bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng granule induced ferroptosis to suppress gastric cancer progression through reprogramming lipid metabolism via SCD1/Wnt/β-catenin axis
Authors: Wang Xiangyang , Li Jingxiao , Qin Rong , Yin Yi , Li Jiepin , Lin Sitian , Zou Xi
Published: February 2025

The incidence of Poorly cohesive carcinoma (PCC) has steadily risen in recent years, posing a significant clinical challenge. To reveal the anti-tumor effects of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng granule (JPYZXZ) in PCC, an initial investigation was performed using CCK-8, colony formation, scratch, and transwell assays. This was followed by network pharmacology studies to gain a deeper understanding of JPYZXZ’s impact on gastric cancer (GC). Then reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), Oil Red O staining, BODIPY493/503, triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol (TC) assay kits and western blot (Wb) analysis were applied to exam the regulatory effects of JPYZXZ on ferroptosis and lipid metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking studies and Wb analysis were used to further investigate the mechanisms of JPYZXZ on PCC. Finally, in vivo animal studies were conducted. The results show that JPYZXZ can inhibit the proliferation and migration of PCC cell. It increases the levels of ROS, Fe2+, MDA, while declining the content of GSH, TC, TG, and lipid droplet accumulation within cellular compartments. Wb indicates that JPYZXZ can negatively regulate the expression of proteins, including glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), cystine/glutamate antipoter SLC7A11 (xCT), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (ACC1). Furthermore, ferrostatin-1 (fer-1) is able to reverse the effects of JPYZXZ on the aforementioned markers of ferroptosis and lipid metabolism. Molecular docking analyses reveal that JPYZXZ exhibits a favorable binding affinity towards Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1). Mechanism studies demonstrate that JPYZXZ is capable of down-regulating the expressions of proteins like SCD1, β-catenin, GPX4, and xCT, which is analogous to the effects of SCD1 knockdown and the application of SCD1 inhibitor A939572. Nevertheless, when SCD1 is knocked down, JPYZXZ is unable to further downregulate the expressions of these proteins. Animal studies have corroborated the in vitro tumor-inhibiting effects of JPYZXZ. Therefore, this study offers the first evidence that JPYZXZ inhibits PCC progression by orchestrating ferroptosis and altering lipid metabolism, mediated by the SCD1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Enhancing the diagnostic efficacy of right-to-left shunt using robot-assisted transcranial Doppler: a quality improvement project
Authors: Shah Ruchir , Devlin Christian , Gao Lan , Ledford Samuel , Ramjee Vimal , Madan Vinay , Patterson Jennifer , Daniel Lauren , Devlin Thomas
Published: February 2025

Background

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability worldwide, with approximately 30% of strokes remaining cryptogenic. One potential important etiology is a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which may contribute to stroke through paradoxical thromboembolism or in situ thromboembolus formation. Recent advancements in robot-assisted transcranial Doppler (raTCD) have shown increased sensitivity in detecting right-to-left shunt (RLS) compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), particularly in detecting the large shunts which are associated with higher stroke risk.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective quality improvement project at our regional stroke center to compare the performance of TTE and raTCD in identifying RLS in ischemic stroke patients. The study involved 148 patients admitted between February 2021 and February 2023. All patients underwent TTE and raTCD with agitated saline bubble contrast, with additional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at the treatment team’s discretion. The primary metrics analyzed included differences in overall RLS detection and large RLS detection rates for raTCD, TTE and TEE.

Results

raTCD detected RLS in 60.1% of patients compared to 37.2% with TTE (p < 0.001), with a 42.6% detection rate for large shunts on raTCD versus 23.0% on TTE (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of raTCD were 92 and 87.5%, respectively, compared to 78.57 and 71.43% for TTE, using TEE as the gold standard. Nine patients underwent PFO closure, all correctly identified with large shunts by raTCD, while TTE missed or underestimated the PFO size in 44% of the cases.

Conclusion

raTCD significantly outperforms TTE in detecting RLS and large shunts, suggesting its integration into standard PFO workup protocols may enhance secondary stroke prevention. These findings support the adoption of raTCD as a complementary diagnostic tool alongside TTE and TEE for more accurate PFO detection and risk stratification.
Evidence of physiological changes associated with single-session pre-frontal tDCS: a pilot study
Authors: Rembrandt Hannah N. , Riley Ellyn A.
Published: February 2025

Objective

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive, painless method of applying direct current electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain, is an effective method for enhancing attention and post-stroke fatigue, as shown by behavioral improvements in post-stroke populations. While behavioral evidence supports this method, there is a paucity of physiological data corroboration of this improvement. The current study is designed to investigate if a single session of tDCS will improve attention and fatigue as shown by relevant physiological methods in persons with post-stroke aphasia.

Methods

Ten participants (5 male; mean age: 62.8) engaged in two identically structured data collection sessions with at least a 3-day wash-out period between them. Sessions started with a sustained attention task with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and pupillometry data collection, followed by an attention training program with simultaneous active or sham tDCS. Following tDCS, participants repeated the sustained attention task with simultaneous EEG and pupillometry data collection. Participants received active tDCS during one session, and sham tDCS during the other, with the order randomized.

Results

No differences between conditions were found for either behavioral results from the sustained attention task (i.e., reaction time of correct responses; n = 9 p = 0.39) or EEG measured attention state data for any of the four attention states: no attention (n = 10, p = 0.83), distracted attention (n = 10, p = 0.20), moderate attention (n = 10, p = 0.95), or high attention (n = 10, p = 0.62). Pupil dilation was significantly greater in the post-active tDCS stimulation condition than in either pre-training condition (n = 10, p < 0.01). tDCS stimulation lessened the increase in task-based fatigue from the beginning to the end of the session such that there was a significant increase in task-based fatigue when participants received sham tDCS (n = 10, p = 0.01) but no significant change in task-based fatigue during the active condition session (n = 10, p = 0.12).

Conclusion

Changes in pupil diameter observed in the active stimulation condition suggest activation of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) pathway within a single session of tDCS administration, but the lack of significant changes for either response time or attention states indicate no direct effect on behaviorally measured or EEG measured attention within the same timeframe. Responses to active stimulation in terms of subjective fatigue rating varied between individual participants; overall, active tDCS mitigated task-based fatigue. More research is needed to investigate this relationship.
Parameter optimization of 3D convolutional neural network for dry-EEG motor imagery brain-machine interface
Authors: Kobayashi Nobuaki , Ino Musashi
Published: February 2025

Easing the behavioral restrictions of those in need of care not only improves their own quality of life (QoL) but also reduces the burden on care workers and may help reduce the number of care workers in countries with declining birthrates. The brain-machine interface (BMI), in which appliances and machines are controlled only by brain activity, can be used in nursing care settings to alleviate behavioral restrictions and reduce stress for those in need of care. It is also expected to reduce the workload of care workers. In this study, we focused on motor imagery (MI) classification by deep-learning to construct a system that can identify MI obtained by electroencephalography (EEG) measurements with high accuracy and a low latency response. By completing the system on the edge, the privacy of personal MI data can be ensured, and the system is ubiquitous, which improves user convenience. On the other hand, however, the edge is limited by hardware resources, and the implementation of models with a huge number of parameters and high computational cost, such as deep-learning, on the edge is challenging. Therefore, by optimizing the MI measurement conditions and various parameters of the deep-learning model, we attempted to reduce the power consumption and improve the response latency of the system by minimizing the computational cost while maintaining high classification accuracy. In addition, we investigated the use of a 3-dimension convolutional neural network (3D CNN), which can retain spatial locality as a feature to further improve the classification accuracy. We propose a method to maintain a high classification accuracy while enabling processing on the edge by optimizing the size and number of kernels and the layer structure. Furthermore, to develop a practical BMI system, we introduced dry electrodes, which are more comfortable for daily use, and optimized the number of parameters and memory consumption size of the proposed model to maintain classification accuracy even with fewer electrodes, less recall time, and a lower sampling rate. Compared to EEGNet, the proposed 3D CNN reduces the number of parameters, the number of multiply-accumulates, and memory footprint by approximately 75.9%, 16.3%, and 12.5%, respectively, while maintaining the same level of classification accuracy with the conditions of eight electrodes, 3.5 seconds sample window size, and 125 Hz sampling rate in 4-class dry-EEG MI.
Toward autonomous event-based sensorimotor control with supervised gait learning and obstacle avoidance for robot navigation
Authors: Hashemkhani Shahin , Vivekanand Vijay Shankaran , Chopra Samarth , Kubendran Rajkumar
Published: February 2025

Miniature robots are useful during disaster response and accessing remote or unsafe areas. They need to navigate uneven terrains without supervision and under severe resource constraints such as limited compute, storage and power budget. Event-based sensorimotor control in edge robotics has potential to enable fully autonomous and adaptive robot navigation systems capable of responding to environmental fluctuations by learning new types of motion and real-time decision making to avoid obstacles. This work presents a novel bio-inspired framework with a hierarchical control system to address these limitations, utilizing a tunable multi-layer neural network with a hardware-friendly Central Pattern Generator (CPG) as the core coordinator to govern the precise timing of periodic motion. Autonomous operation is managed by a Dynamic State Machine (DSM) at the top of the hierarchy, providing the necessary adaptability to handle environmental challenges such as obstacles or uneven terrain. The multi-layer neural network uses a nonlinear neuron model which employs mixed feedback at multiple timescales to produce rhythmic patterns of bursting events to control the motors. A comprehensive study of the architecture's building blocks is presented along with a detailed analysis of network equations. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed framework on the Petoi robot, which can autonomously learn walk and crawl gaits using supervised Spike-Time Dependent Plasticity (STDP) learning algorithm, transition between the learned gaits stored as new states, through the DSM for real-time obstacle avoidance. Measured results of the system performance are summarized and compared with other works to highlight our unique contributions.
Association between serum A/G ratio and stroke: data from NHANES 2009–2020
Authors: Tan Xingle , Lv Cunming , Lu Chao , Luo Yanan , Mei Zhi-gang
Published: February 2025

Background

The serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (A/G) has been widely used as a biomarker to assess inflammation, immunity, and nutritional status. However, relatively few studies have been conducted on the predictive value of serum A/G in stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum A/G levels and stroke prognosis, to provide a new reference for risk assessment and management of stroke patients.

Methods

Data were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2009–2020. The study utilized questionnaire responses and 24-h dietary recall interviews. Participants were stratified by serum albumin/globulin (A/G) ratios into tertiles. Multivariable logistic regression, curve fitting, subgroup analyses, and interaction tests were conducted to assess the associations with serum A/G ratios.

Results

Of the 82,298 participants initially considered, 52,119 had complete data and no history of stroke, albumin, or globulin deficiency, which were included in the analysis. We observed a decrease in stroke incidence with increasing A/G ratios. Higher A/G ratios were also associated with lower incidences of moderate exercise, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. The relationship between A/G ratios and stroke was moderated by covariates such as gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and body mass index.

Conclusion

In the US population, serum A/G ratios positively correlate with stroke incidence. Serum A/G could be a simple and economical marker for identifying stroke risk in the population, though further prospective studies are required to validate these findings.
A patient with penile metastasis secondary to small cell lung cancer successfully treated with PD-1 inhibitors and chemotherapy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Kai-cong , Li Wei-jun , Xu Hui-xin , Liang Hui-min , Yang Qiong
Published: February 2025

Background

Penile metastasis is an uncommon condition, with most primary malignancies originating in the abdominal cavity and pelvis. There have been very few reported cases originating from lung cancer, most of squamous cell carcinoma without small cell lung cancer.

Methods

We presented a case of penile metastasis secondary to small cell lung cancer, along with a review of relevant literature from the CNKI database.

Results

A 73-year-old male presented with a one-month history of palpable swelling in the penis without any chest symptoms. Beside penile lesion, PET/CT imaging also revealed a lesion in the left lobe of the lung, as well as multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the left hilum, mediastinum, and left supraclavicular fossa. Fiberoptic biopsy confirmed small cell lung cancer for the pulmonary mass, while biopsies of the penile mass confirmed metastatic small cell carcinoma. The patient received first-line treatment of 6 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor (Toripalimab) combined with etoposide and cisplatin, achieving a partial response (PR). Subsequently, second-line therapy of etoposide and cisplatin regimen and later-line therapies of Irinotecan followed by Anlotinib were administered. The overall survival was approximately 2 years.

Conclusion

Penile metastasis from small cell lung cancer is extremely rare. Treatment strategies based on guidelines for small cell lung cancer had been proven effective approaches.
Data augmented lung cancer prediction framework using the nested case control NLST cohort
Authors: Jiang Yifan , Manem Venkata S. K.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

In the context of lung cancer screening, the scarcity of well-labeled medical images poses a significant challenge to implement supervised learning-based deep learning methods. While data augmentation is an effective technique for countering the difficulties caused by insufficient data, it has not been fully explored in the context of lung cancer screening. In this research study, we analyzed the state-of-the-art (SOTA) data augmentation techniques for lung cancer binary prediction.

Methods

To comprehensively evaluate the efficiency of data augmentation approaches, we considered the nested case control National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) cohort comprising of 253 individuals who had the commonly used CT scans without contrast. The CT scans were pre-processed into three-dimensional volumes based on the lung nodule annotations. Subsequently, we evaluated five basic (online) and two generative model-based offline data augmentation methods with ten state-of-the-art (SOTA) 3D deep learning-based lung cancer prediction models.

Results

Our results demonstrated that the performance improvement by data augmentation was highly dependent on approach used. The Cutmix method resulted in the highest average performance improvement across all three metrics: 1.07%, 3.29%, 1.19% for accuracy, F1 score and AUC, respectively. MobileNetV2 with a simple data augmentation approach achieved the best AUC of 0.8719 among all lung cancer predictors, demonstrating a 7.62% improvement compared to baseline. Furthermore, the MED-DDPM data augmentation approach was able to improve prediction performance by rebalancing the training set and adding moderately synthetic data.

Conclusions

The effectiveness of online and offline data augmentation methods were highly sensitive to the prediction model, highlighting the importance of carefully selecting the optimal data augmentation method. Our findings suggest that certain traditional methods can provide more stable and higher performance compared to SOTA online data augmentation approaches. Overall, these results offer meaningful insights for the development and clinical integration of data augmented deep learning tools for lung cancer screening.
CENP-H as a new prognostic biomarker for tumors: a real-world literature review
Authors: Li Qiao , Tang Yang , Zuo Jie-Bin , Han Hao , Tu Guang-Xu , Chen Cheng
Published: February 2025

Centromere protein H (CENP-H) is an important component of a functional centromere. Studies have demonstrated that CENP-H is overexpressed in renal cell, gastric, hypopharyngeal squamous cell, nasopharyngeal, endometrial, lung, cervical, esophageal, liver, colorectal, oral squamous cell, breast, and tongue carcinomas. CENP-H overexpression is positively correlated with a poor prognosis, pathological stage, T stage, and lymph node metastasis in patients with the above carcinomas. CENP-H can promote cancer growth and metastasis through PI3K/AKT, survivin, and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling mechanisms, and it can be regulated by long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1)/miR-612, Sp1, or Sp3. This review aims to summarize the expression of CENP-H, the relationship between CENP-H expression and prognostic features, growth and metastasis of cancer in patients, as well as the mechanism of CENP-H in cancer. It also proposes a new candidate molecule for treating patients with cancer.
Femoral fractures in non-accidental trauma and child abuse: biomechanical perspective and insights
Authors: di Laura Frattura Giorgio , Cochard Blaise , De Marco Giacomo , Vazquez Oscar , Dayer Romain , Ceroni Dimitri
Published: February 2025

Physical abuse remains a global problem that affects children in every country, from every ethnic group, and of all social backgrounds. The fracture of an infant's femur should constitute a red flag to a pediatrician; it must be recognized, recorded, investigated, and potentially result in measures to protect that child. Certain confounding factors, such as the reported mechanism of trauma, could negatively influence the physician's appropriate and unbiased judgment. Indeed, some physically abusive parents may try to explain a femoral fracture as the result of an accidental fall from a changing table or the child's leg getting stuck in bed barriers. This narrative review aimed to provide an overview of this topic and discuss the currently available scientific evidence to better understand the biomechanical mechanisms of femur fractures in infants, thereby definitively putting an end to some popular misconceptions.
Community pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward substandard and falsified medicines and associated factors in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Biset Asrade , Berhanu Kidest , Solomon Nebiyu , Worku Minichil Chanie , Anagaw Yeniewa Kerie
Published: February 2025

Background

The availability of substandard and/or falsified medicines (SFMs) in the market poses a severe threat to health and the national economy. Therefore, pharmacy professionals are highly responsible for controlling SFMs distribution in the market to improve the health of the population.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess community pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward SFMs and to identify associated factors in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 August 2024, to 30 September 2024. Participants were recruited using a simple random sampling method. A structured and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and KAP toward SFMs. The collected data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 26. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with participants’ KAP toward SFMs. Variables with a P value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 162 participants, 80.5% had a good knowledge and 54.9% had a positive attitude toward SFMs. However, 46.3% had a good level of practice toward SFMs. Educational levels with a master’s degree (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.06–4.35) and work experience of 21–25 years (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.79–2.80) were associated with participants’ knowledge. Educational levels with a master’s degree (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 0.85–2.95), work experience of 21–25 years (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.85–1.86), good knowledge (AOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.94–1.51), and good practice (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.85–2.01) were associated with the participants’ attitude. The practice of participants is affected by educational levels with a master’s degree (AOR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.14–1.26), 21–25 years of work experience (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.33–5.63), good knowledge (AOR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.50–4.92), and positive attitude (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.89–2.23).

Conclusion

The study revealed that the majority of the participants had a good knowledge, and more than half had a positive attitude; however, less than half of the participants had a good level of practice toward SFMs. Education/training is required to enhance the role of community pharmacy professionals to combat their distribution and threats in the future.
Time-varying cost-effectiveness analysis of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in Chinese patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: A microsimulation of the real-world population
Authors: Zou Xinyu , He Xingchen , Shi Qingyang , Wang Si , Li Nan , Zhou Yiling , Hu Ming , Luo Li , Shen Yiwen , Zhu Ye , Lang Chim C. , Zhu Zhiming , Tian Haoming , Li Sheyu
Published: February 2025

Objective

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors showed time-varying effects in heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but corresponding cost-effectiveness in different timeframes remained poorly understood. This study estimated the time-varying cost-effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in HFrEF from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.

Methods

Based on real-world individual patient data, a 2-year microsimulation model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding SGLT2 inhibitors to standard therapy compared with standard therapy alone among patients with HFrEF. A published prediction model informed transition probabilities for all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure. The time-varying effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, medical costs, and utility values were derived from the published literature. Scenario analyses in different timeframes were conducted to assess the trend of cost-effectiveness over time.

Results

Compared with standard therapy alone, SGLT2 inhibitors plus standard therapy were found cost-effective at a willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) threshold of $12,741 per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) gained in 2 years. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) decreased from $12,346.07/QALY at 0.5 years to $9,355.66/QALY at 2 years. One-direction sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the cost-effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors was most sensitive to the cost of SGLT2 inhibitors, the cost of hospitalization for heart failure, the cost of standard therapy for heart failure, and the baseline risks of all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis proved the robustness of the results.

Conclusion

Adding SGLT2 inhibitors to standard therapy was found to be cost-effective in Chinese patients with HFrEF. Longer treatment appeared to be more economically favorable, but further explorations are warranted.
Frequency domain estimation method of the characteristic period of the P wave of earthquakes
Authors: Donciu Codrin , Serea Elena , Temneanu Marinel Costel
Published: February 2025

Early warning system earthquake alerts exploit the time delay that the surface waves have in reference to the P waves and estimate the magnitude based on the interpretation of the specific parameters of the P waves. One of the most commonly used parameters for estimating the moment magnitude of an earthquake is the characteristic period measured in the first 3 s after the appearance of the P wave. The classic method determines the characteristic period in the time domain by using the velocity and displacement waves of the acquired samples. In this paper, we present a new method for estimating the characteristic period through its corresponding frequency. This method includes zero padding of the P-wave sequence, conversion of the extended sequence from the time domain to the frequency domain, identification of local frequency maxima, and calculation of the weighted average of the frequency based on the identified maxima. Tests conducted on synthetic signals, as well as standard deviation evaluation tests for simultaneous recordings at several seismic stations, revealed better performance than the classic method in terms of noise immunity and number of false alarms.
Verbal encouragement in coaching: enhancing small-sided game performance in youth basketball players
Authors: Yılmaz Osman , Jahrami Haitham , Batalik Ladislav , Trabelsi Khaled , Ammar Achraf , Soylu Yusuf
Published: February 2025

Background

Verbal coach encouragement is a key motivational strategy that enhances skill development, game strategy execution, and team cohesion. In youth basketball, where players are still developing technical and decision-making abilities, coach encouragement can play a crucial role in sustaining effort, improving focus, and fostering resilience under small-sided games (SSGs). This study investigated how coach encouragement (CE) influences young basketball players’ technical performance and psychophysiological responses during competitive gameplay.

Methods

Sixteen male basketball players (age = 15.19 ± 1.05 years) voluntarily participated in the study. Heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, mood states and technical activities were recorded with coach encouragement and without coach encouragement during SSGs.

Results

The results showed that SSGs with coach encouragement were associated with significantly higher heart rate (p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.69), maximum heart rate percentage (p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.15), ratings of perceived exertion (p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.69), enjoyment (p ≤ 0.007, d = 0.86), technical abilities (e.g., successful passes and shots; p ≤ 0.05, d ranging from 1.08 to 1.25), and fatigue (p ≤ 0.03, d = 1.47).

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the importance of CE in improving the psychophysiological and technical abilities of young basketball players during SSGs. CE improves coach-athlete relationships and increases game performance.
The poetry of senses: exploring semantic mediation in timbre-aroma correspondences
Authors: Zacharakis Asterios
Published: February 2025

Cross-modal correspondences between audition and olfaction have received relatively less attention compared to other modality pairs. This study expands on previous work regarding timbre-aroma correspondences by examining the semantic mediation hypothesis, according to which cross-modal correspondences may be partly explained by the existence of common semantic qualities. In a behavioral experiment, 26 musically trained participants rated 26 complex synthetic tones and 12 aromatic stimuli across two separate blocks using a common set of semantic scales. The analysis of semantic variables identified a largely consistent organization for both modalities, condensing into three prominent clusters: [bright, fresh, sweet], [sharp, metallic], and [full, rich, warm]. Furthermore, distances between stimuli derived from semantic ratings and optimized through a genetic algorithm exhibited a strong correlation with previously estimated ground-truth distances of direct cross-modal associations. Additionally, the stimulus configuration within the semantic space generated through Multidimensional Scaling analysis exhibited notable commonalities with the organization of stimuli derived from direct timbre-aroma correspondences. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence that semantic mediation plays a significant role in shaping cross-modal correspondences between auditory and olfactory stimuli, paving the way for further exploration of the underlying semantic dimensions that connect these two modalities.
Assessment of the maternal key micronutrient supply and its correlation with cord blood parameters in twin pregnancies
Authors: Zgliczynska Magdalena , Ostrowska Magdalena , Zebrowska Kinga , Rzucidlo-Szymanska Iga , Szymusik Iwona , Kowalski Konrad , Kosinska-Kaczynska Katarzyna
Published: February 2025

Background

Multiple pregnancy constitutes a large metabolic expense, so women with twin pregnancies and neonates born as twins might be at risk for micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the supplementation used and supply with key micronutrients: iron, vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D in women with twin pregnancies and the correlations with cord blood indicators.

Methods

Maternal and cord blood samples were collected from 51 patients with twin pregnancies and 102 newborns born from those pregnancies between October 2020 and September 2023. Ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D metabolites concentrations were measured. Additionally, the patients completed a questionnaire regarding pre-and intragestational supplementation.

Results

Iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D deficiency were diagnosed in 20.8, 13.7 and 12.5% of women with twin pregnancies, respectively. No maternal folate deficiency was identified. Positive weak to moderate correlations were demonstrated between the concentrations of all studied indicators in the maternal and cord blood. Pregestational folic acid and vitamin D supplementation was associated with higher cord blood levels of folic acid and 3-epi-25(OH)D3, respectively. 25(OH)D3 and total 25(OH)D concentrations were higher in newborns whose mothers had supplemented vitamin D during pregnancy.

Conclusion

The problem of iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies in twin pregnancies is still valid. Pre-and intragestational supplementation, as well as maternal micronutrient supply affect the cord blood composition of twins.
Prevalence of scoliosis and congenital heart disease based on school screening in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province
Authors: Qian Genghao , Zhang Li , Zhao Zhi , Wang Yingsong , Lu Jiang , Bi Ni , Yang Xiaochen , Xie Weijie , Shi Zhiyue , Li Tao , Zhang Zhaoquan , Song Zhibo
Published: February 2025

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of scoliosis and congenital heart disease (CHD) in the same area and to explore the relationship between them according to a joint school screening.

Methods

All students aged 6–15 years in 20 schools in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province, China was screened for scoliosis and CHD. Scoliosis screening completed through the Adam's forward bending test with scoliometer measurement, and CHD screening completed through auscultation combined with portable echocardiography (ECHO). The gender, age, distribution of ethnic groups, types of CHD, angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and location of scoliosis were recorded. The severity was divided into 3 grades by ATR. Then the relationship between scoliosis and CHD was analyzed.

Results

A total of 17,134 students was screened with a prevalence of suspected scoliosis of 1.7% (298 students), and the prevalence of suspected scoliosis in female was higher than that in male (2.4 vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001), which increased with age (P < 0.01). The prevalence of suspected scoliosis was no different among ethnic groups (P > 0.05). The severity of scoliosis was mainly grade 1 (68.5%), followed by grade 2 (27.2%) and grade 3 (4.4%). And scoliosis was mainly located in lumbar (37.6%). The prevalence of CHD was 3.15‰, and there was no difference in the prevalence of CHD between different gender, age and ethnic groups (P > 0.05). The most common type of CHD was atrial septal defect (27.78%), followed by ventricular septal defect (16.67%). There was only one CHD student in 298 suspected scoliosis students.

Conclusion

The prevalence of suspected scoliosis among primary school students was 1.74%, while the prevalence of congenital heart disease was 3.15‰ in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province. And the incidence of CHD in patients with mild suspected scoliosis was low and close to that in normal population.
Adverse events and contributing factors in Chinese nursing homes: a multisite cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Zhangan , Qi Xiang , Shi Ying , Shao Lu , Li Wei , Xie Xiyan , Wu Bei , Zhang June
Published: February 2025

Background

Adverse events in nursing homes, which are unintended incidents causing unnecessary harm to older residents. Previous studies in Chinese populations often focused on adverse events in hospitals, rather than residents in nursing homes. Additionally, they tended to focus on single incident rather than multiple types of adverse events. This study aims to assess the occurrence and contributing factors of multiple adverse events perceived by staff in Chinese nursing homes.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 691 frontline staff from 11 nursing homes in Southern China (August 2021–January 2022). Data were collected using a General Information Questionnaire, the Adverse Event Reporting Awareness Scale, and the Adverse Event Reporting Habit Scale. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the contributing factors of adverse events.

Results

A total of 13 types of adverse events were screened out in nursing homes, and 477 (69.0%) participants reported that the adverse events “had happened” in the past year. The most common events were falls, unplanned extubation, and pressure sores. Clinical staff were 2.06 times more likely than frontline workers to report adverse events (95% CI = 1.13–3.76). Increased awareness (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.15–1.34) and habitual reporting of adverse events (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.08) were positively associated with higher reporting rates.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of staff reported adverse events, with clinical staff and those with better reporting habits noting higher occurrences. To enhance resident safety, nursing homes must prioritize preventing high-risk adverse events. Targeting frontline workers with lower reporting awareness and habits is crucial for effective interventions.
A bibliometric analysis of perioperative rehabilitation research between 2005 and 2024
Authors: Li Juan , Su Fen , Zhang Qing , Song Guiqi
Published: February 2025

Effective rehabilitation can improve the prognosis of surgical patients, thereby enhancing their medical experience. In recent years, relatively more research is been carried out in this field; therefore, it is necessary to use bibliometric analysis to understand the development status and main research hotspots of perioperative rehabilitation, so as to determine the role of rehabilitation in the perioperative period. All documents related to perioperative rehabilitation and published from 2005 to 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (Woscc). Number of articles, countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords were analysed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. A total of 829 studies on perioperative rehabilitation were included in the bibliometric analysis. The number of articles has steadily and rapidly increased since 2016. Over time, the publication outputs increased annually. There are 532 keyword nodes in total, of which the five keywords that appear most frequently are “surgery” “rehabilitation” “Outcome” “management” and “complications”. Research on the perioperative rehabilitation has developed rapidly. This study provides necessary information for researchers to understand the current status, collaborative networks, and main research hotspots in this field. In addition, our research findings provide a series of recommendations for future studies.
The effects of family directed power mobility on self-care, mobility, and social function in very young children with severe multiple developmental impairments
Authors: Aceros Juan , Cesar Guilherme M. , Rodriguez Ayshka , Lundy Mary
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Children with impaired mobility often experience negative impact on overall development leading to depression, social isolation, and perceived lower quality of life.

Objective

Our study explored the effects of Power Mobility Devices (PMD), in the form of modified ride-on toy cars with two distinct activation/steering technologies, on functional independent and social function in young children with severe multiple developmental impairments.

Methodology

Twelve children (age range 12–54 months) with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and genetic diagnoses, and metabolic progressive diseases participated. Significant cognitive, visual, or communication impairment was not exclusionary. Two types of activation and steering modifications (proportional control joystick and line follower technologies) were provided. Paired samples t-test contrasted pre-post functional capabilities after three months of PMD use in both Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory scales of Functional Skills and Caregiver Assistance, each with the subscales self-care, mobility, and social/cognitive.

Findings

Improvements were observed in all three subscales for Functional Skills (significant 9.8% increase in self-care, 21.4% in mobility, and 17.5% social/cognitive) and Caregiver Assistance (significant 35.4% increase in self-care).

Conclusion

These quantitative results support findings of previous studies analyzing qualitative data, suggesting that early power mobility interventions provide positive improvements in the quality of life of children with severe developmental disabilities.
Global trends in ICT-based extension and advisory services in agriculture: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Mukherjee Sweety , Padaria Rabindra Nath , Burman Rajarshi Roy , Velayudhan Praveen Koovalamkadu , Mahra Girijesh Singh , Aditya Kaustav , Sahu Subhashree , Saini Sushmita , Mallick Sonali , Quader Sk. Wasaful , Shravani K. , Ghosh Bhaskar , Bhat Adarsha Gopalakrishna
Published: February 2025

Utilizing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to grant farmers direct access to information, while also developing models tailored to the specific contexts of both public and private agricultural extension sectors, stands as a pivotal endeavor in modern agriculture. This study uses bibliometric analysis to identify key research areas in ICT-based extension and advisory services (EAS) and to understand patterns and trends within this domain. The Scopus database served as the primary tool for accessing publications, yielding a corpus of 525 articles spanning from 1999 onwards, subsequently analyzed through VOSviewer and R software. The findings unveil that the Sustainability journal claims the highest number of published articles, while the Agricultural Economics journal garners the most citations within this realm. Notably, Aker emerges as the most globally cited author with 405 citations, while China Agricultural University emerges as the institution with the highest publication count concerning ICT-based EAS. India emerges as a frontrunner with 446 publications, while publications originating from the USA receive the highest number of citations, reflecting the nation's substantial endeavors and investments in harnessing ICT for agricultural extension purposes. The co-occurrence analysis of all keywords emphasizes the primary focus of publications on e-agriculture and e-extension. Furthermore, the outcomes of co-citation analysis highlight The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension as the most referenced journal, with 22 citations and a cumulative link strength of 266, indicative of its profound influence and recurrent citation alongside other scholarly journals. This study uncovers an escalating interest in this field, emphasizing its paramount importance in contemporary agricultural practices. Accordingly, these findings offer crucial insights for guiding future research and shaping evidence-based policies, thereby aiding researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in improving ICT-based EAS in agriculture.
Case Series: Free vascularized costochondral grafts in upper extremity reconstruction
Authors: Kamphuis Saskia J. M. , Schaefer Dirk J. , Kaempfen Alexandre
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Costochondral grafting is well-known reconstructive option for the temporomandibular joint. In the upper extremity, non-vascularized costochondral grafts have been used for radial head reconstruction, for osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint and proximal pole reconstruction of the scaphoid. Evidence suggests that vascularization of bone grafts lead to a higher union rate and a faster time to union. To avoid other donor sites and improve healing times we endeavored using vascularized costochondral grafts for skeletal reconstruction of the hand.

Methods

In this report, we present the operative technique and three cases of reconstructions. They comprise one case of a third metacarpal head defect including cartilaginous tissue due to avascular necrosis (Mauclair's or Dieterich's disease), one case of scaphoid proximal pole reconstruction due to necrosis and one case of a third metacarpal head reconstruction after direct trauma. Patients’ complaints included pain and clicking of the joint upon movement of the joint. There were also concerns about osteoarthritis and joint destruction on the future. Medium-term outcome showed good results concerning pain as well as normal range of motion without clicking of the joint.

Conclusion

Osseocartilaginous grafts are not readily available as a reconstructive option. Donor sites at the knee, metatarsophalangeal and the hamate risk a permanent damage and functional deficit. Furthermore, these grafts are not easily vascularized. Costochondral grafts present a viable option with a challenging dissection, but no mid- to long-term functional loss at the donor site.
Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of OLIF combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of patients with primary lumbar spondylodiscitis
Authors: Deng Liang , Zhou Yu , Xiong Moliang , Zeng Jihuan , Luo Caiguang , Guo Jia , Xiao Qiang
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Primary lumbar spondylodiscitis is a serious condition with an increasing incidence rate.

Methods

From January 2021 to June 2023, we adopted a single-stage oblique lateral approach for the debridement of lumbar infection foci, intervertebral bone grafting fusion, tube irrigation drainage, combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of primary lumbar spondylodiscitis.

Results

We found that this surgical technique significantly improved the patients' lower back pain symptoms. During postoperative follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, patients showed remarkable improvements in their JOA and VAS scores, as well as in ESR and CRP levels, compared to the preoperative period.

Discussion

We believe that the single-stage oblique lateral approach for debridement of lumbar infection foci, intervertebral bone grafting fusion, tube irrigation drainage, and combined posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation is an ideal treatment method for primary lumbar spondylodiscitis. This technique offers thorough debridement of the infection focus, sufficient bone grafting, safe operation, and reliable fixation.
Factors associated with an excellent transfer of passive immunity: multisite, cross-sectional study conducted in different European countries on dairy cattle
Authors: Fernandez-Novo Aitor , Kolkman Iris , Driesse Monique , Yarnall Matt , Cerviño Manuel , Dieguez Francisco Javier , Astiz Susana
Published: February 2025

Transfer of passive immunity (TPI) is key to achieving a good immunity status in newborn calves. The traditional scientific approach examines risk factors for the failure of TPI, but the benefits of achieving an excellent transfer of passive immunity are well recognized, justifying a closer examination of specific influencing factors. However, there is scarce information about conditions related to an excellent TPI, which may differ from those avoiding failure. Therefore, the objective of this work was to detect factors determining an excellent transfer of passive immunity. From April to July 2022, 1,041 calves from 108 European farms from six countries were studied. Colostrum quality and level of passive immunity in calves were indirectly measured with refractometry. Data of colostrum management, dam, calf and farm conditions were recorded. A categorization of poor, fair and excellent TPI were established. Mixed-effects multinomial regression modeling was implemented at animal-level, with country and herd as random factors. Median values for colostrum variables were 3 l of volume, quality of 24.4% Brix and time to administration after birth of 2 h. Only one country achieved >40% of calves in the excellent category. Mean factors affecting excellent TPI were volume and quality of the colostrum administered. In conclusion, although most farms in Europe manage and administer adequately colostrum, there are aspects to improve to achieve more than 40% of calves within the excellent category. These key factors align with those preventing failure of TPI, although this result should be taken into account with prudence based on the limitations of the study.