bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discipline Made Visible: Abram Room’s The Ghost That Never Returns and the Fantastic Origins of Foucault’s Panopticon
Authors: Nesbet Anne
Published: January 2023

In 1967 Abram Room's film, The Ghost That Never Returns (1929), traveled to the Cinémathèque de Toulouse (France) and was conspicuously featured in the following year at a major festival held in Perpignan. This essay suggests that Room's film may have been part of what set the scene for the emergence of the “Panopticon”–Jeremy Bentham's eighteenth‐century design for a prison structure that would maximize visibility–in Michel Foucault's 1975 Surveiller et punir. The film's French reception (with reviews appearing in Les Lettres françaises and in Midi‐Minuit Fantastique between 1968 and 1970) emphasized its status as an example of the boundary‐blurring genre of the “fantastic.” It is this article's suggestion that Abram Room's prison film and the accompanying French debate about the nature of the fantastic are important facets underlying the Panopticon's shift from relative obscurity into visibility (or even obviousness) in Michel Foucault's writings of the 1970s.
Evaluation of the ratio of different major and trace elements in the lens of dogs with cataract
Authors: Jezler Patrícia Christiane O. C. , Magalhães Henrique I. R. , Silva Mônica D. , Ribeiro Lucas A. , Miglino Maria Angelica , Pereira Andrea A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Understanding the elements that support cataract development and searching for available therapeutic methods is essential for scientific and social interest. For that purpose, the role of trace elements has been investigated in this study to better understand the development of cataracts in dogs.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ratio of the major and trace elements by X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry in dog cataract lenses to contribute to diagnostic, non‐surgical, and ophthalmological preventive data.

Methods

A single lens with a cataract from each of a total of 88 dogs (cataract group) and a healthy lens from each of 6 dogs (control group) were evaluated. The elements calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and potassium (K) were analyzed by energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray microfluorescence.

Results

The results indicated an increase of Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn, in association with the reabsorption mechanism of hypermature cataracts.

Conclusions

The ratio of elements Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn was different in cataract lenses than in healthy lenses, and our results may support the development of therapeutic strategies for cataracts in dogs. The Ca concentrations were distinct in the cataract development stages, and the Fe concentration was relatively higher in males when compared to females. Finally, this research stands out with a particular contribution to the understanding of both cataract formation and prevention.
Microstructure-Based Failure Mechanisms Encountered During Fracture Cutting of Age-Varying Bovine Cortical Bone
Authors: Conward Michael , Samuel Johnson
Published: January 2023

This article aims to investigate the characteristic microstructure-based failure mechanisms observed during the fracture cutting of age-varying bovine cortical bone. To this end, orthogonal cutting experiments are performed on cortical femoral bones harvested from three distinct bovine age groups, viz., young (∼1 month), mature (16–18 months), and old (∼30 months). Fracture cutting is induced at a depth of cut of 70 μm and a cutting velocity of 800 mm/min by using two distinct tool rake angles of +20 deg and 0 deg. The nanoindentation studies and porosity analysis show key differences between microstructural constituents, as a function of age. The high-speed camera images taken during the fracture cutting process provide insight into six dominant microstructure-specific failure mechanisms. These include primary osteonal fracture, woven fracture, and lamellar fracture observed in the plexiform region; and cement line fracture (i.e., osteon debonding), secondary osteonal fracture, and interstitial matrix fracture observed in the haversian regions. In addition to the conventionally reported specific cutting energy metric, a new metric of resultant cutting force per unit crack area and surface integrity are employed here. All cutting responses are seen to be sensitive to age-related microstructural variations and the tool rake angle. In addition to requiring more cutting force, the neutral tool rake angle also results in notable subsurface damage.
A Kirigami-Inspired Metamorphic Double-Loop Linkage With Multiple Single-Degree-of-Freedom Reconfiguration Branches
Authors: Wang Chunlong , Guo Hongwei , Liu Rongqiang , Deng Zongquan
Published: January 2023

Reconfigurable mechanisms attract increasing attention for the characteristic to change structure configurations and motion behaviors in various multifunctional systems. By drawing inspiration from a kirigami fold, this paper presents a metamorphic double-loop linkage with multiple single-degree-of-freedom (DOF) reconfiguration branches, which is generated through combining two reconfigurable 6R plane-symmetric linkages. Mobility analysis of the metamorphic linkage is carried out in terms of the screw-loop theory equation, as well as the induced reconfiguration position identification. Then, this paper presents the specific reconfiguration conditions for the two single-loop components in this linkage, and a physical prototype fabricated by 3D printing verifies the ability of configuration reconstruction. Sixteen types of evolved motion branches are constructed by implementing different reconfiguration constraints, respectively, and corresponding kinematic paths are described by employing the specific angle between axes of joints. Furthermore, these evolved motion branches of this metamorphic linkage provide novel examples of mobile assemblies among several fundamental single-loop linkages.
Comparative Efficacy of Humidifiers for Noninvasive Infant Respiratory Support
Authors: John Stephen C. , Hokanson Casey D. , Slusher Tina M. , Bjorklund Ashley R.
Published: January 2023

Delivery of cold, dry air to infants while supporting their breathing can lead to hypothermia in addition to irritating and damaging their sensitive nares and negatively impacting outcomes with these therapies. In high resource settings, electric heated humidifiers are used to mitigate this problem. In many resource-constrained settings, passive nonelectric bubbling humidifiers are instead used. We here compare the efficacy of conventional electric heated humidification, custom-built low cost heated humidification, passive nonelectric bubbling humidification and a control of no humidification. In a hospital patient room (temperature 22 °C, humidity 50%), the temperature and humidity delivered to a simulated patient lung via a BC161-10 Fisher Paykel bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system were measured with conventional electric heated humidification, low cost custom-built heated humidification, passive bubbling humidification and no humidification. (Delivered CPAP: 5 cm H2O; flowrate varied from 4 to 8 liters per minute (LPM) in 2 LPM increments.) As the flowrate was varied from 4 to 8 LPM, delivered relative humidity (standard deviation) with each humidifier was as follows: control 10% (3.6%), passive bubbler 44% (3.7%), custom-built humidifier 67% (1.7%), electric heated humidifier 91% (0.86%). Delivered temperature with the electric heated humidifier was 38 °C (0.21 °C) versus 33 °C for all other setups. Conventional electric heating humidification is more effective than passive bubbling humidification, and the custom-built low cost humidifier provides an intermediate degree of humidification. Through further improvement of this concept with a heated inspiratory circuit and sensor based control of the heating element, an effective yet low cost solution heating humidification could be developed.
Acoustic properties and shallow water propagation distances of Caribbean spiny lobster sounds (Panulirus argus)
Authors: Jézéquel Youenn , Aoki Nadège , Mooney T. Aran
Published: January 2023

Marine crustaceans produce broadband sounds that are useful for passive acoustic monitoring to support conservation and management efforts. However, the propagation characteristics and detection ranges of their signals are poorly known, limiting our leveraging of these sounds. Here, we used a four-hydrophone linear array to measure source levels (SLs) and sound propagation from Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) of a wide range of sizes within a natural, shallow water habitat (3.3 m depth). Source level in peak-peak (SLpp) varied with body size; larger individuals produced SLpp up to 166 dB re 1 μPa. However, transmission losses (TL) were similar across all sizes, with a global fitted TL of 12.1 dB. Correspondingly, calculated detection ranges varied with body size, ranging between 14 and 364 m for small and large individuals (respectively). This increased up to 1612 m for large spiny lobsters when considering lower ambient noise levels. Despite the potential ease of tank studies, our results highlight the importance of empirical in situ sound propagation studies for marine crustaceans. Given the important ecological and economic role of spiny lobsters, these data are a key step to supporting remote monitoring of this species for fisheries management and efforts to acoustically quantify coral reefs' health.
Nonintrusive wind blade fault detection using a deep learning approach by exploring acoustic information
Authors: Liu Hongqing , Zhu Wenbin , Zhou Yi , Shi Liming , Gan Lu
Published: January 2023

Various physical characteristics, including ultrasonic waves, active acoustic emissions, vibrations, and thermal imaging, have been used for blade fault detection. In this work, we propose using the sound produced by spinning wind blades to identify faults. To the best of our knowledge, passive acoustic information has not yet been explored for this task. In particular, we develop three networks targeting different scenarios. The main contributions of this work are threefold. First, when normal and aberrant data are available for supervised learning, an attention-convolutional recurrent neural network is designed to show the feasibility of using passive sound information to conduct fault detection. Second, in the absence of abnormal training data, we build a normal-encoder network to learn the distributions of normal data through semisupervised learning, which avoids the requirement of abnormal training data. Third, when multiple devices are used to collect the data, due to different properties of devices, there is a domain mismatch issue. To overcome this, we create an adversarial domain adaptive network to close the gap between the source and target domains. Acoustic signal datasets of actual wind turbine operations are collected to evaluate our fault detection systems. The findings demonstrate that the proposed systems offer high classification accuracy and indicate the feasibility of passive acoustic signal-based wind turbine blade fault detection with one step close to automatic detection.
Pharmacodynamics of Temocillin in Neutropenic Murine Infection Models
Authors: Muller Anouk E. , Raaphorst Merel , van der Meijden Aart , de Winter Brenda C. M. , Meletiadis Joseph , van den Berg Sanne
Published: January 2023

Temocillin is used for the treatment of various infections caused by
Enterobacterales
. The pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) index that is best correlated with the activity of beta-lactams is the percentage of time that the unbound concentration exceeds the MIC (%
f
T>MIC).
Butyrate Differentiates Permissiveness to Clostridioides difficile Infection and Influences Growth of Diverse C. difficile Isolates
Authors: Pensinger Daniel A. , Fisher Andrea T. , Dobrila Horia A. , Van Treuren William , Gardner Jackson O. , Higginbottom Steven K. , Carter Matthew M. , Schumann Benjamin , Bertozzi Carolyn R. , Anikst Victoria , Martin Cody , Robilotti Elizabeth V. , Chow Jo May , Buck Rachael H. , Tompkins Lucy S. , Sonnenburg Justin L. , Hryckowian Andrew J.
Published: January 2023

Clostridioides difficile
is a leading cause of infectious diarrhea in humans, and it imposes a tremendous burden on the health care system. Current treatments for
C. difficile
infection (CDI) include antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplant, which contribute to recurrent CDIs and face major regulatory hurdles, respectively.
Methyl-Based Methanogenesis: an Ecological and Genomic Review
Authors: Bueno de Mesquita Clifton P. , Wu Dongying , Tringe Susannah G.
Published: January 2023

Methyl-based methanogenesis is one of three broad categories of archaeal anaerobic methanogenesis, including both the methyl dismutation (methylotrophic) pathway and the methyl-reducing (also known as hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic) pathway. Methyl-based methanogenesis is increasingly recognized as an important source of methane in a variety of environments.
Cerebral regional tissue Oxygen Saturation to Guide Oxygen Delivery in preterm neonates during immediate transition after birth (COSGOD III): multicentre randomised phase 3 clinical trial
Authors: Pichler Gerhard , Goeral Katharina , Hammerl Marlene , Perme Tina , Dempsey Eugene M , Springer Laila , Lista Gianluca , Szczapa Tomasz , Fuchs Hans , Karpinski Lukasz , Bua Jenny , Avian Alexander , Law Brenda , Urlesberger Berndt , Buchmayer Julia , Kiechl-Kohlendorfer Ursula , Kornhauser-Cerar Lilijana , Schwarz Christoph E , Gründler Kerstin , Stucchi Ilaria , Schwaberger Bernhard , Klebermass-Schrehof Katrin , Schmölzer Georg M
Published: January 2023

Objective

To investigate whether monitoring of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation using near infrared spectroscopy in addition to routine monitoring combined with defined treatment guidelines during immediate transition and resuscitation increases survival without cerebral injury of premature infants compared with standard care alone.

Design

Multicentre, multinational, randomised controlled phase 3 trial.

Setting

11 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in six countries in Europe and in Canada.

Participants

1121 pregnant women (<32 weeks’ gestation) were screened prenatally. The primary outcome was analysed in 607 of 655 randomised preterm neonates: 304 neonates in the near infrared spectroscopy group and 303 in the control group.

Intervention

Preterm neonates were randomly assigned to either standard care (control group) or standard care plus monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation with a dedicated treatment guideline (near infrared spectroscopy group) during immediate transition (first 15 minutes after birth) and resuscitation.

Main outcome measure

The primary outcome, assessed using all cause mortality and serial cerebral ultrasonography, was a composite of survival without cerebral injury. Cerebral injury was defined as any intraventricular haemorrhage or cystic periventricular leukomalacia, or both, at term equivalent age or before discharge.

Results

Cerebral tissue oxygen saturation was similar in both groups. 252 (82.9%) out of 304 neonates (median gestational age 28.9 (interquartile range 26.9-30.6) weeks) in the near infrared spectroscopy group survived without cerebral injury compared with 238 (78.5%) out of 303 neonates (28.6 (26.6-30.6) weeks) in the control group (relative risk 1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 1.14). 28 neonates died (near infrared spectroscopy group 12 (4.0%)
v
control group 16 (5.3%): relative risk 0.75 (0.33 to 1.70).

Conclusion

Monitoring of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation in combination with dedicated interventions in preterm neonates (<32 weeks’ gestation) during immediate transition and resuscitation after birth did not result in substantially higher survival without cerebral injury compared with standard care alone. Survival without cerebral injury increased by 4.3% but was not statistically significant.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT03166722
.
Using Risk of Bias 2 to assess results from randomised controlled trials: guidance from Cochrane
Authors: Flemyng Ella , Moore Theresa Helen , Boutron Isabelle , Higgins Julian PT , Hróbjartsson Asbjørn , Nejstgaard Camilla Hansen , Dwan Kerry
Published: January 2023

A systematic review identifies, appraises and synthesises all the empirical evidence from studies that meet prespecified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. As part of the appraisal, researchers use explicit methods to assess risk of bias in the results’ from included studies that contribute to the review’s findings, to improve our confidence in the review’s conclusions. Randomised controlled trials included in Cochrane Reviews have used a specific risk of bias tool to assess these included studies since 2008. In 2019, a new version of this tool, Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2), was launched to improve its usability and to reflect current understanding of how the causes of bias can influence study results. Cochrane implemented RoB 2 in a phased approach, with users of the tool informing guidance development. This paper highlights learning for all systematic reviewers (Cochrane and non-Cochrane) from the phased implementation, highlighting differences between the original version of the tool and RoB 2, consideration of reporting systematic review protocols or full review reports that have used RoB 2, and some tips shared by authors during the pilot phase of the implementation.
Can prognostic factors for indirect muscle injuries in elite football (soccer) players be identified using data from preseason screening? An exploratory analysis using routinely collected periodic health examination records
Authors: Hughes Tom , Riley Richard , Callaghan Michael J , Sergeant Jamie C
Published: January 2023

Background

In elite football, periodic health examination (PHE) may be useful for injury risk prediction.

Objective

To explore whether PHE-derived variables are prognostic factors for indirect muscle injuries (IMIs) in elite players.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

An English Premier League football club.

Participants

134 outfield elite male players, over 5 seasons (1 July 2013–19 May 2018).

Outcome and analysis

The outcome was any time-loss, lower extremity index IMI (I-IMI). Prognostic associations were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding statistical significance for 36 variables, derived from univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Non-linear associations were explored using fractional polynomials.

Results

During 317 participant-seasons, 138 I-IMIs were recorded. Univariable associations were determined for previous calf IMI frequency (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.97), hamstring IMI frequency (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.09), if the most recent hamstring IMI occurred >12 months but <3 years prior to PHE (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.51 to 5.73) and age (OR 1.12 per 1-year increase, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.18). Multivariable analyses showed that if a player’s most recent previous hamstring IMI was >12 months but <3 years prior to PHE (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.53), this was the only variable with added prognostic value over and above age, which was a confirmed prognostic factor (OR 1.12 per 1-year increase, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.18). Allowing non-linear associations conferred no advantage over linear associations.

Conclusion

PHE has limited use for injury risk prediction. Most variables did not add prognostic value over and above age, other than if a player experienced a hamstring IMI >12 months but <3 years prior to PHE. However, the precision of this prognostic association should be confirmed in future.

Trial registration number

NCT03782389.
International consensus recommendations for the optimal prioritisation and distribution of surgical services in low-income and middle-income countries: a modified Delphi process
Authors: Henry Jaymie A , Reyes Ana M , Ameh Emmanuel , Yip Cheng-Har , Nthumba Peter , Mehes Mira , Lelchuk Ashley , Hollier Larry , Waqainabete Ifereimi , Abdullah Noor Hisham , Alliance The , Hill Andrew , Ferguson Mark K
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To develop consensus statements regarding the regional-level or district-level distribution of surgical services in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and prioritisation of service scale-up.

Design

This work was conducted using a modified Delphi consensus process. Initial statements were developed by the International Standards and Guidelines for Quality Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Working Group of the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anesthesia Care (G4 Alliance) and the International Society of Surgery based on previously published literature and clinical expertise. The Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies framework was applied.

Setting

The Working Group convened in Suva, Fiji for a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to develop the initial statements. Local experts were invited to participate. The modified Delphi process was conducted through an electronically administered anonymised survey.

Participants

Expert LMIC surgeons were nominated for participation in the modified Delphi process based on criteria developed by the Working Group.

Primary outcome measures

The consensus panel voted on statements regarding the organisation of surgical services, principles for scale-up and prioritisation of scale-up. Statements reached consensus if there was ≥80% agreement among participants.

Results

Fifty-three nominated experts from 27 LMICs voted on 27 statements in two rounds. Ultimately, 26 statements reached consensus and comprise the current recommendations. The statements covered three major themes: which surgical services should be decentralised or regionalised; how the implementation of these services should be prioritised; and principles to guide LMIC governments and international visiting teams in scaling up safe, accessible and affordable surgical care.

Conclusions

These recommendations represent the first step towards the development of international guidelines for the scaling up of surgical services in LMICs. They constitute the best available basis for policymaking, planning and allocation of resources for strengthening surgical systems.
Computer-assisted analysis of routine electroencephalogram to identify hidden biomarkers of epilepsy: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Lemoine Émile , Neves Briard Joel , Rioux Bastien , Podbielski Renata , Nauche Bénédicte , Toffa Denahin , Keezer Mark , Lesage Frédéric , Nguyen Dang K , Bou Assi Elie
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The diagnosis of epilepsy frequently relies on the visual interpretation of the electroencephalogram (EEG) by a neurologist. The hallmark of epilepsy on EEG is the interictal epileptiform discharge (IED). This marker lacks sensitivity: it is only captured in a small percentage of 30 min routine EEGs in patients with epilepsy. In the past three decades, there has been growing interest in the use of computational methods to analyse the EEG without relying on the detection of IEDs, but none have made it to the clinical practice. We aim to review the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative methods applied to ambulatory EEG analysis to guide the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

Methods and analysis

The protocol complies with the recommendations for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy by Cochrane. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM reviews, IEEE Explore along with grey literature for articles, conference papers and conference abstracts published after 1961. We will include observational studies that present a computational method to analyse the EEG for the diagnosis of epilepsy in adults or children without relying on the identification of IEDs or seizures. The reference standard is the diagnosis of epilepsy by a physician. We will report the estimated pooled sensitivity and specificity, and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) for each marker. If possible, we will perform a meta-analysis of the sensitivity and specificity and ROC AUC for each individual marker. We will assess the risk of bias using an adapted QUADAS-2 tool. We will also describe the algorithms used for signal processing, feature extraction and predictive modelling, and comment on the reproducibility of the different studies.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at conferences related to this field.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022292261.
‘The way that we are collecting and using data has evolved’ evaluating the Australian National Stroke Audit programme to inform strategic direction
Authors: Lynch Elizabeth , Laver Kate , Levy Tamina , Schultz Timothy
Published: January 2023

Background

The National Stroke Audit has been used to audit and provide feedback to health professionals and stroke care services in Australia since 2007. The Australian Stroke Clinical Registry was piloted in 2009 and numbers of hospitals participating in the registry are increasing. Considering the changing data landscape in Australia, we designed this study to evaluate the stroke audit and to inform strategic direction.

Methods

We conducted a rapid review of published literature to map features of successful data programmes, followed by a mixed-methods study, comprising national surveys and interviews with clinicians and administrators about the stroke audit. We analysed quantitative data descriptively and analysed open-ended survey responses and interview data using qualitative content analysis. We integrated data from the two sources.

Results

We identified 47 Australian data programs, successful programs were usually funded by government sources or professional associations and typically provided twice yearly or yearly reports.

106 survey participants, 14 clinician and 5 health administrator interview participants were included in the evaluation. The Stroke Audit was consistently perceived as useful for benchmarking, but there were mixed views about its value for local quality improvement. Time to enter data was the most frequently reported barrier to participation (88% of survey participants), due to the large number of datapoints and features of the audit software.

Opportunities to improve the Stroke Audit included refining Audit questions, developing ways to automatically export data from electronic medical records and capturing accurate data for patients who transferred between hospitals.

Conclusion

While the Stroke Audit was not perceived by all users to be beneficial for traditional quality improvement purposes, the ability to benchmark national stroke services and use these data in advocacy activities was a consistently reported benefit. Modifications were suggested to improve usability and usefulness for participating sites.
Futile reperfusion of endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion in the ANGEL-ACT registry
Authors: Yang XinGuang , Sun Dapeng , Huo Xiaochuan , Raynald Raynald , Jia BaiXue , Tong Xu , Wang Anxin , Ma Ning , Gao Feng , Mo Dapeng , Miao Zhongrong
Published: January 2023

Background

Some patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) still cannot achieve functional independence despite successful reperfusion after endovascular treatment (EVT), named futile reperfusion. We aimed to explore the incidence and predictors of futile reperfusion of EVT for anterior circulation LVO in the Chinese population based on a nationwide prospective multicenter registry.

Methods

We selected patients from the ANGEL-ACT (Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Workflow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke) registry. Successful reperfusion was defined as modified Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) 2b-3 after EVT, and functional independence was defined as 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2. A multivariable regression model was performed to identify the independent predictors of futile reperfusion in anterior circulation LVO patients.

Results

A total of 1158 anterior circulation LVO patients were included in our study. 600 of the 1158 patients (51.8%) suffered futile reperfusion. Age ≥69 (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.69, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.35, P=0.002), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥14 (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.27, P<0.001), baseline serum glucose ≥6.5 mmol/L (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.36, P=0.001), drip and ship (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.18, P=0.011), and general anesthesia (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.66 to 3.14, P<0.001) were associated with a high risk of futile reperfusion in the anterior LVO patients after EVT, whereas baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) ≥8 (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.91, P=0.011) and complete reperfusion (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.89, P=0.010) were associated with a low risk of futile reperfusion in the anterior LVO patients after EVT.

Conclusions

In the ANGEL-ACT registry, 51.8% of anterior circulation LVO patients suffered futile reperfusion after EVT. Age ≥69 years, baseline NIHSS ≥14, baseline serum glucose ≥6.5 mmol/L, drip and ship, general anesthesia, baseline ASPECTS <8, and incomplete reperfusion were the independent predictors of futile reperfusion.
Effectiveness of early cycles of fast-acting treatment in generalised myasthenia gravis
Authors: Uzawa Akiyuki , Suzuki Shigeaki , Kuwabara Satoshi , Akamine Hiroyuki , Onishi Yosuke , Yasuda Manato , Ozawa Yukiko , Kawaguchi Naoki , Kubota Tomoya , Takahashi Masanori P , Suzuki Yasushi , Watanabe Genya , Kimura Takashi , Sugimoto Takamichi , Samukawa Makoto , Minami Naoya , Masuda Masayuki , Konno Shingo , Nagane Yuriko , Utsugisawa Kimiaki
Published: January 2023

Background

Early fast-acting treatment (EFT) is the aggressive use of fast-acting therapies such as plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin and/or intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone (IVMP) from the early phases of treatment. EFT is reportedly beneficial for early achievement of minimal manifestations (MM) or better status with ≤5 mg/day prednisolone (MM5mg), a practical therapeutic target for myasthenia gravis (MG).

Objective

The current study aimed to clarify which specific EFT regimen is efficacious and the patient characteristics that confer sensitivity to EFT.

Methods

We recruited a total of 1710 consecutive patients with MG who enrolled in the Japan MG Registry for this large-cohort study. Among them, 1066 with generalised MG who had received immunotherapy were analysed. Prognostic background factors were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching analysis between patients treated with EFT (n=350) and those treated without EFT (n=350). The clinical course and time to first achieve MM5mg after starting immunotherapy was analysed in relation to treatment combinations and patient characteristics.

Results

Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that EFT had a significant effect on the achievement of MM5mg (p<0.0001, log-rank test; HR 1.82, p<0.0001). Notably, EFT was efficacious for any type of MG, and the inclusion of IVMP resulted in earlier and more frequent achievement of MM5mg (p=0.0352, log-rank test; HR 1.46, p=0.0380). In addition, early administration of calcineurin inhibitors also promoted MM5mg achievement.

Conclusion

Early cycles of intervention with EFT and early use of calcineurin inhibitors provides long-term benefits in terms of achieving therapeutic targets for generalised MG, regardless of clinical subtype.
Ocrelizumab concentration and antidrug antibodies are associated with B-cell count in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Toorop Alyssa A , Hogenboom Laura , Bloem Karien , Kocyigit Merve , Commandeur Nadine W M , Wijnants Anne , Lissenberg-Witte Birgit I , Strijbis Eva M M , Uitdehaag Bernard M J , Rispens Theo , Killestein Joep , van Kempen Zoé L E
Published: January 2023

Background

The majority of patients with multiple sclerosis on ocrelizumab have B-cell depletion after standard interval dosing of 26 weeks. With B-cell-guided dosing patients receive their next dose when B-cell repopulation occurs. Prediction of B-cell repopulation using ocrelizumab concentrations could aid in personalising treatment regimes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between ocrelizumab drug concentration, antidrug antibodies (ADAs) and CD19 B-cell count, and to define a cut-off ocrelizumab concentration for start of B-cell repopulation (defined by ≥10 CD19+ B cells/µL).

Methods

In this investigator-initiated prospective study, blood samples at various time points during ocrelizumab treatment were collected from a biobank. Serum ocrelizumab concentrations and ADAs were measured with two different assays developed for this study. Data were analysed using linear mixed effect models. An receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine a cut-off ocrelizumab concentration for start of B-cell repopulation (defined by ≥10 cells/µL).

Results

A total of 452 blood samples from 72 patients were analysed. Ocrelizumab concentrations were detectable up until 53.3 weeks after last infusion and ranged between <0.0025 and 204 µg/mL after 1–67 weeks. Ocrelizumab concentration was negatively associated with B-cell count, with body mass index identified as effect modifier. We found a cut-off value of 0.06 µg/mL for start of B-cell repopulation of ≥10 cells/µL. Ocrelizumab ADAs were detectable in four patients (5.7%) with corresponding low ocrelizumab concentrations and start of B-cell repopulation.

Conclusions

Serum ocrelizumab concentration was strongly associated with B-cell count. Measurement of ocrelizumab drug concentrations and ADAs could play an important role to further personalise treatment and predict the start of B-cell repopulation.
Distinctive plasticity of maize (Zea mays) root types to variable nitrate concentration
Authors: Jiang Yutong , Hung Chih-Yu , Whalen Joann K.
Published: January 2023

Maize roots vary their growth in response to nitrate ([Formula: see text]) concentration in the environment, but growth plasticity differs among root types. We assessed the morphological response of lateral and axial roots on the primary, seminal, and crown root types exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3.9, and 7.8 mmol L−1 [Formula: see text]. Higher [Formula: see text] concentration did not change the growth of all axial roots and laterals of primary roots but caused positive quadratic growth in laterals of the seminal and crown root types. Maize root plasticity to [Formula: see text] concentrations is the result of differential growth of laterals on seminal and crown root types.
Standard Model predictions for rare K and B decays without new physics infection
Authors: Buras Andrzej J.
Published: January 2023

The Standard Model (SM) does not contain by definition any new physics (NP) contributions to any observable but contains four CKM parameters which are not predicted by this model. We point out that if these four parameters are determined in a global fit which includes processes that are infected by NP and therefore by sources outside the SM, the resulting so-called SM contributions to rare decay branching ratios cannot be considered asgenuineSM contributions to the latter. On the other handgenuineSM predictions, that arefreefrom the CKM dependence, can be obtained for suitable ratios of theKandBrare decay branching ratios to$$\Delta M_s$$ΔMs,$$\Delta M_d$$ΔMdand$$|\varepsilon _K|$$|εK|, all calculated within the SM. These three observables contain by now only small hadronic uncertainties and are already well measured so that rather precise SM predictions for the ratios in question can be obtained. In this context therapid testof NP infection in the$$\Delta F=2$$ΔF=2sector is provided by a$$|V_{cb}|-\gamma $$|Vcb|-γplot that involves$$\Delta M_s$$ΔMs,$$\Delta M_d$$ΔMd,$$|\varepsilon _K|$$|εK|, and the mixing induced CP-asymmetry$$S_{\psi K_S}$$SψKS. As with the present hadronic matrix elements this test turns out to benegative, assuming negligible NP infection in the$$\Delta F=2$$ΔF=2sector and setting the values of these four observables to the experimental ones, allows to obtain SM predictions for allKandBrare decay branching ratios that are most accurate to date and as a byproduct to obtain the full CKM matrix on the basis of$$\Delta F=2$$ΔF=2transitionsalone.Using this strategy we obtain SM predictions for 26 branching ratios for rare semileptonic and leptonicKandBdecays with the$$\mu ^+\mu ^-$$μ+μ-pair or the$$\nu {\bar{\nu }}$$νν¯pair in the final state. Most interesting turn out to be the anomalies in the low$$q^2$$q2bin in$$B^+\rightarrow K^+\mu ^+\mu ^-$$B+→K+μ+μ-($$5.1\sigma $$5.1σ) and$$B_s\rightarrow \phi \mu ^+\mu ^-$$Bs→ϕμ+μ-($$4.8\sigma $$4.8σ).
Tetrandrine Inhibits Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer via SOD1/ROS Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Ting , Li Kangdi , Zhang Zhenxing , Peng Jinghui , Yang Jingzhao , Law Betty Yuen Kwan , Liu Xin , Li Wenhua
Published: January 2023

Targeting the stemness of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a potential therapeutic approach for treating TNBC. Tetrandrine, a natural plant alkaloid, has several anticancer effects. Here, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tetrandrine in cancer stemness and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in TNBC, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The effects of tetrandrine on cell growth, cell viability, cell stemness capacity, cell migration, and cell invasion, as well as the molecules involved in these processes, were investigated in a cell culture system. An in vivo xenograft tumor and lung metastasis study was performed using nude mice to verify the effects and mechanisms of tetrandrine. Tetrandrine exhibited antiproliferative and cell cycle arrest activities in TNBC cell lines, significantly reduced aldehyde dehydrogenase and CD44[Formula: see text]CD24[Formula: see text] characteristic subpopulation, and successfully prevented mammosphere formation. It suppressed migration and invasion, enhanced anoikis, and regulated the expression of proteins involved in the EMT, including E-cadherin, Vimentin, and Occludin, in both TNBC cells and MDA-MB-231 spheroid cells. Further studies revealed that tetrandrine downregulated the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and catalase and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which subsequently contributed to the inhibition of cell EMT and stemness. The in vivo studies also showed that tetrandrine inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of both adherent normal cells, and flow cytometry sorted specific CD44[Formula: see text]CD24[Formula: see text] breast cancer stem cells, which could be rescued by SOD1 overexpression. The results of this study suggest that tetrandrine could effectively inhibit breast cancer stem cell characteristics and the EMT process via the SOD1/ROS signaling pathway. Therefore, tetrandrine can be considered a promising anti-TNBC agent.
A Survey and Analysis of TLS Interception Mechanisms and Motivations: Exploring how end-to-end TLS is made “end-to-me” for web traffic
Authors: de Carné de Carnavalet Xavier , van Oorschot Paul C.
Published: January 2023

TLS is an end-to-end protocol designed to provide confidentiality and integrity guarantees that improve end-user security and privacy. While TLS helps defend against pervasive surveillance of intercepted unencrypted traffic, it also hinders several common beneficial operations typically performed by middleboxes on the network traffic. Consequently, various methods have been proposed that “bypass” the confidentiality goals of TLS by playing with keys and certificates essentially in a man-in-the-middle solution, as well as new proposals that extend the protocol to accommodate third parties, delegation schemes to trusted middleboxes, and fine-grained control and verification mechanisms. We first review the use cases expecting plain HTTP traffic and discuss the extent to which TLS hinders these operations. We retain 19 scenarios where access to unencrypted traffic is still relevant and evaluate the incentives of the stakeholders involved. Second, we survey 30 schemes by which TLS no longer delivers end-to-end security and by which the notion of an “end” changes, including caching middleboxes such as Content Delivery Networks. Finally, we compare each scheme based on deployability and security characteristics and evaluate their compatibility with the stakeholders’ incentives. Our analysis leads to a number of key findings, observations, and research questions that we believe will be of interest to practitioners, policy makers, and researchers.
A Comparative Survey of Instance Selection Methods applied to Non-Neural and Transformer-Based Text Classification
Authors: Cunha Washington , Viegas Felipe , França Celso , Rosa Thierson , Rocha Leonardo , Gonçalves Marcos André
Published: January 2023

Progress in natural language processing has been dictated by the
rule of more
: more data, more computing power, more complexity, best exemplified by deep learning Transformers. However, training (or fine-tuning) large dense models for specific applications usually requires significant amounts of computing resources. One way to ameliorate this problem is through data engineering instead of the algorithmic or hardware perspectives. Our focus here is an under-investigated data engineering technique, with enormous potential in the current scenario –
Instance Selection
(IS) (a.k.a. Selective Sampling, Prototype Selection). The IS goal is to reduce the training set size by removing noisy or redundant instances while maintaining or improving the effectiveness (accuracy) of the trained models and reducing the training process cost. We survey classical and recent state-of-the-art IS techniques and provide a scientifically sound comparison of IS methods applied to an essential natural language processing task—Automatic Text Classification (ATC). IS methods have been normally applied to small tabular datasets and have not been systematically compared in ATC. We consider several neural and non-neural state-of-the-art ATC solutions and many datasets. We answer several research questions based on tradeoffs induced by a tripod (training set reduction, effectiveness, and efficiency). Our answers reveal an enormous unfulfilled potential for IS solutions. Specially, we show that in 12 out of 19 datasets, specific IS methods—namely, Condensed Nearest Neighbor, Local Set-based Smoother, and Local Set Border Selector—can reduce the size of the training set without effectiveness losses. Furthermore, in the case of fine-tuning the Transformer methods, the IS methods reduce the amount of data needed, without losing effectiveness and with considerable training-time gains.
Bounding System-Induced Biases in Recommender Systems with a Randomized Dataset
Authors: Liu Dugang , Cheng Pengxiang , Lin Zinan , Zhang Xiaolian , Dong Zhenhua , Zhang Rui , He Xiuqiang , Pan Weike , Ming Zhong
Published: January 2023

Debiased recommendation with a randomized dataset has shown very promising results in mitigating system-induced biases. However, it still lacks more theoretical insights or an ideal optimization objective function compared with the other more well-studied routes without a randomized dataset. To bridge this gap, we study the debiasing problem from a new perspective and propose to directly minimize the upper bound of an ideal objective function, which facilitates a better potential solution to system-induced biases. First, we formulate a new ideal optimization objective function with a randomized dataset. Second, according to the prior constraints that an adopted loss function may satisfy, we derive two different upper bounds of the objective function: a generalization error bound with triangle inequality and a generalization error bound with separability. Third, we show that most existing related methods can be regarded as the insufficient optimization of these two upper bounds. Fourth, we propose a novel method called
debiasing approximate upper bound
(
DUB
) with a randomized dataset, which achieves a more sufficient optimization of these upper bounds. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments on a public dataset and a real product dataset to verify the effectiveness of our DUB.
Spatiotemporal Metabolic Liver Zonation and Consequences on Pathophysiology
Authors: Martini Tomaz , Naef Felix , Tchorz Jan S.
Published: January 2023

Hepatocytes are the main workers in the hepatic factory, managing metabolism of nutrients and xenobiotics, production and recycling of proteins, and glucose and lipid homeostasis. Division of labor between hepatocytes is critical to coordinate complex complementary or opposing multistep processes, similar to distributed tasks at an assembly line. This so-called metabolic zonation has both spatial and temporal components. Spatial distribution of metabolic function in hepatocytes of different lobular zones is necessary to perform complex sequential multistep metabolic processes and to assign metabolic tasks to the right environment. Moreover, temporal control of metabolic processes is critical to align required metabolic processes to the feeding and fasting cycles. Disruption of this complex spatiotemporal hepatic organization impairs key metabolic processes with both local and systemic consequences. Many metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and diabetes, are associated with impaired metabolic liver zonation. Recent technological advances shed new light on the spatiotemporal gene expression networks controlling liver function and how their deregulation may be involved in a large variety of diseases. We summarize the current knowledge about spatiotemporal metabolic liver zonation and consequences on liver pathobiology.
Non-Cyanide Thick Silver Electrodeposition Base on Instantaneous Nucleation for 3D Microstructures with High Performance
Authors: Cai Han , Li Yahui , Wu Yongjin , Zhang Haodong , Zhang Yanxin , Sun Yunna , Wang Guilian , Song Jungsuk , Ding Guifu
Published: January 2023

To meet the diversified development of electronics, it is essential to develop 3D metal microstructures with high performance. However, 3D thick silver forming is still a challenge due to high internal stresses and various defects. Here we proposed a method for the thick Ag electrodeposition with low-stress and high chemical stability for 3D Ag-based microstructures. We carried out systematic studies through electrochemical measurements, morphological characterization, micro-texture analysis, internal and stability examination. The results show that the nucleation mechanism of electroplating Ag is transformed from progressive nucleation to instantaneous nucleation through the coordinated control of current density and temperature. Higher temperature and lower deposition potential are preferred to form the large-grained crystallization. Additionally, the external parameters for fabricating Ag coating were optimized, and the correlation between micro-texture and internal stress was also verified. The feasibility of thick Ag preparation process was demonstrated by extending the electroplating time, showing excellent performance. Finally, 3D Ag micropillar arrays with the height of 577 μm and the high aspect ratio close to 3 were fabricated by MEMS processing techniques, displaying satisfied 3D forming ability. This work presents a new approach for manufacturing the 3D Ag microstructures and lays foundation for the multi-functionalization Ag-based devices.