kong collaborative project that is supported by InnoHK Initiative, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Laboratory for AI-Powered Financial Technologies.
Evaluation of a new low-cost negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Sun Haojie , Si Shanwen , Liu Xuekui , Geng Houfa , Liang Jun
Published: February 2024

Objective:

To investigate the effectiveness of a new and low-cost negative pressure wound therapy (LC-NPWT) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Method:

In this retrospective cohort study, patients from our inpatient clinic with Wagner grade 3 DFUs were given LC-NPWT or conventional wound dressings. The primary outcome was the wound healing rates. Complete wound healing, defined as complete re-epithelialisation of the wound, was recorded during the two months of follow-up. The definition of complete epidermis of the wound was that the skin was closed (100% re-epithelialisation), with no drainage or dressing. The secondary outcomes were the number of inpatient days and surgical procedures, and outcomes after hospital discharge. The wound score from the Bates–Jensen wound assessment tool and the levels of the inflammation factors procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were compared between the two groups. The Kaplan–Meier survival estimate was used to examine the cumulative wound healing rate.

Results:

The study cohort comprised 41 patients. The two-month wound healing rate was higher in patients in the LC-NPWT group than in the control group (15/21 (71.4%) versus 8/20 (40.0%), respectively; p=0.043). At the end of the two-month follow-up period, the cumulative wound healing rate was higher in the LC-NPWT group than in the control group (p=0.032). Patients in the LC-NPWT group had fewer inpatient days (19.3±3.84 versus 25.05±4.81; p<0.001) and shorter duration of antibiotic use (32.14±3.89 days versus 36.10±5.80 days; p=0.014) than those who received conventional wound dressings. There were significant improvements in mean wound score between the LC-NPWT group and the control group (p<0.001). After one week of treatment, the blood levels of PCT (0.03±0.30ng/ml versus 0.07±0.08ng/ml; p=0.039), CRP (14.55±13.40mg/l versus 24.71±18.10mg/l; p=0.047) and ESR (42.05±29.29mm/h versus 61.65±22.42mm/h; p=0.021) were lower in patients who received LC-NPWT than those who received conventional wound dressings.

Conclusion:

LC-NPWT is effective in the treatment of DFUs and provides a cheaper alternative for patients with DFUs that could potentially alleviate the economic distress these patients endure.
AUGMENTATION OF DEPTH OF PENETRATION AND PRODUCTIVITY BENEFITS OF ATIG WELDS USING THE AHP
Authors: Acharya Samarendra , Gonda Debasish , Das Santanu , Bose Dipankar , Islam Rafikul
Published: February 2024

Weldability is an important issue in the fabrication of different grades of stainless steel used in industry. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is widely used in industry for accurate and precision work, but lack of penetration is observed in this process even though current and welding speed can be varied considerably to increase heat input to obtain deeper penetration. Increased heat input adversely affects mechanical properties of the weldment. To overcome this, activated flux TIG welding is often used in industry to achieve higher depth of penetration with relatively less heat input. In this study, activated flux TIG welding is used with input variables such as heat input, welding speed and pulse frequency. The chosen base metal is SS 304L stainless steel, and a hybrid flux mixture containing fluxes of SiO2, MnO2 and MoO3 in a ratio of 1:1:2 is used to obtain the desired depth of penetration. Nine experimental runs are conducted to obtain the optimum depth of penetration. Heat input values are 2.767 kJ/mm, 1.470 kJ/mm and 1.281 kJ/mm and pulse frequency is 160 Hz, 120 Hz and 80 Hz. Welding speed varies from 0.5 mm/s to 1.18 mm/s. A maximum depth of penetration of 4.42 mm is achieved with a heat input of 2.767 kJ/mm, welding speed of 0.5 mm/s and pulse frequency of 160 Hz. The reversed Marangoni effect and arc constriction effect are the mechanisms responsible for the deeper penetration in ATIG welding. In this research, a multi criteria decision making tool, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), is used to validate the optimum value obtained. The optimal values obtained in the research are in good accordance with those obtained using the AHP. The outcome of the present investigation indicates the applicability of ATIG welding for joining large thickness of stainless steel flats to give enhanced productivity by reducing the number of weld passes.
Aluminum-based quasi-3D self-aligning plasmonic metasurface with an attenuated substrate effect for high-sensitivity sensing
Authors: Huang Yuhang , Liang Yuzhang , Shen Lanlan , Li Rui , Yang Cheng , Peng Wei
Published: February 2024

We propose an aluminum (Al)-based quasi-3D self-aligning plasmonic metasurface theoretically in this paper; it demonstrates a hybrid plasmon mode with narrow bandwidth and high peak-to-dip contrast that can be used for high-sensitivity sensing applications. This metasurface consists of a top Al nanodisk array elevated by a composite array of a dielectric nanopillar and Al nanohole. A moderate bulk refractive index sensitivity of up to 384 nm/RIU and an excellent surface sensitivity are achieved in this work, owing to an enhanced optical field around the top Al nanodisk readily accessing the external environment. High nanopillars here mean the top Al nanodisk is away from the bottom nanoholes, which is equivalent to suspending the top nanodisk into approximately symmetrical surroundings to eliminate adverse substrate effects. This work provides a valuable economic and high-performance sensing strategy for precise biochemical detection.
Dyakonov surface polaritons in bi-hyperbolic metamaterial
Authors: Hao Shaopeng , Liu Qingxin , Wang Xuan-Zhang
Published: February 2024

A periodically layered metamaterial (MM) structured with antiferromagnetic (AF) and ionic-crystal (IC) layers was proposed, which exhibits bi-hyperbolicity with effective hyperbolic permeability and permittivity. We investigated Dyakonov surface polaritons (DSPs) localized at this bi-hyperbolic metamaterial surface. For such a complicated material system, we analytically acquired one concise dispersion equation and corresponding wave solutions. From them, we found four DSPs, or DSP-I, DSP-II, DSP-III, and DSP-IV, and meanwhile one Dyakonov surface magnon and one Dyakonov surface phonon were found in this bi-hyperbolic metamaterial. The ATR spectra numerically calculated clearly proved the actual existence of the DSPs acquired from the dispersion equation and offered the path to excite and observe the DSPs. The DSP’s energy propagating direction is parallel to the air/MM interface, but not along the wave vector direction, and further it can approximatively be vertical to the wave-vector.
Generation of hyper-bunched light by single Gaussian and non-Gaussian scattering processes
Authors: Elsässer Wolfgang
Published: February 2024

We derive theoretically that hyper-bunched light with a central normalized second-order correlation coefficient of six can be realized by a single Gaussian scattering process of parametric down conversion (PDC) light with a central normalized second-order correlation coefficient of three. The Gaussian scattering process is realized by a rotating ground-glass diffuser. We show that the photon counting probability distribution in this case obeys a Tricomi confluent hypergeometric function U[1+n,3/2,1/⟨n⟩] dependence. Furthermore, we also study non-Gaussian light-scattering probabilities that together with the different impinging light statistics give rise to new photon statistics accompanied by a variety of new values of the second-order correlation coefficient of the scattered light. These theoretical calculations suggest experiments using twin photons from a PDC process and characterizing their photon statistics properties before and after the scattering at the rotating diffuser. These investigations contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the scattering process, the generated light, and new applications.
Bi-path color tunable plasmonic micro-nano hybrid structures for encrypted printing
Authors: Qi Xiuping , Li Xin , Miao Jingying , Liu Zhong , Fu Shencheng , Zhang Xintong
Published: February 2024

Colored information is crucial for humans to perceive the world. Plasmonic spectra modulation can serve as an effective means to create different colors. Although several solutions for plasmonic color-printing have been proposed, further information encryption has not received any attention. Herein, we exhibit a fine color modulation strategy to construct noble-metal-based micro-nano hybrid structures in the bi-path of photo-thermal deformation and liquid-phase-chemical reaction. Ag/Ta2O5 bi-layer films are ablated at the center of the machined lines of nanosecond pulsed laser, while silver nanoparticles are formed in other regions by thermal radiation of the infrared laser, which can be further dissolved and shape-modulated in KCl solution under different periods. The variation of size and spacing of nano-Ag particles results in a precise shift of plasmonic spectra in visible region. Colored information can be hidden by adjusting the scan number and the energy density during laser processing, and will emerge after the subsequent chemical dissolution reactions. The bi-path color adjustment strategy is easy to operate and can play a role in key information protection and color image switching.
Electrical feedback system for enhancing the RF power of photodetector
Authors: Ye JiHong , Huang YongQing , Wang XueJie , Yang MingXi , Tan ShuHu
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we propose a system for enhancing the RF output power of the photodetector, especially the power of fundamental tune and second-order harmonic, by feeding back part of the RF signal through an electrical feedback circuit. As a result of bias modulation and opto-electric mixing, the RF output power can be effectively enhanced. The structure of uni-traveling carrier photodetector (UTC-PD) is employed in this work. With the RF enhancement system, the power of fundamental tune and second-order harmonic improve by 6.4 dB and 9.9 dB respectively, under the condition of 26 dBm input optical power, 3 V bias voltage, and 14 GHz input optical signal. Further, it was observed that third-order harmonic appeared under the influence of this system.
Complex master-slave enhanced optical coherence microscopy
Authors: Camard Julien , Marques Manuel J. , Canedo-Ribeiro Carla , Silvestri Giuseppe , Ellis Peter , Robinson Gary , Chávez-Badiola Alejandro , Griffin Darren , Bradu Adrian , Podoleanu Adrian
Published: February 2024

We present an instrument designed to facilitate localization and high-resolution, optical coherence microscopy (OCM) imaging of small biological samples immersed in a medium several orders of magnitude greater in volume. A modified turret-equipped microscope stand was inserted into the sample arm of a spectral domain optical coherence microscopy (SD-OCM) system. The instrument enabled swift change of imaging objectives through the incorporation of complex master-slave interferometry (CMSI), providing tolerance to dispersion for any objective through the acquisition of a few (≥2) calibration spectra. We demonstrate the instrument’s ability to localize and image samples by providing examples of its application to optical phantoms and to a porcine oocyte immersed in a biological culture medium.
How important is EMT for cancer metastasis?
Authors: Celià-Terrassa Toni , Kang Yibin
Published: February 2024

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological phenomenon of cellular plasticity initially reported in embryonic development, has been increasingly recognized for its importance in cancer progression and metastasis. Despite tremendous progress being made in the past 2 decades in our understanding of the molecular mechanism and functional importance of EMT in cancer, there are several mysteries around EMT that remain unresolved. In this Unsolved Mystery, we focus on the variety of EMT types in metastasis, cooperative and collective EMT behaviors, spatiotemporal characterization of EMT, and strategies of therapeutically targeting EMT. We also highlight new technical advances that will facilitate the efforts to elucidate the unsolved mysteries of EMT in metastasis.
Reconciling ASPP-p53 binding mode discrepancies through an ensemble binding framework that bridges crystallography and NMR data
Authors: Liu Te , Huang Sichao , Zhang Qian , Xia Yu , Zhang Manjie , Sun Bin
Published: February 2024

ASPP2 and iASPP bind to p53 through their conserved ANK-SH3 domains to respectively promote and inhibit p53-dependent cell apoptosis. While crystallography has indicated that these two proteins employ distinct surfaces of their ANK-SH3 domains to bind to p53, solution NMR data has suggested similar surfaces. In this study, we employed multi-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with free energy calculations to reconcile the discrepancy in the binding modes. We demonstrated that the binding mode based solely on a single crystal structure does not enable iASPP’s RT loop to engage with p53’s C-terminal linker—a verified interaction. Instead, an ensemble of simulated iASPP-p53 complexes facilitates this interaction. We showed that the ensemble-average inter-protein contacting residues and NMR-detected interfacial residues qualitatively overlap on ASPP proteins, and the ensemble-average binding free energies better match experimental KD values compared to single crystallgarphy-determined binding mode. For iASPP, the sampled ensemble complexes can be grouped into two classes, resembling the binding modes determined by crystallography and solution NMR. We thus propose that crystal packing shifts the equilibrium of binding modes towards the crystallography-determined one. Lastly, we showed that the ensemble binding complexes are sensitive to p53’s intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), attesting to experimental observations that these IDRs contribute to biological functions. Our results provide a dynamic and ensemble perspective for scrutinizing these important cancer-related protein-protein interactions (PPIs).
Classification performance bias between training and test sets in a limited mammography dataset
Authors: Hou Rui , Lo Joseph Y. , Marks Jeffrey R. , Hwang E. Shelley , Grimm Lars J.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To assess the performance bias caused by sampling data into training and test sets in a mammography radiomics study.

Methods

Mammograms from 700 women were used to study upstaging of ductal carcinoma in situ. The dataset was repeatedly shuffled and split into training (n = 400) and test cases (n = 300) forty times. For each split, cross-validation was used for training, followed by an assessment of the test set. Logistic regression with regularization and support vector machine were used as the machine learning classifiers. For each split and classifier type, multiple models were created based on radiomics and/or clinical features.

Results

Area under the curve (AUC) performances varied considerably across the different data splits (e.g., radiomics regression model: train 0.58–0.70, test 0.59–0.73). Performances for regression models showed a tradeoff where better training led to worse testing and vice versa. Cross-validation over all cases reduced this variability, but required samples of 500+ cases to yield representative estimates of performance.

Conclusions

In medical imaging, clinical datasets are often limited to relatively small size. Models built from different training sets may not be representative of the whole dataset. Depending on the selected data split and model, performance bias could lead to inappropriate conclusions that might influence the clinical significance of the findings.

Advances in knowledge

Performance bias can result from model testing when using limited datasets. Optimal strategies for test set selection should be developed to ensure study conclusions are appropriate.
Board characteristics, institutional ownership, and investment efficiency: Evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Ali Shahid , Farooq Muhammad , Xiaohong Zhou , Hedvicakova Martina , Murtaza Ghulam
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the impact of board governance mechanism on investment efficiency (IE) in PSX-listed firms. The study also examines the role of institutional ownership (IO) in board-IE relationships. In addition, we extend our analysis to re-examine this relationship by splitting the sample into two groups, i.e., the introductory phase of corporate governance (CG) i.e., 2004 to 2013, and revised codes of CG (2014 to 2018) to examine the impact of these separately on IE. The sample data comprises 155 non-financial PSX-listed firms from 2004 to 2018. IE is measured using firms’ growth opportunities. The random effect model is used to test the study’s hypotheses. A robustness test is also performed to validate the study’s findings. The paired-sample t-test results show a significant improvement in IE after revising the CG codes in 2012. According to the regression results, board size has a significant direct, whereas board diversity has a significant inverse effect on IE. Regarding moderating effect, IO was found to moderate the relationship between board independence and IE significantly. Furthermore, it was discovered that following the issuance of revised CG codes-2012, the level of board independence and diversity increased in PSX-listed firms; however, only diversity positively impacted IE, and board independence had no impact on IE from 2014 to 2018. Despite the issuance of revised CG codes-2012, the level of CG among PSX-listed firms is low, which is a source of concern for regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
β-catenin mediates growth defects induced by centrosome loss in a subset of APC mutant colorectal cancer independently of p53
Authors: Bourmoum Mohamed , Radulovich Nikolina , Sharma Amit , Tkach Johnny M. , Tsao Ming-Sound , Pelletier Laurence
Published: February 2024

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The centrosome is the main microtubule-organizing center in animal cells and centrosome amplification is a hallmark of cancer cells. To investigate the importance of centrosomes in colorectal cancer, we induced centrosome loss in normal and cancer human-derived colorectal organoids using centrinone B, a Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) inhibitor. We show that centrosome loss represses human normal colorectal organoid growth in a p53-dependent manner in accordance with previous studies in cell models. However, cancer colorectal organoid lines exhibited different sensitivities to centrosome loss independently of p53. Centrinone-induced cancer organoid growth defect/death positively correlated with a loss of function mutation in the APC gene, suggesting a causal role of the hyperactive WNT pathway. Consistent with this notion, β-catenin inhibition using XAV939 or ICG-001 partially prevented centrinone-induced death and rescued the growth two APC-mutant organoid lines tested. Our study reveals a novel role for canonical WNT signaling in regulating centrosome loss-induced growth defect/death in a subset of APC-mutant colorectal cancer independently of the classical p53 pathway.
Phylogenetic characterisation of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Lithuania
Authors: Sidorenko Marina , Radzijevskaja Jana , Mickevičius Saulius , Bratchikov Maksim , Mardosaitė-Busaitienė Dalytė , Sakalauskas Povilas , Paulauskas Algimantas
Published: February 2024

The Baltic states are the region in Europe where tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is most endemic. The highest notification rate of TBE cases is reported in Lithuania, where the incidence of TBE has significantly increased since 1992. A recent study reported 0.4% prevalence of TBE virus (TBEV) in the two most common tick species distributed in Lithuania, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, with the existence of endemic foci confirmed in seven out of Lithuania’s ten counties. However, until now, no comprehensive data on molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis have been available for the circulating TBEV strains. The aim of this study was to analyse TBEV strains derived from I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks collected from Lithuania and provide a genotypic characterisation of viruses based on sequence analysis of partial E protein and NS3 genes. The 54 nucleotide sequences obtained were compared with 81 TBEV strains selected from the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial E and NS3 gene sequences derived from 34 Lithuanian TBEV isolates revealed that these were specific to Lithuania, and all belonged to the European subtype, with a maximum identity to the Neudoerfl reference strain (GenBank accession no. U27495) of 98.7% and 97.4%, respectively. The TBEV strains showed significant regional genetic diversity. The detected TBEV genotypes were not specific to the tick species. However, genetic differences were observed between strains from different locations, while strains from the same location showed a high similarity.
Sex- and region-specific cortical and hippocampal whole genome transcriptome profiles from control and APP/PS1 Alzheimer’s disease mice
Authors: Papazoglou Anna , Henseler Christina , Weickhardt Sandra , Teipelke Jenni , Papazoglou Panagiota , Daubner Johanna , Schiffer Teresa , Krings Damian , Broich Karl , Hescheler Jürgen , Sachinidis Agapios , Ehninger Dan , Scholl Catharina , Haenisch Britta , Weiergräber Marco
Published: February 2024

A variety of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse models has been established and characterized within the last decades. To get an integrative view of the sophisticated etiopathogenesis of AD, whole genome transcriptome studies turned out to be indispensable. Here we carried out microarray data collection based on RNA extracted from the retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus of age-matched, eight months old male and female APP/PS1 AD mice and control animals to perform sex- and brain region specific analysis of transcriptome profiles. The results of our studies reveal novel, detailed insight into differentially expressed signature genes and related fold changes in the individual APP/PS1 subgroups. Gene ontology and Venn analysis unmasked that intersectional, upregulated genes were predominantly involved in, e.g., activation of microglial, astrocytic and neutrophilic cells, innate immune response/immune effector response, neuroinflammation, phagosome/proteasome activation, and synaptic transmission. The number of (intersectional) downregulated genes was substantially less in the different subgroups and related GO categories included, e.g., the synaptic vesicle docking/fusion machinery, synaptic transmission, rRNA processing, ubiquitination, proteasome degradation, histone modification and cellular senescence. Importantly, this is the first study to systematically unravel sex- and brain region-specific transcriptome fingerprints/signature genes in APP/PS1 mice. The latter will be of central relevance in future preclinical and clinical AD related studies, biomarker characterization and personalized medicinal approaches.
Does increasing biodiversity in an urban woodland setting promote positive emotional responses in humans? A stress recovery experiment using 360-degree videos of an urban woodland
Authors: Farris Simone , Dempsey Nicola , McEwan Kirsten , Hoyle Helen , Cameron Ross
Published: February 2024

Green spaces can support human stress reduction and foster positive emotional well-being. Previous research has suggested that biodiversity (i.e. the variety of species of plants and animals in a given location) can enhance recovery from stress even further. However, there is limited experimental evidence testing this hypothesis and results, to date, have been mixed. This study aimed to provide further understanding of the role of biodiversity (actual or perceived) on human well-being by experimentally manipulating species richness and stress. Participants (372 in total) took part in an online experiment, where they received an episode of mild stress before watching a 360-degree video to recover. The video showed the same location, an urban woodland, but at one of four artificially manipulated levels of biodiversity. The participants reported their Positive and Negative Affect before and after the stress induction and after watching the video, providing a measure of their stress and well-being throughout the experiment. Participants also reported their perceptions of biodiversity (i.e. how diverse they thought the location was) and elaborated on their responses with brief comments. Repeated Measure Analysis of Variance revealed that exposure to all levels of biodiversity reduced the participants’ Negative Affect, but with no significant difference between the conditions. However, the analysis showed higher Positive Affect in those participants who perceived the environment as more biodiverse. Comments from participants indicated that those who reported noticing flowers and trees in the environment also showed higher Positive Affect. This suggests that perceiving biodiversity promotes more positive emotions, but critically one needs to actually notice (engage with) the components of biodiversity to elicit these extra benefits.
Positive and negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey study of the UK population
Authors: Li Lan , Sullivan Ava , Musah Anwar , Stavrianaki Katerina , Wood Caroline E. , Baker Philip , Kostkova Patty
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on society; it changed the way we work, learn, socialise, and move throughout the world. In the United Kingdom, policies such as business closures, travel restrictions, and social distance mandates were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 and implemented and relaxed intermittently throughout the response period. While negative emotions and feelings such as distress and anxiety during this time of crisis were to be expected, we also see the signs of human resilience, including positive feelings like determination, pride, and strength. A longitudinal study using online survey tools was conducted to assess people’s changing moods during the pandemic in the UK. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was used to measure self-reported feelings and emotions throughout six periods (phases) of the study from March 2020 to July 2021. A total of 4,222 respondents participated in the survey, while a sub-group participated in each of the six study phases (n = 167). The results were analysed using a cross-sectional study design for the full group across each study phase, while prospective cohort analysis was used to assess the subset of participants who voluntarily answered the survey in each of the six study phases (n = 167). Gender, age and employment status were found to be most significant to PANAS score, with older people, retirees, and women generally reporting more positive moods, while young people and unemployed people generally reported lower positive scores and higher negative scores, indicating more negative emotions. Additionally, it was found that people generally reported higher positive feelings in the summer of 2021, which may be related to the relaxation of COVID-19-related policies in the UK as well as the introduction of vaccines for the general population. This study is an important investigation into what allows for positivity during a crisis and gives insights into periods or groups that may be vulnerable to increased negative states of emotions and feelings.
The impact of cage dividers on mouse aggression, dominance and hormone levels
Authors: Streiff Christina , Herrera Adrian , Voelkl Bernhard , Palme Rupert , Würbel Hanno , Novak Janja
Published: February 2024

Home cage aggression in group-housed male mice is a major welfare concern and may compromise animal research. Conventional cages prevent flight or retreat from sight, increasing the risk that agonistic encounters will result in injury. Moreover, depending on social rank, mice vary in their phenotype, and these effects seem highly variable and dependent on the social context. Interventions that reduce aggression, therefore, may reduce not only injuries and stress, but also variability between cage mates. Here we housed male mice (Balb/c and SWISS, group sizes of three and five) with or without partial cage dividers for two months. Mice were inspected for wounding weekly and home cages were recorded during housing and after 6h isolation housing, to assess aggression and assign individual social ranks. Fecal boli and fur were collected to quantify steroid levels. We found no evidence that the provision of cage dividers improves the welfare of group housed male mice; The prevalence of injuries and steroid levels was similar between the two housing conditions and aggression was reduced only in Balb/c strain. However, mice housed with cage dividers developed less despotic hierarchies and had more stable social ranks. We also found a relationship between hormone levels and social rank depending on housing type. Therefore, addition of cage dividers may play a role in stabilizing social ranks and modulating the activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes, thus reducing phenotypic variability between mice of different ranks.
Comparing online versus laboratory measures of speech perception in older children and adolescents
Authors: McAllister Tara , Preston Jonathan L. , Ochs Laura , Hill Jennifer , Hitchcock Elaine R.
Published: February 2024

Given the increasing prevalence of online data collection, it is important to know how behavioral data obtained online compare to samples collected in the laboratory. This study compares online and in-person measurement of speech perception in older children and adolescents. Speech perception is important for assessment and treatment planning in speech-language pathology; we focus on the American English /ɹ/ sound because of its frequency as a clinical target. Two speech perception tasks were adapted for web presentation using Gorilla: identification of items along a synthetic continuum fromraketowake, and category goodness judgment of English /ɹ/ sounds in words produced by various talkers with and without speech sound disorder. Fifty typical children aged 9–15 completed these tasks online using a standard headset. These data were compared to a previous sample of 98 typical children aged 9–15 who completed the same tasks in the lab setting. For the identification task, participants exhibited smaller boundary widths (suggestive of more acute perception) in the in-person setting relative to the online setting. For the category goodness judgment task, there was no statistically significant effect of modality. The correlation between scores on the two tasks was significant in the online setting but not in the in-person setting, but the difference in correlation strength was not statistically significant. Overall, our findings agree with previous research in suggesting that online and in-person data collection do not yield identical results, but the two contexts tend to support the same broad conclusions. In addition, these results suggest that online data collection can make it easier for researchers connect with a more representative sample of participants.
Detecting potential cooperative network for tourist attractions in a destination using search data
Authors: Ma Xuankai , Han Fang , Wang Tian , Fan Simin , Ma Lin
Published: February 2024

This study addresses the critical need for regional tourism integration and sustainable development by identifying cooperation opportunities among tourist attractions within a region. We introduce a novel methodology that combines association rule mining with complex network analysis and utilizes search index data as a dynamic and contemporary data source to reveal cooperative patterns among tourist attractions. Our approach delineates a potential cooperative network within the destination ecosystem, categorizing tourist attractions into three distinct communities: core, intermediary, and periphery. These communities correspond to high, medium, and low tourist demand scales, respectively. The study uncovers a self-organizing network structure, driven by congruences in internal tourist demand and variances in external tourist experiences. Functionally, there is a directed continuum of cooperation prospects among these communities. The core community, characterized by significant tourist demand, acts as a catalyst, boosting demand for other attractions. The intermediary community, central in the network, links the core and periphery, enhancing cooperative ties and influence. Peripheral attractions, representing latent growth areas within the destination matrix, benefit from associations with the core and intermediary communities. Our findings provide vital insights into the dynamics, systemic characteristics, and fundamental mechanisms of potential cooperation networks among tourist attractions. They enable tourism management organizations to employ our analytical framework for real-time monitoring of tourism demand and flow trends. Additionally, the study guides the macro-control of tourism flows based on the tourism network, thereby improving the tourist experience and promoting coordinated development among inter-regional tourist attractions.