bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of Romance Linguistics to the Development of Structuralism
Authors: Swiggers Pierre
Published: August 2024

Romance linguistics, a discipline emerging and taking shape in the 19th century, was initially, and primarily, oriented toward linguistic-philological text study, historical-comparative grammar and etymology. Its (almost inherently) historical and particularistic orientation was rather incompatible with the systematizing and generalizing goals of structural linguistics developing in the first decades of the 20th century. As a consequence, Romance scholars were not among the founders or leading figures of the emergent schools of structural linguistics, either in Europe or in the United States. Apart from the rather dogmatic “holistic” claims of areal norms put forward by the Italian school of neolinguistica, Romance scholars for a long time were reticent to posit universal or general principles with reference to language structure or to the evolution of languages. After World War II, Romance scholars in Europe and the United States became increasingly interested in the methods, techniques, and concepts of (respectively) European and American structuralism. The impact of structuralism can be traced in the career of individual Romance scholars, ranging from authors who more or less consistently followed a structuralist approach in the diachronic and/or synchronic study of Romance languages, to scholars who developed theoretical concepts that refined or extended the structuralist framework. In line with its century-old tradition, Romance linguistics, focusing on the study of the history, function, and meaning of individual words (and of proper names), became a catalyst in the development of structure-oriented approaches in dialectology, etymology, semantics, lexicology, and onomastics. In addition, scholars active in Romance-speaking countries have contributed to structuralism in a broad sense: structuralism in literary and semiotic studies, in philosophy, in psychology and psychoanalysis, and in anthropology.
Vowel Length in the Romance Languages
Authors: Loporcaro Michele
Published: August 2024

This article classifies all the Romance languages and dialects with regard to the phonological property of vowel length, phonemic and allophonic, considering its relationship to its correlate in phonetic substance, namely vocoid duration. It examines the rise and fall of vowel length in Romance, starting with a reference to Latin, where vowel length was contrastive as was consonant length, while in the Latin-Romance transition the former became dependent on the latter, as a part of a syllable structure conditioning. Consequently, Proto-Romance can be reconstructed as featuring an allophonic rule that lengthens stressed vowels in non-final open syllables (short, OSL) identical to that operating today in standard Italian, all Italo-Romance dialects south of the La Spezia-Rimini line, and Sardinian, which I will label type A languages. Due to a series of later changes, the remaining Romance languages and dialects lost this allophonic rule, which gave rise to either of the two further types: on the one hand, languages lacking contrastive gemination and contrastive vowel length (type B, including Daco- and Ibero-Romance all along their documented history, as well as, today, most of Gallo-Romance); and, on the other hand, languages lacking contrastive gemination but displaying contrastively long versus short vowels (type C, including most of northern Italo-Romance as well as part of Raeto- and Gallo-Romance, but which arguably stretched from the Apennines to the North Sea in the Middle Ages).

This article examines all relevant sources of evidence, from Latin epigraphic inscriptions to experimental phonetic measurements, showing that they all chime perfectly with the picture just outlined. Needless to say, while the data from modern languages and dialects are observational, and those from older stages delivered by the written record need interpretation, reconstruction is, by definition, constructional: It can be supported by several sources of evidence but is in itself always provisional. Therefore, the story to be told here must be considered the best approximation to the historical truth that the present author deems reconstructible based on the available evidence.
Dutch
Authors: Van de Velde Freek
Published: August 2024

This chapter presents a bird's eye perspective on Dutch, taking a historical perspective. Indeed, many characteristics of Dutch can only be understood by diachronically tracing the origin and development of its phonology, morphology, and syntax. For phonology, the major trends are an increasing phonemic importance and proliferation of vowels, an erosion of the Auslaut, and a closing and diphthongization of long vowels. For grammar the trends can be summarized as a gradual loss of inflectional morphology, a concomitant rise in configurationality, and a gradual crystallization in fixed expressions. Both in its structure and in its development there is considerable overlap with drifts in the neighboring languages, and indeed, Dutch is often found to occupy an intermediate position between its West-Germanic neighbors, not only geographically, but ‘typologically’ as well. Dialect variation is mainly organized along a geographic east–west axis, linking up with Franconian-Ingvaeonic contacts in the Early Middle Ages.
Perception is reality: qualitative insights into how consumers perceive alcohol warning labels
Authors: Kemper Joya , Rolleston Anna , Matthews Kristen , Garner Katie , Lang Bodo , Jiang Yannan , Ni Mhurchu Cliona , Walker Natalie
Published: August 2024

Aims

This study explores perspectives of on-pack alcohol warning labels, and how they might influence alcohol purchase and/or consumption behavior to inform culturally appropriate label design for effective behavior change.

Methods

New Zealand participants ≥18 years, who reported having purchased and consumed alcoholic beverages in the last month were recruited via a market research panel and grouped into 10 focus groups (n = 53) by ethnicity (general population, Māori, and Pacific peoples), age group, and level of alcohol consumption. Participants were shown six potential alcohol health warning labels, with design informed by relevant literature, label framework, and stakeholder feedback. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed via qualitative (directed) content analysis.

Results

Effective alcohol labels should be prominent, featuring large red and/or black text with a red border, combining text with visuals, and words like “WARNING” in capitals. Labels should contrast with bottle color, be easily understood, and avoid excessive text and confusing imagery. Participants preferred specific health outcomes, such as heart disease and cancer, increasing message urgency and relevance. Anticipated behavior change included reduced drinking and increased awareness of harms, but some may attempt to mitigate warnings by covering or removing labels. Contextual factors, including consistent design and targeted labels for different beverages and populations, are crucial. There was a strong emphasis on collective health impacts, particularly among Māori and Pacific participants.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that implementing alcohol warning labels, combined with comprehensive strategies like retail and social marketing campaigns, could effectively inform and influence the behavior of New Zealand’s varied drinkers.
The conundrum of costs allocation in international investment arbitrations: a proposed practical solution to enhance predictability of costs decisions
Authors: Minella Nicolò
Published: August 2024

This paper analyses how international investment tribunals constituted under the ICSID and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules addressed the matter of costs allocation. After a review and classification of some of the most relevant decisions of the last decades on the topic, the paper concludes that costs decision in investment arbitration are extremely erratic and unpredictable still today, with negative consequences for the parties’ interests that should not be underestimated. For this reason, the paper puts forward a new practical approach which might be adopted by arbitral tribunals in investment cases, and that—while ensuring full compliance with the applicable arbitration rules—would enhance predictability and lead to more rational and ‘just’ costs decisions.
Enhancing novel isoform discovery: leveraging nanopore long-read sequencing and machine learning approaches
Authors: Santucci Kristina , Cheng Yuning , Xu Si-Mei , Janitz Michael
Published: August 2024

Long-read sequencing technologies can capture entire RNA transcripts in a single sequencing read, reducing the ambiguity in constructing and quantifying transcript models in comparison to more common and earlier methods, such as short-read sequencing. Recent improvements in the accuracy of long-read sequencing technologies have expanded the scope for novel splice isoform detection and have also enabled a far more accurate reconstruction of complex splicing patterns and transcriptomes. Additionally, the incorporation and advancements of machine learning and deep learning algorithms in bioinformatic software have significantly improved the reliability of long-read sequencing transcriptomic studies. However, there is a lack of consensus on what bioinformatic tools and pipelines produce the most precise and consistent results. Thus, this review aims to discuss and compare the performance of available methods for novel isoform discovery with long-read sequencing technologies, with 25 tools being presented. Furthermore, this review intends to demonstrate the need for developing standard analytical pipelines, tools, and transcript model conventions for novel isoform discovery and transcriptomic studies.
The Ideal Client: Selecting Candidates for Drug Treatment in Prison
Authors: Lunde Rose Elisabeth
Published: August 2024

Therapeutic interventions have been implemented in many prison systems around the world, in an attempt to address high rates of harmful substance use amongst people in prison. This article analyses the criteria for acceptance to drug recovery units in Norwegian prisons, based on an ethnographic study of four high-security prisons and 22 interviews with prison staff. The main criteria that were considered by staff during the assessment of potential candidates, were the timing and type of sentence applicants held; the type of offence applicants were convicted for; the types of medications they used and their perceived motivations for entering treatment.
Ex Vivo Host Transcriptomics During Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, and Candida albicans Infection of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From South African Volunteers
Authors: Doyle Ronan M , Kannambath Shichina , Pittman Alan , Goliath Rene , Kumar Vinod , Meintjes Graeme , Milburn James , Netea Mihai G , Harrison Thomas S , Jarvis Joseph N , Bicanic Tihana
Published: August 2024

Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, and Candida albicans are opportunistic fungal pathogens associated with infections in immunocompromised hosts. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the leading fungal cause of human immunodeficiency virus–related deaths globally, with the majority occurring in Africa. The human immune response to C albicans infection has been studied extensively in large genomics studies whereas cryptococcal infections, despite their severity, are comparatively understudied. Here we investigated the transcriptional response of immune cells after in vitro stimulation with in vitro C neoformans, C gattii, and C albicans infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from healthy South African volunteers. We found a lower transcriptional response to cryptococcal stimuli compared to C albicans and unique expression signatures from all 3 fungal stimuli. This work provides a starting point for further studies comparing the transcriptional signature of CM in immunocompromised patients, with the goal of identifying biomarkers of disease severity and possible novel treatment targets.
An innovative population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic strategy for attaining aggressive joint PK/PD target of continuous infusion ceftazidime/avibactam against KPC- and OXA-48- producing Enterobacterales and preventing resistance development in critically ill patients
Authors: Cojutti Pier Giorgio , Pai Manjunath P , Gatti Milo , Rinaldi Matteo , Ambretti Simone , Viale Pierluigi , Pea Federico
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Ceftazidime/avibactam is a key antibiotic for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) Gram-negative infections, but current dosing may be suboptimal to grant activity. This study explores the population pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of continuous infusion (CI) ceftazidime/avibactam for maximizing treatment efficacy in critically ill patients.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of adult patients receiving CI ceftazidime/avibactam and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of both compounds was performed. Population PK/PD modelling identified the most accurate method for estimating ceftazidime/avibactam clearance based on kidney function and Monte Carlo simulations investigated the relationship between various CI dosing regimens and aggressive joint PK/PD target attainment of ceftazidime/avibactam.

Results

The European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation best described kidney function for ceftazidime/avibactam clearance. The findings challenge the current approach of only reducing the ceftazidime/avibactam dose based on kidney function by identifying dose adjustments in patients with augmented kidney function. Our CI ceftazidime/avibactam dosing strategies, adjusted by TDM, showed promise for achieving optimal aggressive joint PK/PD targets and potentially improving clinical/microbiological outcomes against KPC- and OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales. The risk of neurotoxicity associated with these strategies appears acceptable.

Conclusions

This study suggests that adjusting ceftazidime/avibactam dosing regimen based solely on eCLcr might be suboptimal for critically ill patients. Higher daily doses delivered by CI and adjusted based on TDM have the potential to improve aggressive joint PK/PD target attainment and potentially clinical/microbiological outcomes. Further investigations are warranted to confirm these findings and establish optimal TDM-guided dosing strategies for ceftazidime/avibactam in clinical practice.
Automated feathered edge blood smear analysis: early diagnosis of carcinocythemia in a case of disseminated intravascular coagulation with multi-organ failure
Authors: Briers Marth , Mylemans Marnix , Tousseyn Thomas , Lai Lo Man , Tajdar Mercedeh , Van Laer Christine
Published: August 2024

Carcinocythemia, known as the presence of circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood, is difficult to detect when the carcinoma cells are minimally present. We describe a case of a 56-year-old patient presenting with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure. Despite initial suspicion of sepsis, a peripheral blood smear showed the presence of atypical cells, mainly located at the feathered edge, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of carcinocythemia of unknown primary origin. The presence of a high-fluorescent cell population detected by our hematology analyzer (Sysmex XN-9100) and immunohistochemical staining with pancytokeratin AE1/AE3 confirmed the carcinoma cell origin. The patient died 4 days after referral to our hospital. Postmortem examination revealed a pleomorphic lobular breast carcinoma (triple-negative, androgen receptor-negative). Given the clinical acuity of patients with carcinocythemia, early diagnosis is essential to guide management. This case underscores the importance of optimizing current workflows relying on complex flagging algorithms and enhanced digital imaging to aid in the early detection of such rare condition. When patients present with DIC of unknown origin and high fluorescent signals are detected on the hematology analyzer, carcinocythemia should actively be ruled out by extensive microscopic peripheral blood examination.
Procedural and Evidentiary Matters
Authors: Risvas Michail
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses evidentiary matters that involve the applicable legal test for establishing breaches of the different non-discrimination obligations contained in investment treaties. It examines three procedural and evidentiary questions regarding the allocation of the burden of proof, the standard of review, and the standard of proof. Most discrimination cases in international investment treaty arbitration revolve around State measures, which do not explicitly differentiate between investors based on nationality or another protected ground. Thus, discrimination in investment treaty arbitration requires claimants to prove that their less favourable treatment correlates to their nationality. The chapter also looks into the role of parties’ duty to cooperate in the production of evidence and the tribunals’ power to draw adverse inferences in alleviating the evidentiary difficulties.
The chloroplast protease system degrades stromal DUF760-1 and DUF760-2 domain-containing proteins at different rates
Authors: Yuan Bingjian , van Wijk Klaas J
Published: August 2024

The chloroplast chaperone CLPC1 aids to select, unfold, and deliver hundreds of proteins to the CLP protease for degradation. Through in vivo CLPC1, trapping we previously identified dozens of proteins that are (potential) substrate adaptors or substrates for the CLP chaperone–protease system. In this study, we show that two of these highly trapped proteins, DUF760-1 and DUF760-2, are substrates for the CLP protease in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Loss-of-function mutants and transgenic plants were created for phenotyping, protein expression, and localization using immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. In planta BiFC, cycloheximide chase assays, and yeast 2-hybrid analyses were conducted to determine protein interactions and protein half-life. Both DUF760 proteins directly interacted with the N-domain of CLPC1 and both were highly enriched in clpc1-1 and clpr2-1 mutants. Accordingly, in vivo cycloheximide chase assays demonstrated that both DUF760 proteins are degraded by the CLP protease. The half-life of DUF760-1 was 4 to 6 h, whereas DUF760-2 was highly unstable and difficult to detect unless CLP proteolysis was inhibited. Null mutants for DUF760-1 and DUF760-2 showed weak but differential pigment phenotypes and differential sensitivity to protein translation inhibitors. This study demonstrates that DUF760-1 and DUF760-2 are substrates of the CLP chaperone–protease system and excellent candidates for the determination of CLP substrate degrons.
Exploring the influence of a simulation-based serious game learning approach for developing an understanding of strategic thinking for policing
Authors: Alshehhi Ali Ghanem , Davies Amanda , Krame Ghaleb , Al Kaabi Faisal
Published: August 2024

Studies associated with the application of simulation-based learning for police education and training indicate an increasing trend to progress beyond physical simulations and simulators (e.g. weapons and tactics; stop and search) and include theoretical knowledge and strategy-based fields such as leadership. The study explores the influence of a serious game approach for teaching strategic thinking (ST) and planning for police officers. Facilitator observations and participant responses from 30 United Arab Emirate senior management and operational officers were collected to address two primary areas of interest examining (a) the capability of a serious game as a learning tool and (b) the influence of the learning approach to influence understanding and adoption of ST for police organizations. The study is unique as there is a paucity of identified published studies that focus on the influence of a simulation-based learning approach in the form of a serious game’ in police education initiatives.
Evaluation of blood urea nitrogen as a new hematologic indicator associated with growth and development in newborn Hanwoo calves
Authors: Kim Youngjun , Jeong Joon , Park Jong-Kwan , Lim Young-Hwan , Lee Sung-Soo , Han Kil-woo , Ku Ji-Yeong , Jung Youngwoo , Park Jinho , Choi Kyoung-Seong
Published: August 2024

In immunologically naïve newborn calves, the intake of colostrum within 24−36 h after birth is responsible for the passive immunity of the calves during their first 2−4 weeks of life. However, colostrum is important from both immunological and non-immunological perspectives. In this study, we aimed to develop a hematological diagnostic tool for newborn Hanwoo calves to diagnose failure of passive transfer (FPT), as well as for calf growth and development, including average daily gain (ADG) and treatment frequency. Blood was collected at 12−24 h of age, and analyses of the complete blood count, serum biochemical profile, and blood gas were performed. Moreover, the number of treatments at weaning (up to 3 months of age) was examined, and the body weight at birth, 3 months, and 6 months of age was recorded. From the total of 90 blood samples collected, the overall prevalence of FPT was 24.4% (22/90) in Hanwoo calves. Both serum total protein and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) showed significant correlations with the albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glucose, and total bilirubin. Notably, only BUN was correlated with the ADG. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, BUN was statistically significant as a diagnostic tool for ADG with an area under the curve of 0.626 (95% confidence interval: 0.506−0.746; P < 0.05), and the optimal cut-off point was 7.3 mg/dL (sensitivity 0.65; specificity 0.64). The groups with BUN ≤ 7.3 mg/dL and BUN > 7.3 mg/dL showed significant differences in terms of albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin, creatinine, GGT, lymphocytes, and total bilirubin, and the results were similar to those of the comparison between the FPT and adaptive passive transfer (APT) groups. The ADG at 0−3 months and 0−6 months had a lower treatment frequency in the group with BUN ≤7.3 mg/dL. When comparing the ADG and frequency of treatment among the FPT, APT (BUN ≤ 7.3 mg/dL), and APT (BUN > 7.3 mg/dL) groups, the APT (BUN ≤ 7.3 mg/dL) group had the highest ADG (P < 0.01) and lowest treatment frequency. Therefore, in addition to the diagnosis of FPT, the analysis of BUN may be as a new diagnostic tool for assessing the growth and development of calves.
Quercetin induces a slow myofiber phenotype in engineered human skeletal muscle tissues
Authors: Nagai Akitoshi , Kaneda Yoshihisa , Izumo Takayuki , Nakao Yoshihiro , Honda Hiroyuki , Shimizu Kazunori
Published: August 2024

Skeletal muscle comprises slow and fast myofibers, with slow myofibers excelling in aerobic metabolism and endurance. Quercetin, a polyphenol, is reported to induce slow myofibers in rodent skeletal muscle both in vitro and in vivo. However, its effect on human myofiber types remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated quercetin's impact on slow myofiber induction using human skeletal muscle satellite cells. In a two‐dimensional culture, quercetin enhanced gene expression, contributing to muscle differentiation, and significantly expanded the area of slow‐type myosin heavy chain positive cells. It also elevated the gene expression of Pgc1α, an inducer of slow myofibers. Conversely, quercetin did not affect mitochondrial abundance, fission, or fusion, but it did increase the gene expression of Cox7A2L, which aids in promoting mitochondrial supercomplexity and endurance, and Mb, which contributes to oxidative phosphorylation. In a three‐dimensional culture, quercetin significantly extended the time to peak tension and half relaxation time of the engineered human skeletal muscle tissues constructed on microdevices. Moreover, quercetin enhanced the muscle endurance of the tissues and curbed the rise in lactate secretion from the exercised tissues. These findings suggest that quercetin may induce slow myofibers in human skeletal muscle.
Exploring Nurse Use of Digital Nursing Technology
Authors: Chen Wen-Chun , Lee Ting-Ting , Huang Shu-He , Liu Chieh-Yu , Mills Mary Etta
Published: August 2024

Technological developments and nursing shortages have become global trends. To solve the problem of shortage of healthcare professionals, technology may be used as a backup. Nurses constitute the largest working group in the healthcare system. Therefore, nurses are very important to the success of implementing digitization in hospitals. This cross-sectional study used the characteristics and adoption roles of innovation diffusion theory to understand technology use within the organization. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and open-ended questions from March 21 to May 31, 2022, in two hospitals in Taiwan. In total, 159 nurses agreed to participate in the study. The results of this study revealed that observability, simplicity, advantage, trialability, and compatibility positively improved the acceptance of digital nursing technology. In the distribution of users' innovative roles, early adopters had a significant impact on innovation characteristics and technology acceptance. Nurses in acute and critical care units perceived a greater comparative advantage and trial availability of digital nursing technology use than did those in general wards and outpatient clinics. In addition, based on user opinions and suggestions, the development of smart healthcare and the use of digital technology are expected to improve the quality of nursing care.
Stomach cancer epidemic in Chinese mainland: Current trends and future predictions
Authors: Zhu Wenxuan , Dong Wanyue , Liu Yunning , Bai Ruhai
Published: August 2024

Background:

China is one of the countries with the highest burdens of stomach cancer. The objective of this study was to analyze long-term trends in the incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Chinese mainland from 1990 to 2019 and to make projections until 2030.

Methods:

Data on stomach cancer were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019. Population data were extracted from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 and World Population Prospects 2019. An age–period–cohort framework and decomposition analysis were used in this study.

Results:

The net drift for the incidence of stomach cancer was 0.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0, 0.4%) per year for men and –1.8% (95% CI: –2.0%, –1.6%) for women. The net drift for mortality was –1.6% (95% CI: –1.8%, –1.3%) per year for men and –3.3% (95% CI: –3.5%, –3.1%) for women. In the last 10–15 years, the risk of stomach cancer occurrence and death has continued to decline for both sexes. Regarding birth cohorts, although the risk of stomach cancer death decreased in general among women and men born after 1920, the risk of occurrence increased in recent birth cohorts (men born after 1970 and women born after 1985). It is expected that the age-standardized incidence will increase among men and decrease among women, and age-standardized mortality will decrease for both sexes. The largest contributor to the projected increase in incident cases and deaths is population aging, and elderly individuals are projected to have an increased proportion of occurrence and death.

Conclusions:

In the past three decades, the incidence of stomach cancer among men has increased in Chinese mainland, and this trend is projected to continue. Aging will be the main contributor to future increased stomach cancer occurrence and deaths. To reduce the health impact of stomach cancer, more efforts are needed.
Assessment of renal perfusion with 82-rubidium PET in patients with normal and abnormal renal function
Authors: Bibeau-Delisle Alexandre , Bouabdallaoui Nadia , Lamarche Caroline , Harel Francois , Pelletier-Galarneau Matthieu
Published: August 2024

Background

Noninvasive measurement of renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) is challenging, yet critical in renal pathologies. This study evaluates the correlation between serum renal function markers and RBF/RVR assessed using rubidium PET.

Methods

Dynamic images from 53 patients who underwent rubidium PET for nonrenal indications were analyzed. RBF was determined using a one-compartment model, and RVR was calculated by dividing mean arterial pressure by RBF.

Results

The study included 51 patients (31 females and 20 males). Among them, 35 had normal renal function [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2], and 16 had abnormal renal function (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Patients with normal renal function had significantly higher RBF [median (interquartile range): 443 (297–722) vs 173 (108–380) ml/min/100 g, P = 0.022] and lower RVR [19.1 (12.4–27.2) vs 49.6 (24.4–85.7) mmHg×min×g/ml, P = 0.0011) compared with those with abnormal renal function. There was a moderate correlation between RBF and eGFR (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001) and between RVR and eGFR (r = −0.59, P < 0.0001) in both groups. Among patients with normal renal function, RBF was negatively correlated with age (r = −0.51, P = 0.0017) but there was no correlation among patients with abnormal renal function (r = 0.21, P = 0.44).

Conclusion

PET-measured RBF and RVR correlate with renal function markers and differ significantly by renal function status. Further studies are needed to validate rubidium PET’s precision and clinical applicability.
Evaluation of Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis With Virtual Noncalcium Dual-Energy Computed Tomography
Authors: Ozturk Muhsin Ozgun , Kantarcı Mecit , Aydin Sonay , Kızılgöz Volkan , Kockara Nizamettin , Gur Volkan
Published: August 2024

Objective

Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of the dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) technique in avascular necrosis (AVN) for detecting bone marrow edema (BME) and staging.

Methods

This prospective study included adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral femoral head AVN between January 2023 and December 2023, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DECT. Two participants were excluded from the study due to undergoing surgical procedures during the period between the scans. Two reviewers, blinded to MRI images and clinical data, visually examined color-coded VNCa pictures to assess BME using a binary classification (0 = normal bone marrow, 1 = BME). Same 2 reviewers also used color-coded and nonmapped images to stage AVN in accordance to the “Association for Research on Osseous Circulation” (ARCO) staging system. Interobserver agreements for the visual evaluation and staging were calculated with κ coefficient. Following a visual assessment of BME and the staging of AVN, same 2 reviewers conducted CT density measurements on regions of BME regions utilizing DECT noncalcium images. An independent third investigator (reference standard) utilized MRI, x-ray, and clinical data to confirm the definitive diagnosis and staging of AVN. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Fifty patients (28 men, 22 women, mean age: 44.2 ± 13.1 years, range: 25–75 years) were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the VNCa technique in detecting BME were 96.0%, 94.4%, 97.9%, 89.4%, and 95.6%, respectively, for reviewer 1; and 96.0%, 88.9%, 96.0%, 88.9%, and 94.1%, respectively, for reviewer 2. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect (κ = 0.84). Both reviewer 1 and reviewer 2 accurately classified 92.7% of the AVNs. The density measurements showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.001) between the edema regions and the normal marrow regions. No statistically significant difference was observed in the density measurements of edema regions at different stages (P = 0.13).

Conclusions

DECT VNCa technique exhibits excellent performance in detecting BME in hip AVN cases, as well as accurately determining the stage of AVN.
Photon-Counting Detector CT Radiological-Histological Correlation in Cadaveric Human Lung Nodules and Airways
Authors: Hata Akinori , Yanagawa Masahiro , Ninomiya Keisuke , Kikuchi Noriko , Kurashige Masako , Masuda Chiaki , Yoshida Tsubasa , Nishigaki Daiki , Doi Shuhei , Yamagata Kazuki , Yoshida Yuriko , Ogawa Ryo , Tokuda Yukiko , Morii Eiichi , Tomiyama Noriyuki
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the performances of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) and energy-integrating detector computed tomography (EID-CT) for visualizing nodules and airways in human cadaveric lungs.

Materials and Methods

Previously obtained 20 cadaveric lungs were scanned, and images were prospectively acquired by EID-CT and PCD-CT at a radiation dose with a noise level equivalent to the diagnostic reference level. PCD-CT was scanned with ultra-high-resolution mode. The EID-CT images were reconstructed with a 512 matrix, 0.6-mm thickness, and a 350-mm field of view (FOV). The PCD-CT images were reconstructed at 3 settings: PCD-512: same as EID-CT; PCD-1024-FOV350: 1024 matrix, 0.2-mm thickness, 350-mm FOV; and PCD-1024-FOV50: 1024 matrix, 0.2-mm thickness, 50-mm FOV. Two specimens per lung were examined after hematoxylin and eosin staining. The CT images were evaluated for nodules on a 5-point scale and for airways on a 4-point scale to compare the histology. The Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction was performed for statistical analyses.

Results

Sixty-seven nodules (1321 μm; interquartile range [IQR], 758–3105 μm) and 92 airways (851 μm; IQR, 514–1337 μm) were evaluated. For nodules and airways, scores decreased in order of PCD-1024-FOV50, PCD-1024-FOV350, PCD-512, and EID-CT. Significant differences were observed between series other than PCD-1024-FOV350 versus PCD-1024-FOV50 for nodules (PCD-1024-FOV350 vs PCD-1024-FOV50, P = 0.063; others P < 0.001) and between series other than EID-CT versus PCD-512 for airways (EID-CT vs PCD-512, P = 0.549; others P < 0.005). On PCD-1024-FOV50, the median size of barely detectable nodules was 604 μm (IQR, 469–756 μm) and that of barely detectable airways was 601 μm (IQR, 489–929 μm). On EID-CT, that of barely detectable nodules was 837 μm (IQR, 678–914 μm) and that of barely detectable airways was 1210 μm (IQR, 674–1435 μm).

Conclusions

PCD-CT visualized small nodules and airways better than EID-CT and improved with high spatial resolution and potentially can detect submillimeter nodules and airways.
Assessing the Efficacy of Submental Liposuction Association in Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Bachesk Andressa Bolognesi , Peixoto Alexandre de Oliveira , Leal Marilia de Oliveira Coelho Dutra , Teixeira Rubens Gonçalves , Machado Renato Assis , Jodas Claudio Roberto Pacheco
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Despite the vast literature on submental liposuction, there are few studies describing its simultaneous association in orthognathic surgery. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the available evidence on the effectiveness of the combination between the 2 techniques.

Methods

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist and used a comprehensive literature search across 7 databases. All studies discussing submental liposuction in orthognathic surgery were eligible for inclusion, regardless of language. The Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tools were used to assess risk of bias. After a 2-step selection process, a total of 10 studies were included, including 2 cohort studies, 1 case-control study, 1 case series, and 6 case reports.

Results

Sixty-seven patients from 5 countries were evaluated. Ages ranged from 15.1 to 50 years. The prevalence according to the facial pattern was similar, with a higher incidence in women. The major indications for surgery were related to the presence of skeletal deformities and aesthetic changes in the cervical region. The forms of evaluation used to indicate surgery were photographs (n = 29; 43.28%), visual scale by 2 surgeons (n = 20; 29.85%), clinical examination (n = 23; 34.32%), and cephalometric analysis (n = 17; 25.37%). The postoperative follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 7.9 years. Despite the different forms of evaluation, all articles mentioned benefits with the association of submental liposuction in orthognathic surgery. The most cited complications were sensory changes in the lower lip (n = 4; 5.97), facial nerve injury (n = 2; 2.98%), infection (n = 2; 2.98%), maintenance of submental lipomatosis (n = 2; 2.98%), and skin irregularities (n = 2; 2.98%).

Conclusion

This systematic review showed that submental liposuction associated with orthognathic surgery improves cervical aesthetics and that it is safe, with a low rate of complications. However, the number of studies on this topic is limited, and the studies are not standardized. There is lack of information especially regarding the evaluation methods used. Metric techniques such as ultrasound and tissue caliper adipometry could be possibilities for future studies.
Pediatric Combined Heart-liver Transplantation: A Single-center Long-term Experience
Authors: Levitte Steven , Nilkant Riya , Chen Sharon , Beadles Angela , Lee Joanne , Bonham Clark A. , Rosenthal David , Gallo Amy , Hollander Seth , Esquivel Carlos , Ma Michael , Zhang Ke-You
Published: August 2024

Background.

Combined heart liver transplant (CHLT) continues to gain attention as a surgical treatment for patients with end-stage heart and liver disease but remains rare. We present our institutional longitudinal experience with up to 14 y of follow-up, focused on long-term outcomes in CHLT recipients.

Methods.

We conducted a single-institutional, retrospective review from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2023, including 7 patients ages 7–17 y who underwent CHLT.

Results.

Most patients were surgically palliated via Fontan procedure pretransplant (n = 6), and all had evidence of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis before transplant. The 30-d mortality was 14.3% (n = 1, multiorgan failure). During the follow-up period, 1 patient developed acute heart rejection which required treatment and 2 developed acute liver rejection. In all cases, rejection was successfully treated. Two patients developed acute heart rejection which did not require treatment (grade 1R). No patients developed chronic or refractory rejection. No patients developed allograft coronary artery vasculopathy.

Conclusions.

CHLT remains a rarely performed treatment for pediatric patients with end-stage heart and liver disease, but our long-term data suggest that this treatment strategy should be considered more frequently.
Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence
Authors: Barrett Louise , Stout Dietrich
Published: August 2024

This theme issue brings together researchers from diverse fields to assess the current status and future prospects of embodied cognition in the age of generative artificial intelligence. In this introduction, we first clarify our view of embodiment as a potentially unifying concept in the study of cognition, characterizing this as a perspective that questions mind–body dualism and recognizes a profound continuity between sensorimotor action in the world and more abstract forms of cognition. We then consider how this unifying concept is developed and elaborated by the other contributions to this issue, identifying the following two key themes: (i) the role of language in cognition and its entanglement with the body and (ii) bodily mechanisms of interpersonal perception and alignment across the domains of social affiliation, teaching and learning. On balance, we consider that embodied approaches to the study of cognition, culture and evolution remain promising, but will require greater integration across disciplines to fully realize their potential. We conclude by suggesting that researchers will need to be ready and able to meet the various methodological, theoretical and practical challenges this will entail and remain open to encountering markedly different viewpoints about how and why embodiment matters.

This article is the part of this theme issue ‘Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence’.
A mindful body approach to creating architecture: movement, models and spatial experiences
Authors: Noel Vernelle A. A. , Parikh Shantanu , Wilson John , Grunert Sarah
Published: August 2024

If architecture is an expression of human creativity through multi-sensory embodiment, then learning, creating and experiencing architecture should also be multi-sensory and embodied. In this article, we challenge the separation of mind and body through Sheets-Johnstone’s mindful bodies concept. We define a mindful body in architecture as one that documents, analyses and memory maps the moving body in different qualities of movement to create diverse spatial experiences. A mindful body approach to creating architecture involves: (i) engaging in meaningful movement and documenting the body, (ii) documenting embodied interactions with dynamic, animate elements in the built environment, (iii) connecting our body’s movements with emotions and memories, (iv) designing spaces that produce diverse movements and atmospheres, and (v) designing architecture based on these spaces. We hypothesize that if designers engage in a mindful body approach to design, they can create spatial experiences that help us make sense of ourselves, others and the world. A mindful body approach to design can result in architectural spaces that activate our attentional switches, connect haptic experiences and memories and reveal wonders.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence’.
The role of action concepts in physical reasoning: insights from late childhood
Authors: Grandchamp des Raux Hélène , Ghilardi Tommaso , Soderberg Christina , Ossmy Ori
Published: August 2024

A fundamental component of human cognition is the ability to intuitively reason about behaviours of objects and systems in the physical world without resorting to explicit scientific knowledge. This skill was traditionally considered a symbolic process. However, in the last decades, there has been a shift towards ideas of embodiment, suggesting that accessing physical knowledge and predicting physical outcomes is grounded in bodily interactions with the environment. Infants and children, who learn mainly through their embodied experiences, serve as a model to probe the link between reasoning and physical concepts. Here, we tested school-aged children (5- to 15-year-olds) in online reasoning games that involve different physical action concepts such as supporting, launching and clearing. We assessed changes in children’s performance and strategies over development and their relationships with the different action concepts. Children reasoned more accurately in problems that involved supporting actions compared to launching or clearing actions. Moreover, when children failed, they were more strategic in subsequent attempts when problems involved support rather than launching or clearing. Children improved with age, but improvements differed across action concepts. Our findings suggest that accessing physical knowledge and predicting physical events are affected by action concepts, and those effects change over development.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence'.
Spontaneous movement synchrony as an exogenous source for interbrain synchronization in cooperative learning
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Su Chang , Pan Yafeng
Published: August 2024

Learning through cooperation with conspecifics—‘cooperative learning’—is critical to cultural evolution and survival. Recent progress has established that interbrain synchronization (IBS) between individuals predicts success in cooperative learning. However, the likely sources of IBS during learning interactions remain poorly understood. To address this dearth of knowledge, we tested whether movement synchrony serves as an exogenous factor that drives IBS, taking an embodiment perspective. We formed dyads of individuals with varying levels of prior knowledge (high–high (HH), high–low (HL), low–low (LL) dyads) and instructed them to collaboratively analyse an ancient Chinese poem. During the task, we simultaneously recorded their brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and filmed the entire experiment to parse interpersonal movement synchrony using the computer-vision motion energy analysis. Interestingly, the homogeneous groups (HH and/or LL) exhibited stronger movement synchrony and IBS compared with the heterogeneous group. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed that spontaneous and synchronized body movements between individuals contribute to IBS, hence facilitating learning. This study therefore fills a critical gap in our understanding of how interpersonal transmission of information between individual brains, associated with behavioural entrainment, shapes social learning.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence’.
Human Autosomal Nucleotide Positions Differing from Bonobo Instead Match Pig
Authors: McCarthy Eugene M
Published: August 2024

Overview: To examine the hybrid hypothesis of human origins, a novel data mining program, BOOMSTICK, was used to scan the euchromatic portions of two target genomes, those of Homo sapiens and Pan paniscus. Each of the two genomes were broken up into 100-kB segments, each of which was searched for matches to a large set of porcine queries. All scans sought matches to the same set of 813,194 40-mer nucleotide queries randomly selected from the genome of Sus scrofa (domestic pig). For each of the two study organisms, mean segmental match rates (MSMRs) were then calculated for all segments in each of three categories: those segments occurring on autosomes, those on the X chromosome, and those on the Y chromosome. Results: In scans of single-copy regions (euchromatin) in both their Y chromosomes and their autosomes, it was found that the number of matches to randomly selected porcine queries was higher in humans than in bonobos. When autosomes were compared, matches were 1.3% higher in humans than in bonobos. This figure is equal to the percentage of human autosomal nucleotide positions bearing nucleotides that match in pig but not in bonobo. Remarkably, it agrees with the percentage of autosomal nucleotides previously reported to differ in bonobos and humans. So, the results of this study indicate that essentially all the nucleotide positions that differ in humans and bonobos, are the same in humans and pigs. In addition, the number of matches to pig queries found on the human Y chromosome was 34.5% higher than on the bonobo Y, and 12.4% higher than on the chimpanzee Y (the chimpanzee figure may be the more reliable of the two, since the bonobo Y nucleotide sequence file scanned contained only unlocalized scaffolds). MSMRs for the human and bonobo X chromosomes did not significantly differ.