bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renal tumor segmentation, visualization, and segmentation confidence using ensembles of neural networks in patients undergoing surgical resection
Authors: Bachanek Sophie , Wuerzberg Paul , Biggemann Lorenz , Janssen Tanja Yani , Nietert Manuel , Lotz Joachim , Zeuschner Philip , Maßmann Alexander , Uhlig Annemarie , Uhlig Johannes
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To develop an automatic segmentation model for solid renal tumors on contrast-enhanced CTs and to visualize segmentation with associated confidence to promote clinical applicability.

Materials and methods

The training dataset included solid renal tumor patients from two tertiary centers undergoing surgical resection and receiving CT in the corticomedullary or nephrogenic contrast media (CM) phase. Manual tumor segmentation was performed on all axial CT slices serving as reference standard for automatic segmentations. Independent testing was performed on the publicly available KiTS 2019 dataset. Ensembles of neural networks (ENN, DeepLabV3) were used for automatic renal tumor segmentation, and their performance was quantified with DICE score. ENN average foreground entropy measured segmentation confidence (binary: successful segmentation with DICE score > 0.8 versus inadequate segmentation ≤ 0.8).

Results

N = 639/n = 210 patients were included in the training and independent test dataset. Datasets were comparable regarding age and sex (p > 0.05), while renal tumors in the training dataset were larger and more frequently benign (p < 0.01). In the internal test dataset, the ENN model yielded a median DICE score = 0.84 (IQR: 0.62–0.97, corticomedullary) and 0.86 (IQR: 0.77–0.96, nephrogenic CM phase), and the segmentation confidence an AUC = 0.89 (sensitivity = 0.86; specificity = 0.77). In the independent test dataset, the ENN model achieved a median DICE score = 0.84 (IQR: 0.71–0.97, corticomedullary CM phase); and segmentation confidence an accuracy = 0.84 (sensitivity = 0.86 and specificity = 0.81). ENN segmentations were visualized with color-coded voxelwise tumor probabilities and thresholds superimposed on clinical CT images.

Conclusions

ENN-based renal tumor segmentation robustly performs in external test data and might aid in renal tumor classification and treatment planning.

Clinical relevance statement

Ensembles of neural networks (ENN) models could automatically segment renal tumors on routine CTs, enabling and standardizing downstream image analyses and treatment planning. Providing confidence measures and segmentation overlays on images can lower the threshold for clinical ENN implementation.

Key Points

Ensembles of neural networks (ENN) segmentation is visualized by color-coded voxelwise tumor probabilities and thresholds.

ENN provided a high segmentation accuracy in internal testing and in an independent external test dataset.

ENN models provide measures of segmentation confidence which can robustly discriminate between successful and inadequate segmentations.
A New Abscisic Acid Conjugate, ABA-L-Glutamate, Determined in Different Plant Species by Combined Immunoaffinity Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Turečková Veronika , Oklestková Jana , Žukauskaitė Asta , Eyer Luděk , Novák Ondřej , Strnad Miroslav
Published: August 2024

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone that occurs in plants at very low concentration (pmol/g fresh weight) and regulates multiple biological processes, including stomatal closure, seed germination, and responses to environmental stresses. In the present study, isolation of ABA, ABA glucosyl ester, and 11 ABA amino acid conjugates from minute quantities of plant tissue (less than 20 mg fresh weight) was achieved using a purification method based on the combination of an Oasis HLB column and an immunoaffinity sorbent. New monoclonal antibodies raised against (+)-cis,trans-ABA conjugated to BSA through its carboxyl group (C1) were characterised by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and used for immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) gel preparation. The use of immunoaffinity purification significantly reduced matrix effects and increased the selectivity and sensitivity of subsequent UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. In addition to (+)-cis,trans-ABA and its glucosyl ester, a new abscisic acid conjugate, ABA-L-glutamate, was isolated by IAC and identified by tandem mass spectrometry in pea (Pisum sativum L.), Lepidium sativum L. and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. However, it was not found in 10-day-old seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana or water-stressed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves. Here, the identification of an ABA conjugate with glutamic acid in plants is described for the first time.
Force-Based Modeling of Heterogeneous Roles in the Coordinated Behavior of a Triad
Authors: Ichikawa Jun , Fujii Keisuke
Published: August 2024

Group coordination is defined as interactions with other members to implement a task that is difficult to do alone or to achieve higher performance than an individual. Meanwhile, the adjustment process in coordination is not uniquely determined because each individual has many degrees of freedom. It is more difficult to explain and model complex and dynamic coordination, such as nonverbal behavior of three or more members than pair or verbal interaction. Hence, we previously introduced a coordinated drawing task and conducted the behavioral experiment. The triads operated reels to change the tensions of threads connected to a pen, shared three heterogeneous roles (pulling, relaxing, and adjusting), and moved the pen to draw an equilateral triangle. The results indicated that the adjusting role was related to high task performance by helping resiliently without disturbing the pen’s smooth movement while avoiding great pen deviation. However, this experiment alone cannot explain details of the adjustment process of tension. To supplement these findings, this study formulated the three roles using equations of motion. The multi-agent simulation results showed that the adjusting role might use the degree of pen deviation reflected by the others’ motor information, such as the operating procedures and forces, to change the tension and draw at least three sides. Although it is necessary to consider that we used the experimental task, our study contributes to the fundamental understanding of resilient adjustment in coordination by sharing heterogeneous roles as the first step.
Predictability of the early summer surface air temperature over Western South Asia
Authors: Rashid Irfan Ur , Abid Muhammad Adnan , Osman Marisol , Kucharski Fred , Ashfaq Moetasim , Weisheimer Antje , Almazroui Mansour , Torres-Alavez José Abraham , Afzaal Muhammad
Published: August 2024

Variability of the Surface Air Temperature (SAT) over the Western South Asia (WSA) region leads to frequent heatwaves during the early summer (May-June) season. The present study uses the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast’s fifth-generation seasonal prediction system, SEAS5, from 1981 to 2022 based on April initial conditions (1-month lead) to assess the SAT predictability during early summer season. The goal is to evaluate the SEAS5’s ability to predict the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related interannual variability and predictability of the SAT over WSA, which is mediated through upper-level (200-hPa) geopotential height anomalies. This teleconnection leads to anomalously warm surface conditions over the region during the negative ENSO phase, as observed in the reanalysis and SEAS5. We evaluate SEAS5 prediction skill against two observations and three reanalyses datasets. The SEAS5 SAT prediction skill is higher with high spatial resolution observations and reanalysis datasets compared to the ones with low-resolution. Overall, SEAS5 shows reasonable skill in predicting SAT and its variability over the WSA region. Moreover, the predictability of SAT during La Niña is comparable to El Niño years over the WSA region.
German version of the engagement of a person with dementia scale: translation and initial application experiences
Authors: Seibert Kathrin , Domhoff Dominik , Fricke Jacob , Wolf-Ostermann Karin
Published: August 2024

Background

Assessment tools for engagement in people with dementia often rely on self-reported measures which restricts their use in people with severe cognitive limitations. The Engagement of a Person with Dementia Scale (EPWDS) is a valid and reliable tool to assess behavioral and emotional expressions and responses of engagement in people with dementia through observation; however, the EPWDS is not yet available in the German language.

Objectives

1) Translation and cross-culturally adaptation of the original English version of the EPWDS into the German language (EPWDS-GER) and 2) to gain insights into assessing data with the newly developed instrument.

Material and methods

International recommendations were followed to cross-culturally adapt the English original version of the EPWDS into the German language in 5 steps: translation by three independent translators, synthesis, back translation, expert committee review (N = 10) and test of the prefinal version in nursing practice (N = 22) on a 5-point Likert scale to assess comprehensibility, practicability and suitability of the EPWDS-GER.

Results

The EPWDS-GER achieved high ratings for the five subscales on ease of understanding, ease of answering and importance of single items for assessing engagement. Average agreement for all items ranged from 3.86 to 4.43 (SD = 0.68–1.29). Overall rating of EPWDS-GER resulted in a mean agreement of 4.18 (SD = 0.73) for suitability and of 4.09 (SD = 0.81) for practicability.

Conclusion

The EPWDS-GER is an easy to use tool for measuring behavioral and emotional expressions and responses of engagement of a person with dementia and can now be utilized in clinical practice and research.
Health-related quality of life in vibrant soundbridge patients: generic and specific measures, short-term and long-term outcomes
Authors: Muigg Franz , Zelger Philipp , Rossi Sonja , Kühn Heike , Schmutzhard Joachim , Graf Simone , Weichbold Viktor
Published: August 2024

Objective

The goal of the study was to determine the short- and long-term outcome of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults implanted with a Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB).

Methods

Twenty-one adults (8 females, 13 males; mean age at implantation: 57 ±10 years) who received a unilateral VSB for combined or conductive hearing loss, were administered two questionnaires: the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) as a measure of hearing-specific HRQoL, and the Health Utility Index 3 (HUI 3) as a measure of generic HRQoL. The questionnaires were administered before implantation and three, six, 12 and 24 months after processor activation.

Results

The NCIQ total score raised significantly from 62 points before implantation to 76 points at three months after processor activation (p < 0.005). Thereafter, no significant increases occurred anymore. The HUI 3 multi-attribute score (MAUS) increased from 0.59 before implantation to 0.70 at three months and at six months after processor activation and then declined slightly to 0.68 at 24 months after processor activation. Similar values were observed with the HUI 3 single-attribute score (SAUS) of Hearing. The increases of the HUI 3 scores were not statistically significant, but all pre-post-implantation differences were clinically relevant.

Discussion

VSB recipients experienced a quick improvement of their HRQoL. After just three months of device use, a significant improvement of hearing-specific HRQoL and a clinically relevant improvement of generic HRQoL were seen. After three months, no essential changes of HRQoL occurred in our sample, suggesting that the achieved level of HRQoL may remain stable in the long term.
Muscular tension in ear surgeons during cochlear implantations: does a new microscope improve musculoskeletal complaints?
Authors: Lakomek Antonia , Eichler Theda , Meyer Moritz , Höing Benedikt , Dudda Marcel , Lang Stephan , Arweiler-Harbeck Diana
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Musculoskeletal complaints and fatigue are commonly described symptoms in daily work of ear nose and throat surgeons using a microscope. Long ear surgical procedures are associated with prolonged microscope use, which can lead to unconsciously tense and uncomfortable body posture. The digital microscope RoboticScope® allows visualization of surgical site through a Head-Mounted Display, independent from camera head and is therefore much easier on the back, as the sitting position can be adjusted flexibly. Aim of the prospective study was to investigate to what extent the use of a RoboticScope® changes the tension of neck and shoulder muscles of the surgeons in comparison to a conventional tripod microscope.

Methods

For this purpose, the electric activity of neck and shoulder muscles of surgeons was recorded using surface electromyography during cochlear implantations. Electrical potentials were derived via electrodes on neck and shoulder muscles. The basic tension of those muscles was measured in relaxed position before and after surgery. During microscope use the tension was continued to be measured. A questionnaire recorded parameters such as level of difficulty of operation as well as patient data.

Results

Results from 58 operations, 33 of which were performed using a conventional microscope and 25 using a Head-Mounted Display, show a significant reduction in muscular tension during surgery by 40% (p < 0.001) in experienced ear surgeons when using a RoboticScope®, regardless of the surgeon.

Conclusion

Our results are in line with the relevance of preventive measures to avoid acute and chronic work-related illnesses/symptoms described in literature.
Enhancing exercise performance and recovery through sodium bicarbonate supplementation: introducing the ingestion recovery framework
Authors: Gurton William H. , King David G. , Ranchordas Mayur K. , Siegler Jason C. , Gough Lewis A.
Published: August 2024

Sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation is an ergogenic strategy for athletes competing in high-intensity exercise, but the efficacy of SB for accelerating recovery from exercise and thus improving performance during repeated bouts of exercise is not fully understood. In a similar fashion to using SB as a pre-exercise buffer, it is possible accelerated restoration of blood pH and bicarbonate following an exercise bout mechanistically underpins the use of SB as a recovery aid. Physiological mechanisms contributing to beneficial effects for SB during repeated bout exercise could be more far-reaching however, as alterations in strong ion difference (SID) and attenuated cellular stress response might also contribute to accelerated recovery from exercise. From inspection of existing literature, ingestion of 0.3 g kg−1 body mass SB ~60–90 min pre-exercise seems to be the most common dosage strategy, but there is evidence emerging for the potential application of post-exercise supplementation timing, gradual SB doses throughout a competition day, or even ingestion during exercise. Based on this review of literature, an SB ingestion recovery framework is proposed to guide athletes and practitioners on the use of SB to enhance performance for multiple bouts of exercise.
Variation in vessel traits of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) provenances revealed high phenotypic plasticity to prevailing environmental conditions
Authors: Kormann Jonathan M. , van der Maaten-Theunissen Marieke , Unterholzner Lucrezia , Liesebach Mirko , Liepe Katharina J. , van der Maaten Ernst
Published: August 2024

Key message

Red oak provenances responded with high plasticity and intra-annual variability in vessel traits to studied climatic conditions, indicating weak signals of local adaptation and providing opportunities for forest management.

The climate change-induced increase in frequency and severity of extreme events has revealed a high vulnerability of various major tree species in Europe, stressing the need for selecting climate-resilient species for forest management. In this context, adaptive strategies of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) were examined, using wood anatomical data derived from a provenance trial. We investigated the interannual variation in vessel traits of red oak provenances planted at three sites along a precipitation gradient in Germany. We compared the climate sensitivity of German provenances with those from North America to analyze plasticity and to identify signals of local adaptation in vessel traits. The results revealed variations in vessel traits between all sites, pointing to site-specific responses to prevailing environmental conditions. Differences between provenances were prevalent for vessel size-related traits, with site-specific higher values for German provenances at wet sites. Climate signals, which varied between traits, were strongest for vessel density and the relative conductive area. Vessel traits were found to depend both on previous-year conditions as and on spring climate conditions during the onset of vessel formation. The site-specific response in extreme years deviate significantly between drought and frost events. A trade-off between resistance to extremes and vessel diameter could not be demonstrated, and provenances with larger vessel diameters showed higher frost resistance. The observed high plasticity in vessel traits and the site-specific variation to climate influences point to an adjustment in vessel formation to the prevailing environmental conditions.
Evolutionary variational inference for Bayesian generalized nonlinear models
Authors: Sommerfelt Philip Sebastian Hauglie , Hubin Aliaksandr
Published: August 2024

In the exploration of recently developed Bayesian Generalized Nonlinear Models (BGNLM), this paper proposes a pragmatic scalable approximation for computing posterior distributions. Traditional Markov chain Monte Carlo within the populations of the Genetically Modified Mode Jumping Markov Chain Monte Carlo (GMJMCMC) algorithm is an NP-hard search problem. To linearize them, we suggest using instead variational Bayes, employing either mean-field approximation or normalizing flows for simplicity and scalability. This results in an evolutionary variational Bayes algorithm as a more scalable alternative to GMJMCMC. Through practical applications including inference on Bayesian linear models, Bayesian fractional polynomials, and full BGNLM, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, delivering accurate predictions, transparency and interpretations, and accessible measures of uncertainty, while improving the scalability of BGNLM inference through on the one hand using a novel variational Bayes method, but, on the other hand, enabling the use of GPUs for computations.
Stereotactic radio-neurosurgery for jugular foramen schwannomas
Authors: Bourhila Camil , Cotrutz Cristian , Daniel Roy Thomas , George Mercy , Schiappacasse Luis , Patin David , Levivier Marc , Tuleasca Constantin
Published: August 2024

Background

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) represents a minimally invasive and valuable alternative for jugular foramen schwannomas (JFS), both as upfront and/or adjuvant treatment (in hybrid approaches).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of our cases treated at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) from June 2010 to October 2023. Eleven patients underwent SRS, among whom three had prior surgery, two in our center in the frame of a planned combined approach and one in another center. Two patients received "volume-staged" SRS. The mean age at SRS was 60 years (median 68; range 29–83). Cranial nerve (CN) symptoms were present in six patients, while five were asymptomatic. The mean tumor volume at SRS was 2.1 cc (median 1.2; range 0.068–7.3 cc), with a 12 Gy marginal dose prescribed in all cases.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 3.9 years (median 2, range 1–7). Cranial nerve function improved after SRS in six patients, while five remained stable. At the last follow-up, all tumors showed a decrease in volume, except for one patient, who underwent surgery at 18 months after SRS, for volumetric increase at 6 and 12 months, with further XII−th CN palsy and medulla oblongata compression. Although tumor decreased at 18 months, such patient needed microsurgical resection for symptom persistence and was further controlled. The mean tumor volume at 1 year post-SRS was 1.6 cc (median 0.55; range 0.028–7.77 cc), at 2 years was 1.31 cc (median 0.76; range 0.19–5), and at 3 years was 1.32 cc (median 0.59; range 0.23–4.8). No adverse radiation events were observed.

Conclusions

Stereotactic radiosurgery is considered a safe and effective treatment for jugular foramen schwannomas, ensuring high rates of tumor control in all patients over the long term. The cranial nerve function improved after SRS in the 6 patients who had deficits and the other 5 patients who had no deficits remained asymptomatic. For larger tumors, combined/hybrid approaches can be a valuable alternative, to obtain tumor control and to preserve neurological function.
Individuelle MS-Therapie
Authors: Heschl Bettina
Published: August 2024

Zur Behandlung der multiplen Sklerose zeigte sich in den letzten Jahren ein stetiger Zuwachs neuer Therapieoptionen und es steht derzeit eine Vielzahl von Medikamenten zur Verfügung. Um für unsere Patient:innen die individuell richtige Therapie zu finden, müssen neben einer sicheren Diagnose sowie der Krankheitsaktivität auch Wirkungsweise und Nebenwirkungen der einzelnen Medikamente in die Therapieentscheidung miteinfließen.

Ich berichte über eine junge Patientin mit einer komplexen Vorgeschichte und werde anhand der Medikamentenwirkweise sowie potenziellen Nebenwirkungen Entscheidungen diskutieren und Problemlösungen besprechen.
Oncological similarities between large type 3 and type 4 tumors in patients with resectable gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis of a multi-institutional dataset
Authors: Nakanishi Koki , Kanda Mitsuro , Ito Seiji , Mochizuki Yoshinari , Teramoto Hitoshi , Ishigure Kiyoshi , Murai Toshifumi , Asada Takahiro , Ishiyama Akiharu , Matsushita Hidenobu , Shimizu Dai , Tanaka Chie , Fujiwara Michitaka , Murotani Kenta , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: August 2024

Background

Large type 3 (diameter ≥ 8 cm) and type 4 gastric cancers have been arbitrarily combined in Japan as a single entity. However, whether these two types are oncologically similar remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify this issue.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we analyzed a database of 3,575 patients from nine institutions who underwent gastrectomy between 2010 and 2014. Using propensity scores to balance significant variables, we compared prognoses and tumor recurrences.

Results

Of patients with clinical T3/T4 who underwent R0 resection, 75 and 73 had large type 3 and 4 tumors, respectively. Patients with type 4 tumors had significantly lower overall survival rates than those of patients with large type 3 tumors (hazard ratio [HR] 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.74). However, among the large type 3 tumors, a remarkable difference in prognosis was observed between the differentiated and undifferentiated histological types. A comparison was made between large type 3 with undifferentiated phenotype and type 4, each with 39 patients after propensity score matching. Outcomes in both groups were similar in terms of overall survival (HR 1.28; 95% CI 0.73–2.25) and relapse-free survival (HR 1.34; 95% CI 0.80–2.27). No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of peritoneal recurrence (35.9% vs. 46.1%, P = 0.36) and lymph node recurrence (25.6% vs. 12.8%, P = 0.15).

Conclusions

Large type 3 tumors with undifferentiated phenotype and type 4 tumors were oncologically similar. This subgroup could be considered as a new entity for future clinical trials.
Predicting invasive disease-free survival in ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer using the PAM50 risk-of-recurrence score: a retrospective analysis using single-center long-term follow-up data of postmenopausal Japanese patients
Authors: Higami Akane , Takada Masahiro , Kawaguchi-Sakita Nobuko , Kawashima Masahiro , Kawaguchi Kosuke , Yamaguchi Ayane , Takeuchi Yasuhide , Yamada Yosuke , Toi Masakazu
Published: August 2024

Background

The prognostic value of the risk-of-recurrence (ROR) score calculated using PAM50 has been validated using clinical trials and patient cohorts. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the PAM50 ROR score in Japanese patients with early breast cancer using long-term follow-up data.

Methods

We enrolled postmenopausal patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative, stage I–II breast cancer who had undergone surgery at the Kyoto University Hospital between 2008 and 2014. The intrinsic subtype and ROR score were calculated using PAM50. The primary endpoint was invasive disease-free survival (IDFS).

Results

We enrolled 146 patients, of whom 47 (32%) patients had node-positive disease, and 36 (25%) had received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. The proportions of intrinsic subtypes for luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and basal-like subtypes were 67%, 27%, 3%, and 2%, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 8.4 (range 6.3–10.0) years, and 21 IDFS events were observed. Based on the ROR score, 37%, 33%, and 30% of the patients were classified as low, intermediate, and high risks, respectively. Patients in the high-risk group had a significantly worse 8-year IDFS rate than those in the low-to-intermediate-risk groups (75.1% vs. 91.6%, p = 0.04). The same trend was observed in patients with and without neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Using long-term follow-up data, this study showed that the ROR score can predict the prognosis of ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer in Japanese postmenopausal patients. Further investigations are required to confirm the prognostic value of the ROR score in Asian populations.
An Instrumented Hammer to Detect the Rupture of the Pterygoid Plates
Authors: Bas dit Nugues Manon , Lamassoure Leo , Rosi Giuseppe , Flouzat-Lachaniette Charles Henri , Khonsari Roman Hossein , Haiat Guillaume
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Craniofacial osteotomies involving pterygomaxillary disjunction are common procedures in maxillofacial surgery. Surgeons still rely on their proprioception to determine when to stop impacting the osteotome, which is important to avoid complications such as dental damage and bleeding. Our group has developed a technique consisting in using an instrumented hammer that can provide information on the mechanical properties of the tissue located around the osteotome tip. The aim of this study is to determine whether a mallet instrumented with a force sensor can be used to predict the crossing of the osteotome through the pterygoid plates.

Methods

31 osteotomies were carried out in 16 lamb skulls. For each impact, the force signal obtained was analysed using a dedicated signal processing technique. A prediction algorithm based on an SVM classifier and a cost matrix was applied to the database.

Results

We showed that the device could always detect the crossing of the osteotome, sometimes before its occurrence. The prediction accuracy of the device was 94.7%. The method seemed to be sensitive to the thickness of the plate and to crack apparition and propagation.

Conclusion

These results pave the way for the development of a per-operative decision support system in maxillofacial surgery.
The “Cycle” of HIV: Limits of Personal Responsibility in HIV Vulnerability Among Transgender Adolescents and Young Women in Lima, Peru
Authors: Orozco-Poore Casey , Perez-Brumer Amaya , Huerta Leyla , Salazar Ximena , Nunez Aron , Nakamura Africa , Aguayo-Romero Rodrigo , Silva-Santisteban Alfonso , Reisner Sari L.
Published: August 2024

Globally, transgender women (TW) face a high burden of the HIV epidemic. In Peru, HIV prevalence among TW rises at age 25, indicating a need to understand HIV vulnerability as adolescents reach adulthood. The life course of TW is often marked by abuse, discrimination and poverty fueled by transphobic stigma. Approaches to the HIV epidemic among TW and adolescents emphasize problem behaviors such as unprotected sex and substance. However, there has been a call for HIV research and interventions to understand and leverage community strengths. This qualitative study utilized a transgender-oriented, strength-based, intersectional and feminist approach to understand the strengths and protective health behaviors among 17 transgender adolescents and young women (TAYW) age 16–24 in Lima, Peru. Most participants re-located to Lima from the Amazon due to familial rejection, and engaged in obligatory sex work. TAYW demonstrated self-knowledge, motivation for education, efforts to secure employment, strong community networks, legal advocacy, avoiding problem substance use, HIV knowledge and condom use. However, strengths were impeded by multi-level barriers such as familial physical abuse, educational discrimination, and sexual assault which led to increased HIV vulnerability. We created a conceptual model of the “cycle” of HIV to describe the limits of personal responsibility within a vulnerable community denied access to family, education, employment and human rights. We recommend researchers, clinicians and public health workers follow the lead of TAYW at the frontlines of the HIV epidemic, and support beloved communities and enabling environments which may permit protective behaviors to mitigate HIV vulnerability.
Calculating Within-Pair Difference Scores in the Co-twin Control Design. Effects of Alternative Strategies
Authors: Madrid-Valero Juan J. , Verhulst Brad. , López-López José A. , Ordoñana Juan R.
Published: August 2024

Co-twin studies are an elegant and powerful design that allows controlling for the effect of confounding variables, including genetic and a range of environmental factors. There are several approaches to carry out this design. One of the methods commonly used, when contrasting continuous variables, is to calculate difference scores between members of a twin pair on two associated variables, in order to analyse the covariation of such differences. However, information regarding whether and how the different ways of estimating within-pair difference scores may impact the results is scant. This study aimed to compare the results obtained by different methods of data transformation when performing a co-twin study and test how the magnitude of the association changes using each of those approaches. Data was simulated using a direction of causation model and by fixing the effect size of causal path to low, medium, and high values. Within-pair difference scores were calculated as relative scores for diverse within-pair ordering conditions or absolute scores. Pearson’s correlations using relative difference scores vary across the established scenarios (how twins were ordered within pairs) and these discrepancies become larger as the within-twin correlation increases. Absolute difference scores tended to produce the lowest correlation in every condition. Our results show that both using absolute difference scores or ordering twins within pairs, may produce an artificial decrease in the magnitude of the studied association, obscuring the ability to detect patterns compatible with causation, which could lead to discrepancies across studies and erroneous conclusions.
Cytokine levels in breast cancer are highly dependent on cytomegalovirus (CMV) status
Authors: Spencer Juliet V. , Liu Jianfang , Deyarmin Brenda , Hu Hai , Shriver Craig D. , Somiari Stella
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Breast cancer accounts for 30% of all female cancers in the US. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that establishes lifelong infection, may play a role in breast cancer. CMV is not oncogenic, yet viral DNA and proteins have been detected in breast tumors, indicating possible contribution to tumor development. CMV encodes cmvIL-10, a homolog of human cellular IL-10 (cIL-10) with potent immunosuppressive activities. We investigated the relationship between CMV infection, cytokines, and breast cancer.

Methods

We evaluated CMV serostatus and cytokine levels in plasma of women with benign breast disease (n = 38), in situ carcinoma (n = 41), invasive carcinoma, no lymph node involvement (Inv/LN−; n = 41), and invasive with lymph node involvement (Inv/LN+; n = 37).

Results

Fifty percent of the patient samples (n = 79) were CMV seropositive. There was no correlation between CMV status and diagnosis (p = 0.75). For CMV+ patients, there was a trend toward higher CMV IgG levels in invasive disease (p = 0.172). CmvIL-10 levels were higher in CMV+ in situ patients compared to the Inv/LN− and Inv/LN+ groups (p = 0.020). Similarly, cIL-10 levels were higher in CMV+ in situ patients compared to the Inv/LN− and Inv/LN+ groups (p = 0.043). The results were quite different in CMV− patients where cIL-10 levels were highest in Inv/LN− compared to benign, in situ, or Inv/LN+ (p = 0.019). African American patients were significantly associated with CMV+ status (p = 0.001) and had lower cmvIL-10 levels than Caucasian patients (p = 0.046).

Conclusion

No association was observed between CMV IgG and diagnosis, but CMV infection influences cytokine production and contributes to altered cytokine profiles in breast cancer.
An algebraic approach to circulant column parity mixers
Authors: Subroto Robert Christian
Published: August 2024

Circulant Column Parity Mixers (CCPMs) are a particular type of linear maps, used as the mixing layer in permutation-based cryptographic primitives like Keccak-f (SHA3) and Xoodoo. Although being successfully applied, not much is known regarding their algebraic properties. They are limited to invertibility of CCPMs, and that the set of invertible CCPMs forms a group. A possible explanation is due to the complexity of describing CCPMs in terms of linear algebra. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to studying CCPMs using module theory from commutative algebra. We show that many interesting algebraic properties can be deduced using this approach, and that known results regarding CCPMs resurface as trivial consequences of module theoretic concepts. We also show how this approach can be used to study the linear layer of Xoodoo, and other linear maps with a similar structure which we call DCD-compositions. Using this approach, we prove that every DCD-composition where the underlying vector space with the same dimension as that of Xoodoo has a low order. This provides a solid mathematical explanation for the low order of the linear layer of Xoodoo, which equals 32. We design a DCD-composition using this module-theoretic approach, but with a higher order using a different dimension.
Targeting multiple receptor tyrosine kinases with sitravatinib: A Phase 1b study in advanced renal cell carcinoma and castrate-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Pant Shubham , Cho Byoung Chul , Kyriakopoulos Christos E. , Spira Alexander , Tannir Nizar , Werner Theresa L. , Yan Xiaohong , Neuteboom Saskia , Chao Richard , Goel Sanjay
Published: August 2024

Sitravatinib (MGCD516) is an oral inhibitor of several closely related oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptors that include VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2), AXL, and MET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition). The safety and antitumor activity of sitravatinib are reported in patients from two histologic cohorts (anti-angiogenesis-refractory clear cell renal cell carcinoma [RCC] and castrate-resistant prostate cancer [CRPC] with bone metastases) who participated in a Phase 1/1b study. The patients were enrolled using a 3-stage design that was based on observed objective responses. Objective response rate (ORR) was the primary endpoint. Duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were also assessed. Overall, 48 patients (RCC n = 38, CRPC n = 10) received ≥ 1 dose of sitravatinib. Both cohorts were heavily pretreated (median number of prior systemic therapies: RCC cohort 3, CRPC cohort 6). In the RCC cohort, ORR was 25.9%, P = 0.015 (null hypothesis [ORR ≤ 10%] was rejected). Responses were durable (median duration 13.2 months). Median PFS was 9.5 months and median OS was 30.0 months. No objective responses were seen in the CRPC cohort; median PFS and OS were 5.8 months and 10.1 months, respectively. Across both cohorts, diarrhea (72.9%), fatigue (54.2%), and hypertension (52.1%) were the most frequent all-cause treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Diarrhea and vomiting (both, 6.3%) were the most frequent serious TEAEs considered related to study treatment. Sitravatinib demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and promising clinical activity in patients with clear cell RCC refractory to prior angiogenesis inhibitor therapy. Strong indicators for clinical activity were not seen in patients with CRPC and bone metastases.

Clinical trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02219711.
Design-Based Digital Story Program: Enhancing Coding and Computational Thinking Skills in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Metin Şermin , Kalyenci Damla , Başaran Mehmet , Relkin Emily , Bilir Büşra
Published: August 2024

The domain of early childhood education has witnessed an increasing emphasis on developing coding and computational thinking (CT) abilities. Scholarly investigations have delved into appropriate approaches for enhancing these proficiencies within early childhood classrooms. The present study aims to investigate the impact of a digital story design program, or Design-Based Digital Story Program (DBDS), on the coding and CT skills of 5-year-old children. Specifically designed for children aged 3–6, the DBDS program aligns with constructivism principles, which promote experiential learning. Employing a case–control quasi-experimental design, the study employed pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments and a follow-up retest after one month. The intervention involved implementing the digital story design program over 11 weeks, with three sessions per week, each lasting between 60 to 90 min, targeting five-year-old participants. The findings reveal that the DBDS program significantly enhances CT and coding skills compared to a control group. Moreover, female participants exhibited more significant improvements in CT skills post-intervention than their male counterparts, while no significant gender-based effects were observed in coding skills. These findings suggest that the DBDS program effectively supports the cultivation of coding and CT abilities among young children, warranting further exploration in diverse educational settings and across various grade levels.
Extended ProMap datasets for product mapping
Authors: Macková Kateřina , Pilát Martin
Published: August 2024

Product mapping or product matching is the field of research dedicated to solving the problem of identifying which product listings (including names, descriptions, specifications, images, and other information) from different e-shops refer to the same product. The problem belongs among important data integration tasks processing data originating from different sources and with different structures. In our previous work, we created basic ProMapEn and ProMapCz datasets for product mapping in English and Czech. The main advantage of the ProMap datasets compared to existing product mapping datasets is that they contain different types of non-matches based on the similarity of the two products. In this paper, we extend the previous two datasets into a completely new collection of datasets for generalized product mapping in the Czech and English languages. We publish those datasets freely for other researchers in the area of product mapping on e-commerce. The main contributions are the extension of the ProMap datasets by adding a new class of non-matching products, the introduction of new ProMapMulti datasets of product pairs from multiple English e-shops, and the introduction of ProMapTransl datasets, obtained by translating the Czech datasets to English and vice versa. Moreover, we provide a very detailed analysis of these datasets with several experiments based on neural network techniques comparing different text preprocessing methods, and similarity computation methods. We also compare the differences among several product categories and evaluate state-of-the-art product mapping methods on these datasets. We also include generalised entity matching techniques and compare their behaviour on product mapping datasets which belong to this area. Finally, we include an appendix with a number of other basic experiments, such as an analysis of feature importances.
Anti-foundationalist Coherentism as an Ontology for Relational Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Jaura Emma
Published: August 2024

There have been a number of recent attempts to identify the best metaphysical framework for capturing Rovelli’s Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM). All such accounts commit to some form of fundamentalia, whether they be traditional objects, physical relations, events or ‘flashes’, or the cosmos as a fundamental whole. However, Rovelli’s own recommendation is that ‘a natural philosophical home for RQM is an anti-foundationalist perspective' (Rovelli in Philos Trans R Soc 376:10, 2018). This gives us some prima facie reason to explore options beyond these foundationalist frameworks, and take seriously a picture that lacks fundamentalia. I construct an argument from elimination in favour of an anti-foundationalist interpretation of RQM. The argument notes that priority monism and priority pluralism are exhaustive foundationalist options, and then shows that there are reasons to reject their union with RQM. I finish by recommending metaphysical coherentism as a promising anti-foundationalist alternative, which captures the key characteristics of RQM through accepting symmetrical dependence, whilst avoiding challenges by jettisoning any commitment to fundamental entities.
Examining the Link Between Social Affect and Visual Exploration of Cute Stimuli in Autistic Children
Authors: Zaharia Alexandra , Kojovic Nada , Rojanawisut Tara , Sander David , Schaer Marie , Samson Andrea C.
Published: August 2024

Baby schema refers to physical features perceived as cute, known to trigger attention, induce positive emotions, and prompt social interactions. Given the reduced visual attention to social stimuli observed in individuals on the autism spectrum, the current study examines whether the sensitivity to baby schema is also affected. We expected that the looking time towards cute-featured stimuli would vary with symptom severity levels and would be associated with social affect. Ninety-four children (31 typically developing; 63 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder - ASD) aged 20–83 months (M = 49.63, SD = 13.59) completed an eye-tracking visual exploration task. Autistic participants were separated into two groups based on symptom severity: children with high autism severity symptoms (HS ASD; N = 23) and low-moderate autism symptoms (LMS ASD; N = 40). Animals and neutral objects were simultaneously presented on the screen along with either human babies (condition 1) or adults (condition 2). The results indicated that visual attention oriented to cute-featured stimuli varied with autism symptom severity: only LMS and TD groups spend more time looking at cute-featured stimuli (babies; animals) than neutral objects. Moreover, children with higher severity in the social affect domain spent less time on the stimuli depicting cute than non-cute stimuli. These findings suggest that autism symptom severity and social skills are linked to variations in visual attention to cute stimuli. Implications of baby schema sensitivity are discussed in relation to the development of social competencies and play, responsiveness to robot-based interventions, as well as appraised relevance in autistic children.
Thin-walled aluminium waste remelting in circulation circuit with magnetodynamic pump
Authors: Smirnov Oleksiy , Fikssen Vladyslav , Kukhar Volodymyr , Goryuk Maksym , Hrushko Oleksandr , Rud Oleksandr , Lomakin Viktor
Published: August 2024

Modern technologies for remelting thin-walled aluminium waste are considered, and a new method to implement such process is proposed. This made it possible to increase the yield of a suitable remelted product to 83% from the mass of the initial remelting portion. The main idea is to use indirect heating of the charge. This will allow to significantly reduce the irreversible loss of metal due to burning which can reach 60%. In the proposed process, solid waste is melted by overheated melt stream. The movement of such stream is provided by the action of electromagnetic field. For the practical implementation of the offered idea, there was used a magnetodynamic pump (MDP) designed in the Physico-Technological Institute of Metals and Alloys of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The MDP has a significantly higher heat and power factor than electromagnetic pumps of travelling magnetic field which are often used in similar technologies. Mathematical model of the remelting process of aluminium thin-walled and fine charge due to convective heat transfer was developed. On the basis of this model, an engineering calculation of the specific process of remelting used aluminium cans in the liquid aluminium stream was also carried out. The obtained results were used at further conducting a full-scale experiment. There is designed and successfully practically tested the experimental two-chamber circulation circuit with MDP for remelting thin-walled aluminium waste. Recommendations for further development of the proposed process were formulated.

Graphical abstract
Towards cost-effective side-chain isotope labelling of proteins expressed in human cells
Authors: Rosati Martina , Barbieri Letizia , Hlavac Matus , Kratzwald Sarah , Lichtenecker Roman J. , Konrat Robert , Luchinat Enrico , Banci Lucia
Published: August 2024

Side chain isotope labelling is a powerful tool to study protein structure and interactions by NMR spectroscopy. 1H,13C labelling of side-chain methyl groups in a deuterated background allows studying large molecules, while side-chain aromatic groups are highly sensitive to the interaction with ligands, drugs, and other proteins. In E. coli, side chain labelling is performed by substituting amino acids with isotope-labelled precursors. However, proteins that can only be produced in mammalian cells require expensive isotope-labelled amino acids. Here we provide a simple and cost-effective method to label side chains in mammalian cells, which exploits the reversible reaction catalyzed by endogenous transaminases to convert isotope-labelled α-ketoacid precursors. We show by in-cell and in-lysate NMR spectroscopy that replacing an amino acid in the medium with its cognate precursor is sufficient to achieve selective labelling without scrambling, and how this approach allows monitoring conformational changes such as those arising from ligand binding.
Unraveling the Most Important Predictors of Eudaimonic and Hedonic Well-Being in Korean Adults: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Jyung Mina , Lee Sung-Ha , Choi Incheol
Published: August 2024

The quest to unravel what contributes to happiness continues to captivate interest in both everyday experiences and academic discourse. Nonetheless, empirical research on the relative importance of possible candidates and their associations with two key aspects of well-being—eudaimonia (the good life) and hedonia (pleasure)—is limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring the relative strength of 32 predictors from multiple domains on psychological well-being (PWB) and subjective well-being (SWB). Using a machine learning approach on a dataset of 559 Korean adults, we identified distinct primary determinants for each well-being aspect. For PWB, meaning in life, self-esteem, and essentialist beliefs about happiness emerged as the strongest predictors requiring careful consideration. For SWB, depressive symptoms, subjective socioeconomic status, and emotional stability were salient predictors. Our findings highlight potential cultural nuances in the prioritization of happiness and offer valuable insights for policymakers and decision-makers in tailoring interventions and strategies to optimize individual well-being.