bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell type‐specific regulation ofm6AmodifiedRNAsin the agingDrosophilabrain
Authors: Perlegos Alexandra E. , Byrns China N. , Bonini Nancy M.
Published: January 2024

The aging brain is highly vulnerable to cellular stress, and neurons employ numerous mechanisms to combat neurotoxic proteins and promote healthy brain aging. The RNA modification m6A is highly enriched in theDrosophilabrain and is critical for the acute heat stress response of the brain. Here we examine m6A in the fly brain with the chronic stresses of aging and degenerative disease. m6A levels dynamically increased with both age and disease in the brain, marking integral neuronal identity and signaling pathway transcripts that decline in level with age and disease. Unexpectedly, there is opposing impact of m6A transcripts in neurons versus glia, which conferred different outcomes on animal health span uponMettl3knockdown to reduce m6A: whereasMettl3function is normally beneficial to neurons, it is deleterious to glia. Moreover, knockdown ofMettl3in glial tauopathy reduced tau pathology and increased animal survival. These findings provide mechanistic insight into regulation of m6A modified transcripts with age and disease, highlighting an overall beneficial function ofMettl3in neurons in response to chronic stresses, versus a deleterious impact in glia.
Exit as governance: The effect of stock liquidity on firm productivity
Authors: Bai Tianyu , Li Zhongfei
Published: January 2024

This study examines the effect of stock liquidity on firm productivity. Our findings indicate that stock liquidity positively affects firm productivity. Our study provides several pieces of evidence to show that stock liquidity enhances firm productivity through facilitation of corporate governance by shareholders and stock price efficiency. Additionally, we confirm that the impact of stock liquidity on productivity is more pronounced for firms with lower attendance at shareholder meetings, with less financial constraints and that are state‐owned enterprises. This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature by presenting novel evidence regarding the influence of stock liquidity on firm productivity in emerging markets.
Emergency treatment of peri‐operative anaphylaxis: Resuscitation Council UK algorithm for anaesthetists
Authors: Dodd A. , Turner P. J. , Soar J. , Savic L. ,   representing the UK Perioperative Allergy Network
Published: January 2024

Peri‐operative anaphylaxis is a rare but potentially catastrophic event which must be considered whenever unexpected and significant cardiovascular or respiratory compromise occurs during anaesthesia. The Resuscitation Council UK algorithm for peri‐operative anaphylaxis highlights the importance of early intravenous adrenaline and fluid resuscitation and provides guidance on the treatment of refractory anaphylaxis and immediate follow‐up. This algorithm is endorsed by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Association of Anaesthetists, British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Clinical Immunology Professional Network of the British Society for Immunology. This document was produced by the Perioperative Allergy Network steering committee in collaboration with the Resuscitation Council UK.
Towards prescriptive analytics of self‐regulated learning strategies: A reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Osakwe Ikenna , Chen Guanliang , Fan Yizhou , Rakovic Mladen , Singh Shaveen , Lim Lyn , van der Graaf Joep , Moore Johanna , Molenaar Inge , Bannert Maria , Whitelock‐Wainwright Alex , Gašević Dragan
Published: January 2024

Self‐regulated learning (SRL) is an essential skill to achieve one's learning goals. This is particularly true for online learning environments (OLEs) where the support system is often limited compared to a traditional classroom setting. Likewise, existing research has found that learners often struggle to adapt their behaviour to the self‐regulatory demands of OLEs. Even so, existing SRL analysis tools have limited utility for real‐time or individualised support of a learner's SRL strategy during a study session. Accordingly, we explore a reinforcement learning based approach to learning optimal SRL strategies for a specific learning task. Specifically, we utilise the sequences of SRL processes acted by 44 participants, and their assessment scores for a prescribed learning task, in a purpose‐built OLE to develop a long short‐term memory (LSTM) network based reward function. This is used to train a reinforcement learning agent to find the optimal sequence of SRL processes for the learning task. Our findings indicate that the developed agents were able to effectively select SRL processes so as to maximise a prescribed learning goal as measured by predicted assessment score and predicted knowledge gains. The contributions of this work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualised SRL focused scaffolding.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Learners often fail to adequately adapt their behavior to the self‐regulatory demands of e‐Learning environments.

In order to promote effective Self‐regulated learning (SRL) capabilities, researchers and educators need tools that are able to analyze and diagnose a learner's SRL strategy use.

Current methods for SRL analysis are more often descriptive as opposed to prescriptive and have limited utility for real‐time analysis or support of a learner's SRL behavior.

What this paper adds

This paper proposes the use of Reinforcement Learning for prescriptive analytics of SRL. We train a Reinforcement Learning agent on sequences of SRL processes acted by learners in order to learn the optimal SRL strategy for a given learning task.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Our work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualized SRL focused scaffolding.

The implications of our work can aid in course design by predicting the self‐regulatory load imposed by a given task.

The ability to model SRL strategies using Reinforcement Learning can be extended to simulate or test SRL theories.
Morphology‐based molecular classification of spinal cord ependymomas using deep neural networks
Authors: Schumann Yannis , Dottermusch Matthias , Schweizer Leonille , Krech Maja , Lempertz Tasja , Schüller Ulrich , Neumann Philipp , Neumann Julia E.
Published: January 2024

Based on DNA‐methylation, ependymomas growing in the spinal cord comprise two major molecular types termed spinal (SP‐EPN) and myxopapillary ependymomas (MPE(‐A/B)), which differ with respect to their clinical features and prognosis. Due to the existing discrepancy between histomorphogical diagnoses and classification using methylation data, we asked whether deep neural networks can predict the DNA methylation class of spinal cord ependymomas from hematoxylin and eosin stained whole‐slide images. Using explainable AI, we further aimed to prospectively improve the consistency of histology‐based diagnoses with DNA methylation profiling by identifying and quantifying distinct morphological patterns of these molecular ependymoma types. We assembled a case series of 139 molecularly characterized spinal cord ependymomas (nMPE = 84, nSP‐EPN = 55). Self‐supervised and weakly‐supervised neural networks were used for classification. We employed attention analysis and supervised machine‐learning methods for the discovery and quantification of morphological features and their correlation to the diagnoses of experienced neuropathologists. Our best performing model predicted the DNA methylation class with 98% test accuracy and used self‐supervised learning to outperform pretrained encoder‐networks (86% test accuracy). In contrast, the diagnoses of neuropathologists matched the DNA methylation class in only 83% of cases. Domain‐adaptation techniques improved model generalization to an external validation cohort by up to 22%. Statistically significant morphological features were identified per molecular type and quantitatively correlated to human diagnoses. The approach was extended to recently defined subtypes of myxopapillary ependymomas (MPE‐(A/B), 80% test accuracy). In summary, we demonstrated the accurate prediction of the DNA methylation class of spinal cord ependymomas (SP‐EPN, MPE(‐A/B)) using hematoxylin and eosin stained whole‐slide images. Our approach may prospectively serve as a supplementary resource for integrated diagnostics and may even help to establish a standardized, high‐quality level of histology‐based diagnostics across institutions—in particular in low‐income countries, where expensive DNA‐methylation analyses may not be readily available.
An exploratory evaluation of a model of care for youth who are at risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking
Authors: McDonald Kyla P. , Fisher Riana , Connolly Jennifer
Published: January 2024

The sexual exploitation of children and youth remains a critical issue within the child welfare system, despite the limited availability of models of care to support these vulnerable individuals. The START with the YOUTH (STAR‐Y) program adopts a preventative approach, offering personalized care and wraparound support to youth exhibiting at‐risk behaviours. This paper employs a case study methodology using both thematic and content analyses to longitudinally assess the effectiveness of this exploratory program. This evaluation encompasses a comprehensive assessment of various factors associated with the risk of sexual exploitation among program participants. Throughout the program's extended duration (originally planned for one year), predefined risk factors, including concerning Internet behaviours, were monitored and analysed. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews and observations, focusing on the experiences of both the youth and their foster parents. The results highlight the program's successful implementation, with youth enrollment (N = 3) demonstrating a reduction in sexual exploitation risk factors over time, including a decrease in behaviours such as concerning Internet usage. The importance of wraparound support and the foster parent‐youth relationship in mitigating risk and nurturing resilience became evident. This exploratory evaluation serves as the initial phase of a comprehensive assessment aimed at understanding how to effectively support youth within this population, including those at higher risk, such as those possibly involved in sex trafficking. The study's findings provide valuable insights into strategies for mitigating the risk of sexual exploitation among vulnerable youth, informing future endeavours to develop and implement similar programs within the child welfare system.
Signalling interaction between β‐catenin and other signalling molecules during osteoarthritis development
Authors: Feng Jing , Zhang Qing , Pu Feifei , Zhu Zhenglin , Lu Ke , Lu William W. , Tong Liping , Yu Huan , Chen Di
Published: January 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent disorder of synovial joint affecting multiple joints. In the past decade, we have witnessed conceptual switch of OA pathogenesis from a ‘wear and tear’ disease to a disease affecting entire joint. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms of OA using genetic mouse models and ex vivo joint tissues derived from individuals with OA. These studies revealed that multiple signalling pathways are involved in OA development, including the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling and its interaction with other signalling pathways, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β), bone morphogenic protein (BMP), Indian Hedgehog (Ihh), nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and Notch. The identification of signalling interaction and underlying mechanisms are currently underway and the specific molecule(s) and key signalling pathway(s) playing a decisive role in OA development need to be evaluated. This review will focus on recent progresses in understanding of the critical role of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in OA pathogenesis and interaction of β‐catenin with other pathways, such as TGF‐β, BMP, Notch, Ihh, NF‐κB, and FGF. Understanding of these novel insights into the interaction of β‐catenin with other pathways and its integration into a complex gene regulatory network during OA development will help us identify the key signalling pathway of OA pathogenesis leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for OA intervention.
The discriminative role of PROX‐1 immunohistochemistry between venous malformation and lymphatic malformation of the deep type with no visible diagnostic surface skin lesion
Authors: Lee Seok‐Jong , Ha Nam Gyoung , Kim Ho Youn , Lee Jong Min , Lee Sang Yub , Huh Seung , Kim Ji Yoon , Chung Ho Yun
Published: January 2024

Background

Venous malformations (VMs) are distinguished from lymphatic malformations (LMs) when specific diagnostic skin lesions are present. In the deep type, this is difficult by clinico‐radiologic evaluation alone. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of lymphatic vessel endothelial cell (LEC) markers for the differential diagnosis of the deep VMs and LMs.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of patients with VMs and LMs who underwent biopsy with both D2‐40 and PROX‐1 immunohistochemistry. We compared the initial clinico‐radiological diagnosis with the final pathological diagnosis and identified which ones showed a difference.

Results

From 261 patients who had VMs and LMs, 111 remained after the exclusion of those who showed definite surface diagnostic features. After pathological diagnosis with the expressions of D2‐40 and PROX‐1, 38 of 111 (34.2%) patients' final diagnoses were changed. Among these 38 cases, diagnosis was not changed by D2‐40 positivity alone, but changed by PROX‐1 positivity alone (52.6%) or by both (47.4%). The diagnostic changes were more frequent in the deep category (43.7%) than in the superficial category.

Conclusions

Identifying the expression of D2‐40, and especially PROX‐1, in the differential diagnosis of VMs and LMs may provide important treatment guidelines and understanding their natural course.
Nectin‐4 expression in a subset of cutaneous adnexal carcinomas: A potential target for therapy with enfortumab vedotin
Authors: Cho Woo Cheal , Saade Rayan , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Aung Phyu P. , Milton Denái R. , Marques‐Piubelli Mario L. , Hudgens Courtney , Ledesma Debora , Nelson Kelly , Ivan Doina , Zhang Miao , Torres‐Cabala Carlos A. , Campbell Matthew , Alhalabi Omar , Prieto Victor G. , Wistuba Ignacio I. , Esmaeli Bita , Curry Jonathan L.
Published: January 2024

Background

Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is an antibody‐drug conjugate directed against Nectin‐4 that is used to treat urothelial carcinoma. Nectin‐4 is inherently expressed in the skin and adnexal structures. Since therapeutic options for cutaneous adnexal carcinomas are limited, we sought to evaluate Nectin‐4 expression in adnexal carcinomas and benign adnexal neoplasms to identify tumors that are potentially targetable with EV.

Methods

Eight sebaceous carcinomas (seven periocular and one lymph node metastasis), eight digital papillary adenocarcinomas, seven squamoid eccrine ductal carcinomas, eight poromas, eight trichilemmomas, and seven sebaceous adenomas were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for anti‐Nectin‐4 antibody. H‐scores for Nectin‐4 expression were calculated.

Results

Benign adnexal neoplasms had a significantly lower mean (±SD) Nectin‐4 H‐score (142.6 ± 39.1) than did the adnexal carcinomas (198 ± 90.8; p = 0.006). Nectin‐4 was expressed in 91% (21/23) of adnexal carcinomas. Sebaceous carcinomas frequently exhibited high expression of Nectin‐4 (88% [7/8]), with a mean (±SD) H‐score (258.1 ± 58.4) significantly higher than those for digital papillary adenocarcinomas (197.5 ± 52.5; p = 0.035) and squamoid eccrine ductal carcinomas (131.4 ± 114.1; p = 0.031). Sebaceous carcinomas also had significantly higher H‐scores than did sebaceous adenomas (186.4 ± 25.0; p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Increased Nectin‐4 expression in a subset of cutaneous adnexal carcinomas, particularly sebaceous carcinomas, reveals that EV is a potential therapeutic option for these tumors.
Antenatal diagnosis, neonatal brain volumes, and neurodevelopment in transposition of the great arteries
Authors: Selvanathan Thiviya , Mabbott Connor , Au‐Young Stephanie H. , Seed Mike , Miller Steven P. , Chau Vann ,   the PCNR Study Group
Published: January 2024

Aim

To examine whether antenatal diagnosis modifies relationships between neonatal brain volumes and 18‐month neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with transposition of the great arteries (TGA).

Method

In a retrospective cohort of 139 children with TGA (77 antenatally diagnosed), we obtained total brain volumes (TBVs) on pre‐ (n = 102) and postoperative (n = 112) magnetic resonance imaging. Eighteen‐month neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Generalized estimating equations with interaction terms were used to determine whether antenatal diagnosis modified associations between TBVs and neurodevelopmental outcomes accounting for postmenstrual age at scan, brain injury, and ventricular septal defect.

Results

Infants with postnatal diagnosis had more preoperative hypotension (35% vs 14%, p = 0.004). The interactions between antenatal diagnosis and TBVs were significantly related to cognitive (p = 0.003) outcomes. Specifically, smaller TBVs were associated with lower cognitive scores in infants diagnosed postnatally; this association was attenuated in those diagnosed antenatally.

Interpretation

Antenatal diagnosis modifies associations between neonatal brain volume and 18‐month cognitive outcome in infants with TGA. These findings suggest that antenatal diagnosis may be neuroprotective, possibly through improved preoperative clinical status. These data highlight the need to improve antenatal diagnosis rates.

What this paper adds

Antenatal diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries modified relationships between neonatal brain volume and neurodevelopment.

Smaller brain volumes related to poorer cognitive scores with postnatal diagnosis only.

There was more preoperative hypotension in the postnatal diagnosis group.
The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time
Authors: Costa‐Font Joan , Fleche Sarah , Pagan Ricardo
Published: January 2024

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a widely adopted practice implemented by over 70 countries to align sunlight with day‐to‐day activities and reduce energy demands. However, we do not have a clear knowledge of how it affects individuals' welfare. Using a regression discontinuity combined with a difference‐in‐differences design, we find that the Spring DST transition causes a significant decline in life satisfaction. By inducing a reallocation of time, the transition into DST deteriorates sleep quality and increases time stress, which in turn affects physical and emotional health. Using an event study approach, we find that such effects persist for about six days after the DST transition. Conversely, we provide evidence that the Autumn DST transition gives rise to a significant increase in life satisfaction. Finally, using a simple cost‐benefit analysis, we discuss the potential benefits of ending DST.
Educational status affects prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A post‐hoc analysis from the WARCEF trial
Authors: Corica Bernadette , Romiti Giulio Francesco , Simoni Amalie Helme , Mei Davide Antonio , Bucci Tommaso , Thompson John L. P. , Qian Min , Homma Shunichi , Proietti Marco , Lip Gregory Y. H. ,   the WARCEF Investigators
Published: January 2024

Aims

The influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on the prognosis of Heart Failure and reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) is increasingly reported. We aim to evaluate the contribution of educational status on outcomes in patients with HFrEF.

Methods

We used data from the WARCEF trial, which randomized HFrEF patients with sinus rhythm to receive Warfarin or Aspirin; educational status of patients enrolled was collected at baseline. We defined three levels of education: low, medium and high level, according to the highest qualification achieved or highest school grade attended. We analysed the impact of the educational status on the risk of the primary composite outcome of all‐cause death, ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH); components of the primary outcome were also analysed as secondary outcomes.

Results

2295 patients were included in this analysis; of these, 992 (43.2%) had a low educational level, 947 (41.3%) had a medium education level and the remaining 356 (15.5%) showed a high educational level. Compared to patients with high educational level, those with low educational status showed a high risk of the primary composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.31, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.02–1.69); a non‐statistically significant association was observed in those with medium educational level (aHR: 1.20, 95%CI: .93–1.55). Similar results were observed for all‐cause death, while no statistically significant differences were observed for IS or ICH.

Conclusion

Compared to patients with high educational levels, those with low educational status had worse prognosis. SDOH should be considered in patients with HFrEF.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT00041938.
Do natural disasters affect local elections? An empirical examination using subnational electoral data
Authors: Kondoh Haruo , Miyazaki Takeshi
Published: January 2024

Do natural disasters affect election results? Some studies have shown that natural disasters negatively impact subsequent elections, while others do not. This study investigated the link between natural disasters and local elections using data from the Japanese prefectural governor elections for the years 1985–2015. A rich data set is available for prefectural governor elections in Japan that includes information on who won, the vote shares of all candidates, and when the election was held, among others. We found empirical evidence that the number of days between an election and most recent disaster before election positively impacted the vote share of the incumbent/successor. In other words, an incumbent/successor is likely to have less support in the election immediately following a disaster by the constituencies, but can get more support as time passes after the disaster. Moreover, political alignment with the central ruling parties positively affects the vote share of an incumbent/successor over time between an election and the most recent disaster. These results suggest a possibility that politicians seek popularity not through the implementation of proper disaster recovery policies but by taking advantage of their connection with central ruling parties, which may harm citizens' welfare in the long run.
Against theological readings of Sartre
Authors: Eshleman Matthew
Published: January 2024

This essay addresses ‘the God‐haunted Atheist paradox’ in Sartre's early philosophy and argues against a series of efforts to show that Sartre maintains a ‘secular theology’. It shows that if Sartre's ontology is correct, the God of ‘classic theism’ cannot possibly exist. It argues against two sophisticated efforts to show that theological influences infiltrate Sartre's early ontology and permeate his moral psychology. It also rejects the claim that Sartre's (Existentialism is a Humanism, 1946/2007, Yale University Press) distinction between secular and religious existentialism ‘has no basis in fact’. It shows that Sartre appropriates religious language in order to give debunking secular explanations for religious phenomena and that he inverts traditional Christian values. It concludes that Sartre is an anti‐theologian.
Willful testimonial injustice as a form of epistemic injustice
Authors: Hänel Hilkje C.
Published: January 2024

In the debate on epistemic injustice, it is generally assumed that testimonial injustice as one form of epistemic injustice cannot be committed (fully) deliberately or intentionally because it involves unconscious identity prejudices. Drawing on the case of sexual violence against refugees in European refugee camps, this paper argues that there is a form of testimonial injustice—willful testimonial injustice—that is deliberate. To do so, the paper argues (a) that the hearer intentionally utilizes negative identity prejudices for a particular purpose and (b) that the hearer is aware of the fact that the intentionally used prejudices are in fact prejudices. Furthermore, the paper shows how testimonial injustice relates to recognition failures both in terms of a causal as well as a constitutive claim. In fact, introducing willful testimonial injustice can support the constitutive claim of such a relation that has so far received little attention. Besides arguing for a novel form of testimonial injustice and contributing to the recent debate on the relation between epistemic injustice and recognition failures, this paper is also motivated by the attempt to draw attention to the inhumane conditions for refugees at the border of Europe as well as elsewhere.
Do pet dogs reciprocate the receipt of food from familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics?
Authors: McGetrick Jim , Fux Leona , Schullern‐Schrattenhofen Johannes , Rault Jean‐Loup , Range Friederike
Published: January 2024

Reciprocity is one of the most prominent explanations for the evolution of stable cooperation. Although reciprocity has been studied for decades in numerous animal species and behavioural contexts, its underlying proximate mechanisms remain unclear. Domestic dogs provide a useful model species for the study of proximate mechanisms, though there are currently inconsistent findings regarding dogs' propensity to reciprocate. Here, we investigated whether, after minimal training, pet dogs would press a button, which remotely controlled a food dispenser, to deliver food to an enclosure occupied by a helpful conspecific that had provided them with food or an unhelpful conspecific that had not provided them with food. We included an asocial control condition in which the enclosure was unoccupied and a social facilitation control in which the food delivery mechanism was non‐functional. Whether subjects were familiar with the helpful and unhelpful conspecifics was also varied. In addition, to investigate potential mechanisms underlying reciprocity, we measured subjects salivary oxytocin concentration before and after they experienced the helpful and unhelpful acts. There was no effect of the previous helpfulness or the familiarity of the partner on the number of times subjects pressed the button. However, there was also no effect of the presence of a partner or the operationality of the food delivery mechanism on the number of button presses, indicating that subjects were not pressing the button to provision the partner. Moreover, the experience of the helpful or unhelpful act did not influence subjects' salivary oxytocin concentration. Variation in findings of reciprocity across studies appears to correspond with differing training protocols. Subjects' understanding of the task in the current study may have been constrained by the limited training received. Additional tests to verify subjects' understanding of such tasks are warranted in future studies.
Sarcasm‐based tweet‐level stress detection
Authors: Prashanth KVTKN , Ramakrishnudu Tene
Published: January 2024

Psychological stress has evolved as an important health concern across the globe. The vulnerability to stress and the ramifications of it have only worsened during the time of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This necessitates a timely diagnosis of stress before the condition progresses to chronicity. In this context, the popularity of social media like Twitter, where large numbers of users share opinions without any social stigma, has emerged as a major resource of human opinions. This has led to an increased research interest in social media‐based stress detection techniques. However, tweet‐level stress detection techniques in the literature have left a void in leveraging the text information in tweets, especially the presence of sarcastic expressions in the tweet's text content. To this end, a novel method called “Sarcasm‐based Tweet‐Level Stress Detection” (STSD) is proposed in this work with the modification of the logistic loss function to detect tweet‐level stress by availing the information of sarcasm that exists in the tweet‐content. The principle of the STSD model is to minimize the loss for non‐sarcastic tweets while maximising the loss for sarcastic tweets. Furthermore, extensive preprocessing and dimensionality reduction are performed using kernel principal component analysis (kernel PCA) to improve the performance by reducing the dimensions. The experimental results show that the proposed STSD model, when applied along with kernel PCA, records a significant improvement in accuracy by a minimum of 5.25% and a maximum of 9.19% over baseline models. Also, there is an increment in F1‐score by at least 0.085 points and a maximum of 0.164 points when compared to the baseline models.
ChatGPT in medical libraries, possibilities and future directions: An integrative review
Authors: Lund Brady D. , Khan Daud , Yuvaraj Mayank
Published: January 2024

Background

The emergence of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022 has garnered substantial attention across diverse disciplines. Despite widespread adoption in various sectors, the exploration of its application in libraries, especially within the medical domain, remains limited.

Aims/Objectives

Many areas of interest remain unexplored like ChatGPT in medical libraries and this review aims to synthesise what is currently known about it to identify gaps and stimulate further research.

Methods

Employing Cooper's integrative review method, this study involves a comprehensive analysis of existing literature on ChatGPT and its potential implementations within library contexts.

Results

A systematic literature search across various databases yielded 166 papers, with 30 excluded for irrelevance. After abstract reviews and methodological assessments, 136 articles were selected. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist further narrowed down to 29 papers, forming the basis for the present study. The literature analysis reveals diverse applications of ChatGPT in medical libraries, including aiding users in finding relevant medical information, answering queries, providing recommendations and facilitating access to resources. Potential challenges and ethical considerations associated with ChatGPT in this context are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Positioned as a review, our study elucidates the applications of ChatGPT in medical libraries and discusses relevant considerations. The integration of ChatGPT into medical library services holds promise for enhancing information retrieval and user experience, benefiting library users and the broader medical community.
Association between apical periodontitis and secondary outcomes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A case–control study
Authors: Malvicini Giulia , Marruganti Crystal , Abu Leil Mustafa , Martignoni Marco , Pasqui Edoardo , de Donato Gianmarco , Grandini Simone , Gaeta Carlo
Published: January 2024

Aim

To evaluate the association between apical periodontitis (AP) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCDV).

Methodology

A total of 65 periodontally and systemically healthy patients (age ≥ 40 years) were included in the study. Periapical status was assessed through dental examination and periapical radiographs; 33 subjects had AP (AP+), while 32 acted as control (AP−). Moreover, data regarding their periapical index (PAI) score and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index were recorded. All subjects underwent echo‐colour Doppler assessment of carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT), carotid plaques, degree of stenosis using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial (NASCET) method, maximum diameter of the abdominal aorta (maximum AA) and common iliac arteries (CIA) diameters. Furthermore, peripheral blood flow was also measured using the ankle‐brachial index (ABI). Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed.

Results

Among AP+ patients, 57.58% disclosed at least one sign of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Multiple regression analysis identified AP as a significant risk indicator for carotid plaques [OR = 4.87 (1.27, 18.98; p = .021)] and marked carotid intima‐media thickenings (OR = 14.58 [1.22, 176.15], p = .035). A significant association was established between AP and other cardiovascular (CV) variables (CIMT, NASCET, and maximum AA). On the contrary, a higher PAI score does not correlate to increased odds of carotid alterations, and the presence of AP did not prove any significant change in CIA and ABI. No significant correlation was established between DMFT and other variables.

Conclusions

Results from the current study highlight that the presence of AP may be regarded as a risk indicator for ASCVD, with AP being associated with 5‐fold increased odds of having carotid plaques and 15‐fold increased odds of having marked carotid intima‐media thickenings. Further studies should be conducted in order to verify whether AP treatment could be beneficial for ASCVD signs.
Porous Ti3AlC2 MAX phase enables efficient synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene
Authors: Roslyk Iryna , Baginskiy Ivan , Zahorodna Veronika , Gogotsi Oleksiy , Ippolito Stefano , Gogotsi Yury
Published: January 2024

MXenes, a large family of two‐dimensional carbides and/or nitrides, are among the most studied materials worldwide due to their great diversity of structures and compositions. Their unique properties find use in several applications. Typically, they are manufactured by selective wet‐chemical etching of layered MAX phase ceramics, which are produced nowadays primarily for MXene synthesis. However, the synthesis of MAX phases has not been changed since the time of their use in structural and high‐temperature applications, and it has not been optimized for MXene manufacturing. The main purpose of this study is to develop a porous Ti3AlC2 MAX phase that can be easily ground into individual grains without time‐consuming, harsh, and tedious crushing and milling steps. Moreover, we also demonstrate the synthesis of highly porous Ti3AlC2 from an inexpensive titanium sponge instead of a highly pure titanium powder and explain the mechanisms of reaction sintering and formation of porous MAX phase. MXene obtained from this MAX phase, Ti3C2Tx, shows larger flake size and higher electrical conductivity in thin films, compared to the materials produced from the costly fine titanium powder. The proposed approach may apply to the synthesis of other MAX phases as well.
Long‐term follow‐up of congenital hydronephrosis in a single‐center study
Authors: Morizawa Yosuke , Aoki Katsuya , Fukui Shinji , Tomizawa Mitsuru , Shimizu Takuto , Onishi Kenta , Hori Shunta , Gotoh Daisuke , Nakai Yasushi , Miyake Makito , Torimoto Kazumasa , Fujimoto Ken , Otani Takeshi , Fujimoto Kiyohide
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Many congenital hydronephroses spontaneously resolve. This study evaluated a long‐term follow‐up of more than 4 years of patients with congenital hydronephrosis at a single center.

Methods

In total, 215 patients (286 kidneys) with congenital hydronephrosis were included. Hydronephrosis outcomes (resolution, improvement, and persistence) and time‐to‐outcome were evaluated.

Results

Fourteen patients underwent early surgical intervention until the age of 2 years. A total of 189 congenital hydronephrosis cases (66%) showed resolution at a median of 16 months (interquartile range: 7–21 months) and 169 (80%) of 210 kidneys with grade I to II hydronephrosis showed resolution at a median of 14 months (interquartile range: 6–23 months). Of 76 kidneys with grade III to IV hydronephrosis, 24 (32%) showed resolution at a median of 29 months (interquartile range: 24–41 months), and 56 (74%) showed improvement to grade II or less at a median of 12 months (interquartile range: 5–23 months). Of the 76 kidneys with grade III to IV hydronephrosis, five required delayed pyeloplasty at a median of 66 months (interquartile range: 42–89 months). One patient was asymptomatic, with a marked worsening of hydronephrosis and decreased renal function 6 years after the resolution of hydronephrosis.

Conclusions

None of the patients with grade I to II hydronephrosis required surgical treatment, and a shorter follow‐up may be sufficient. Grade III to IV severe hydronephrosis should be considered for a longer and more careful follow‐up, given the possibility of asymptomatic exacerbation of hydronephrosis.
Effects of nonprescription therapies on vestibular migraine: a questionnaire‐based observational study
Authors: Hannigan Imelda P. , Rosengren Sally M. , Di Tanna Gian L. , Watson Shaun R. D. , Welgampola Miriam S.
Published: January 2024

Background

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of recurrent vertigo. Migraine headache preventative therapies are currently prescribed to control vertigo symptoms in VM. Clinical trials of nutraceuticals for migraine headache prevention have shown positive outcomes, but, to date, there have been no studies to assess their effectiveness in the management of VM.

Aims

To report the effects of nonprescription therapy management on VM symptoms.

Methods

We undertook a prospective, questionnaire‐based assessment of patients diagnosed with VM between November 2019 and August 2021 at two Sydney tertiary referral clinics. Patients were advised on optimising sleep, hydration, exercise and nutrition and instructed to use an over‐the‐counter combination product containing riboflavin 200 mg, magnesium 150 mg, coenzyme Q10 75 mg and feverfew 200 mcg. Symptom severity and frequency were assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Vertigo Symptom Score short‐form (VSS‐sf) and two visual analogue scales for severity (VAS‐s) and frequency (VAS‐f) before and 3 months after commencing treatment.

Result

In 82 participants (78% female; mean age, 44 ± 14 years) we recorded a decrease in DHI (mean, 16.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.8–20.9], VSS‐sf (9.3, 7.1–11.5), VAS‐s (3.0, 2.2–3.8) and VAS‐f (2.8, 2.1–3.4), equating to an improvement of 44.1%, 44.9%, 44.1% and 38.9% for each measure respectively. On the DHI and VSS‐sf, 41 (50%) and 44 (53.7%) patients showed improvement in their symptoms; 39 (47.6%) and 36 (43.9%) patients noted no change and two patients reported worsening. The supplement was well‐tolerated.

Conclusions

The results provide preliminary evidence that VM symptom frequency and severity can be reduced by using nonprescription therapies.
Contribution of individual and cumulative social determinants of health underlying gender disparities in periodontitis in a representative US population: A cross‐sectional NHANES study
Authors: Liang Jing‐Hong , Liu Mei‐Ling , Pu Ying‐Qi , Wang Cong , Huang Shan , Jiang Nan , Hu Li‐Xin , Zhang Yu‐Shan , Gui Zhao‐Huan , Pu Xue‐Ya , Huang Shao‐Yi , Chen Ya‐Jun
Published: January 2024

Aim

To examine the impact of both individual and cumulative social determinants of health (SDoH) on the likelihood of developing periodontitis, while also exploring any gender disparities in this relationship.

Materials and Methods

Data of self‐reported SDoH domains and sub‐items based on Healthy People 2030 were obtained from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 1999 and 2014. Logistic regression models, weighted by survey responses, were used to examine the relationship between SDoH (including eight sub‐items and the cumulative number of unfavourable SDoH) and periodontitis. The results were further analysed by gender.

Results

A total of 18,075 participants (8867 males and 9208 females) were included in the main analysis, of which 5814 (32.2%) had periodontitis. The study found that certain unfavourable SDoH were individually associated with higher odds of periodontitis, and the cumulative number of unfavourable SDoH was positively linked to the odds of developing periodontitis. Furthermore, males exposed to more unfavourable SDoH appeared to be more susceptible to developing periodontitis than females.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that unfavourable SDoH, especially when they accumulate, are associated with an increased odds of periodontitis and contribute to gender disparities within the U.S. population.
Research on trimming path for forked carrots using contour‐based machine learning methods
Authors: Lv Lanlan , Zheng Zhaohui , Xu Jingshen , Fu Hanyu , Ren Liuyang , Yang Pei , Xie Weijun , Yang Deyong
Published: January 2024

Forked carrots are often used as animal feed or discarded directly, which affects ​the economic returns of growers and leads to resource waste and environmental pollution. After trimming, forked carrots become easier to peel and can be further processed. However, the lack of relevant studies and equipment hinders the full use of forked carrots, and the identification of fork points and determination of the trimming path are the main challenges in trimming forked carrots with unique and diverse shapes. Therefore, an automatic carrot‐trimming path recognition solution based on contour analysis and machine learning was proposed in this study to address the above challenges. Specifically, a cascaded model and a parallel model consisting of Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were constructed to identify fork points, and three trimming path determination methods based on fork points and carrot contours were proposed. The results demonstrated cascaded and parallel models achieved 100% and 92.7% recall rates, respectively, with accuracy rates of 90.4% and 100% and repetition rates of 97.1% and 96.4%. Among the trimming path determination methods, both the dynamic convex hull method and the static convex hull method achieved a convexity of 94.7%, surpassing 93.1% for the slope method. The static convex hull method exhibited the fastest speed in determining the trimming path, taking only 0.0032 s per carat. The parallel model and the static convex hull method could be effectively used for online determination of the trimming path for forked carrots.

Practical applications

Trimming forked carrots enhances usability, reduces resource wastage, and mitigates environmental pollution. Leveraging contour‐based machine learning algorithms, we achieved precise fork point recognition with broad applicability. Using fork point and carrot contour data, we determined trimming paths that render carrots convex for mechanical peeling. This approach contributes to advancing sustainable agriculture by optimizing resource utilization.
Prevalence and risk factors of colorectal neoplasia in individuals aged 40–49 years: Findings from screening program in China
Authors: Zhang Mingqing , Zhang Yongdan , Zhang Wen , Zhang Yong , Zhao Lizhong , Jing Haoren , Gao Xinyu , Nie Zhenguo , Zhu Siwei , Zhang Shiwu , Zhang Xipeng
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in individuals under 50 is increasing worldwide. We conducted an analysis of colonoscopy findings in high‐risk individuals under 50 in the CRC screening program in Tianjin, China, to determine the detection rate and risk factors of advanced adenomas (AA), advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN), colorectal neoplasia (CN).

Methods

Our study investigated individuals aged 40–49 who underwent CRC screening and completed colonoscopy, 2012–2020, while the 50–54 age group served as a control. We compared the detection rates of AA, ACN, and CN among three age groups using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, and investigated the risk factors associated with AA, ACN, and CN among individuals aged 40–49.

Results

We found a gradual increase in the detection rate of AA, ACN, and CN among individuals aged 40–54. The detection rates for AA (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.41–0.81), ACN (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.43–0.77), and CN (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.56–0.74) were lower in individuals aged 40–44 compared to 45–49. The detection rates of AA (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.87–1.34) and ACN (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.93–1.35) in individuals aged 45–49 were comparable with 50–54. Besides, lifestyle factors, BMI, and FIT are not associated with the detection rates of AA, ACN, and CN among individuals aged 40–49.

Conclusions

Our study reveals screening data in individuals under 50, indicating comparable detection rates of AA and ACN in individuals aged 45–49 and 50–54. These findings provide valuable data support for optimizing the optimal age to initiate screening.
Validity and reliability of the Waterlow scale for assessing pressure injury risk in critical adult patients: A multi‐centre cohort study
Authors: Han Lin , Guo Jiali , Zhang Hongyan , Lv Lin , Dong Jianhui , Zhang Tong , Yan Fanghong , Ma Yuxia
Published: January 2024

Aim

To evaluate the predictive validity and reliability of the Waterlow scale in critically adult hospitalised patients.

Design

A multi‐centre cohort study.

Methods

This study was conducted in 72 intensive care units (ICUs) in 38 tertiary hospitals in Gansu Province, China. All adults admitted to the ICU for greater than or equal to 24 h without pressure injury (PI) on admission were screened by the Waterlow scale on admission, during ICU stay and ICU discharge from April 2021 to February 2023. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine a potential cut‐off value for critical adult hospitalised patients. Cut‐off values were then determined using Youden's index, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated based on these cut‐off values. Test–retest reliability was used to evaluate inter‐rater reliability.

Results

A total of 5874 critical patients on admission were included, and 5125 of them were assessed regularly. The area under curve (AUC) was 0.623 (95% CI, 0.574–0.690), with a cut‐off score of 19 showing the best balance among sensitivity of 62.7%, specificity of 57.4%, positive predictive value of 2.07% and negative predictive value of 99.08%. The test–retest reliability between the first assessment and the regular assessment was 0.447.

Conclusions

The Waterlow scale shows insufficient predictive validity and reliability in discriminating critical adults at risk of PI development. To further modify the items of the Waterlow scale, exploring specific risk factors for PI in the ICU and clarifying their impact degree was necessary. Risk predictive models or better tools are inevitable in the future.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients or family members supported nurses with PI risk assessment, skin examination and other activities during the inquiry.