bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing brain tumor classification by integrating radiomics and deep learning features: A comprehensive study utilizing ensemble methods on MRI scans
Authors: Yin Liang , Wang Jing
Published: December 2024

Background and objective

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combining radiomics features (RFs) with deep learning features (DFs) for classifying brain tumors—specifically Glioma, Meningioma, and Pituitary Tumor—using MRI scans and advanced ensemble learning techniques.

Methods

A total of 3064 T1-weighted contrast-enhanced brain MRI scans were analyzed. RFs were extracted using Pyradiomics, while DFs were obtained from a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN). These features were used both individually and together to train a range of machine learning models, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Decision Trees (DT), Random Forests (RF), AdaBoost, Bagging, k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLP). To enhance the accuracy of these models, ensemble approaches such as Stacking, Voting, and Boosting were employed. LASSO feature selection and five-fold cross-validation were utilized to ensure the models’ robustness.

Results

The results demonstrated that combining RFs and DFs significantly improved the model's performance compared to using either feature set alone. The best performance was achieved using the combined RF + DF approach with ensemble methods, particularly Boosting, which resulted in an accuracy of 95.0%, an AUC of 0.92, a sensitivity of 88%, and a specificity of 90%. Conversely, models utilizing only RFs or DFs showed lower performance, with RFs reaching an AUC of 0.82 and DFs achieving an AUC of 0.85.

Conclusion

The integration of RFs and DFs, along with advanced ensemble methods, significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of brain tumor classification using MRI. This approach shows strong clinical potential, with opportunities for further enhancing generalizability and precision through additional MRI sequences and advanced machine learning techniques.
Detection of motor nervous disease using deep learning based Duple feature extraction network
Authors: S Sony Helen , S Joseph Jawhar
Published: December 2024

Background

A motor nervous disease (MND) is a debilitating nervous disease that affects motor neurons that regulates the muscular voluntary movements. The disease gradually destroys parts of the neurological system. Generally, MND develops owing to a grouping of genetic, behavioural, and natural features.

Objective

However, early detection of MND is challenging and manual identification requires a lot of time. Therefore, automated methods like deep learning structures are needed to detect MND quickly and more accurately than manual classification. In this work, a novel deep learning-based Duple feature extraction network is proposed for identifying MND in its early stages.

Methods

Initially, the input DTI images are pre-processed utilizing a Gaussian adaptive bilateral filter (GAB) to improve the quality of the image. Then the pre-processed DTI images are fed into the dual feature extraction phase for colour and structural conversion. The Colour Information Feature (CIF) with Local and Global sampling (LOG) is integrated into the LinkNet module to extract colour features. Moreover, the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) with Edge sampling models is integrated into the MobileNet module to extract edge features. Afterward, the extracted colour and texture features of images are flattered and given as the input to a Deep Neural Network for classifying the MND levels.

Results

From the test results, the proposed Duple feature extraction network has yielded a 99.62% accuracy rate. The proposed DNN improves its F1-score by 1.32%, 2.1%, and 3.18% better than FNN, GNN, and GRU respectively. The proposed Duple-feature extraction network improves overall accuracy by 6.15%, 5.56%, 5.96%, and 6.68% compared to CNN, SVM-RFE, MLP, and Tri-planar CNN respectively.

Conclusion

The novel deep learning-based Duple feature extraction framework shows promising results in early detection of motor nervous disease, significantly improving accuracy and f1-scores compared to existing models.
Research on influence of track stiffness on development of rail squat defects
Authors: Mićić Milica , Popović Zdenka , Lazarević Luka , Vučković Dejan , Brajović Ljiljana
Published: December 2024

This paper presents research aiming to establish the relationship between track stiffness and the appearance and development of squat defects on running rails. Uneven incidence of squat defects was observed on the rails of the investigated main transit track in arailway station. Inspection of track support conditions was conducted using an electrometric method. The comparative analysis of the research results indicated a correlation between the incidence of squats and the changes in track support stiffness. The electrometric profiles and maps indicate the mixing of material from contaminated track ballast and wet subballast, which leads to uneven track support stiffness. This was determined as the main cause of occurence of squats and track geometry deterioration. It was concluded that uniform track stiffness has to be maintained throughout the entire track service life.
Management of Persistent Hypernasality After Pharyngeal Flap: A Novel V-to-Y Revision Procedure to Tighten the Lateral Ports
Authors: Best David L. , Yau Vicky , Mañon Victoria , Noto Shannon , Perry Robert J.
Published: December 2024

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is common in patients with a repaired cleft palate. 18% to 20% of patients who undergo superiorly based pharyngeal flap for VPI may require a revision procedure due to persistent hypernasality.

One solution to persistent VPI is flap revision, but there is a paucity of revision techniques described in the literature.

We present a novel technique for pharyngeal flap revision utilizing a V-to-Y procedure to tighten the lateral pharyngeal ports.
Influence of water saturation on mechanical characteristics and fracture evolution of coal rock assemblage with rough interfaces
Authors: Guo Zhibiao , Gao Jingwei , You Jinglin , Yang Dongshan
Published: December 2024

To comprehensively investigate the influence of water content on the mechanical and crack propagation characteristics of coal rock assemblage (CRA) with a rough interface, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on specimens with varying water content. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques were employed to monitor the water content and AE signals throughout the experiment. The physical and mechanical properties, as well as the extent of crack development and acoustic emission (AE) parameters, were comprehensively investigated under conditions of water erosion. The results demonstrate that a rough interface contributes to an enhancement in the compressive strength of the composite material. Moreover, the moisture content exerts a significant influence on various aspects of the composite specimen, including its compressive strength, time b value, crack development, and crack propagation. With the increase in water content, the initial single slope shear failure of the composite specimen gradually transitions into a multi-section shear failure mechanism. Under the influence of water-rock interaction, sandstone within the formation undergoes a metamorphosis from a densely cemented structure to an irregular honeycomb-like configuration. This transformative process engenders novel porosity and fractures, ultimately compromising the rock’s mechanical strength. The analysis focuses on the relationship between the AE parameter b and uniaxial stress and water content, with emphasis on its relevance to damage theory. A damage model based on water immersion rate was established to elucidate the correlation between damage variables and water content. This was achieved by considering the characteristics of water-rock coupling AE and constructing a structural model of the water absorption process in different pore throats, thereby providing valuable insights for stability design and evaluation of roadway rock masses.
Stability and Predictive Validity of the Higher Education Orientations Questionnaire: A Three-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Willner Tirza , Lipshits-Braziler Yuliya , Gati Itamar
Published: December 2024

Many young adults contemplate whether and why to attend college. This study tested the stability and predictive validity of higher education orientations (HEO; profession, knowledge, social, prestige, and external) in explaining college students’ academic success (reflected in GPA and satisfaction with the major) at the beginning of the second year and their college-to-work transition success (reflected in career engagement behaviors and career decision status) at the end of college. First-year college students in Israel ( N = 612) were tracked at the beginning of their first year (T1), the start of their second year (T2), and toward the end of their senior year (T3). The results revealed that within-student HEO scores were highly stable (median rs = .90) between the first (T1) and second (T2) year. Four orientations (excluding prestige orientation) predicted academic and career transition success. Satisfaction with the major at T2 was positively predicted by knowledge orientation ( β = .42), whereas first-year GPA was inversely predicted by external orientation ( β = −.16). At T3, career-engagement behaviors were positively predicted by social orientation ( β = .19) and inversely by external orientation ( β = −.16), whereas career decision status was positively predicted by profession orientation ( β = .18) and social orientation ( β = .15). The role of higher education orientations in students’ career development is discussed.
Understanding the Mediation Effect of Social Cohesion on the Relationship Between Material Hardship and Child Maltreatment by Poverty Spells
Authors: Chung Yoonzie , Ahn Haksoon
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study is to explore the association between material hardship and child maltreatment, mediated by social cohesion. We used three waves (age three, age five, and age nine) from Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW), a longitudinal cohort study of approximately 5000 families in 20 U.S. cities. The sample size was 2402. The independent variable was material hardship, and the dependent variable was child maltreatment (physical/psychological abuse and neglect). Using a multiple regression analysis, the current study found a positive association between material hardship and frequency of physical/psychological abuse. Social cohesion was found to mediate the relationship between material hardship and physical/psychological abuse among financially secure mothers in the Sobel test, which assesses the presence of indirect effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable. These findings suggest that material hardship mitigation and social cohesion enhancement are potential strategies to prevent physical/psychological abuse.
Evaluation of Trace Metal Contamination in Soil and Native Maize From Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Authors: Matias-Oregán Areli Idalia , Figueroa-Brito Rodolfo , Rodríguez-González Francisco , Ponniah Jonathan Muthuswamy , Valera-Pérez Miguel Ángel , Rodríguez-Espinosa Pedro Francisco
Published: December 2024

Trace metal enrichments in soil and native maize ( Zea mays L.) in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve was analyzed due to its direct relation with food security. pH and organic matter (OM) content were obtained in soil, concentrations trace metals were determined in agricultural soil and plant collected from 10 maize plots using ICP-OES. Soil contamination was evaluated using contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo), plant contamination was evaluated using bioconcentration factor (BCF). Soils characteristics indicates higher pH values (8–8.9), which favors metal’s translocation from soil > plant. Mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cr (soil: 0.02–0.04; plant: 0–0.01), Fe (soil: 0.77–1.17; plant: 0–0.40), and Zn (soil: 0–0.01; plant: 0–0.01) were within the FAO/WHO and Mexican government soil standards. CF values were classified as “low contamination,” however, Cd, Mn, and Fe indicates “medium contamination” in maize crops. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as “lower enrichment values.” BCF showed accumulation of trace metals (especially Fe and Mn) in roots, which acts as a binding element for other trace metals, where OM is low. Overall results in this study suggest that the selected trace metals in the agricultural soils and plant have no appreciable threat to food safety.
Predictors of vaccine uptake during a pandemic: The interplay of lifetime discrimination, educational attainment, and family support
Authors: Cha Seung Eun , Ryff Carol D , Song Jieun
Published: December 2024

The experience of discrimination can have significant health implications, especially during a global pandemic. This study examines how lifetime discrimination, educational attainment (measured in years of education), and family support individually and interactively predict COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Low educational attainment may amplify the impact of discrimination due to increased vulnerability to misinformation. Conversely, family support can buffer the negative effects of discrimination on health behaviors by mitigating how stressors adversely influence health decisions. We utilized national data from the Midlife in the United States ( N = 2004; aged 25–74). The results showed that although lifetime discrimination did not predict vaccine uptake, interaction analyses revealed that lifetime discrimination, in combination with higher educational attainment predicted lower vaccine uptake. In addition, family support moderated the relationship between lifetime discrimination and vaccine uptake, buffering its negative impact. These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination decisions.
Twenty-five years of achieving best evidence: Investigative interviews with victims and witnesses in England and Wales
Authors: Smith Kevin
Published: December 2024

The guidance in Achieving Best Evidence or ABE, as it is more commonly known, has been with us for nearly 25 years. It stems from concerns raised about the quality of interviews with vulnerable witnesses in the 1980s and from the Memorandum of Good Practice that set out to address them. This article will argue that the various editions of ABE that have been published over that time represent both continuity and change in the practice of interviewing victims and witnesses. It represents continuity in the interview structure that it promotes and in the principles that underpin it. It represents change in its responsiveness to new legislation, new research and emerging operational challenges. Over the years, ABE has become influential internationally, alongside other models such as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Protocol and the cognitive interview, and its capacity to adapt to change is such that its influence is likely to last for years to come.
Race, policing and me: Inclusive leadership in the twenty-first century for the 25th anniversary of Macpherson Report and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry
Authors: Basu Anil (Neil) Kanti
Published: December 2024

‘Race, policing and me: Inclusive leadership in the twenty-first century’ is a participant observer’s experience of policing, politics and prejudice from a 30-year career in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) that spanned the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, the 1999 Macpherson Report, which labelled policing institutionally racist, and the battle to come to terms with the fallout that created. A battle this observer believes policing has lost. He reveals how the most senior officer of colour in the UK for the past decade battled racism as a child, adolescent and young professional before joining a profession that did not act as it though it wanted people like him. The early successes to improve its diversity after Macpherson were not sustained and policing now rejects the term and Basu provides some thought for police leaders at how they might tackle issues of diversity and prejudice to regain their legitimacy with minorities who have been over-policed and/or under-protected for too long. To ignore this requirement to regain its legitimacy lacks the humility to understand that it is wrong about this debate on diversity. After the catastrophic loss of trust and confidence following the 2023 Dame Louise Casey Report into culture in the MPS, policing's refusal to admit it remains institutionally racist by the Macpherson definition, and indeed institutionally prejudiced by the Casey definition, imperils the Peelian concept of policing by consent. If policing cannot accept the moral case for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, it should think of the business case that Peel, Rowan and Mayne built that underpins consent. It may be the only way to maintain order and keep communities safe, which must be its primary mission.
25 years of technology use in policing
Authors: Ugwudike Pamela
Published: December 2024

Technological innovations including artificial intelligence (AI) and cognate systems with accessible user interfaces are informing policing decision-making around the world. The systems form part of the ‘smart justice’ technologies increasingly replacing analogue modes of law enforcement such as paper-based information analysis. This article maps the evolution of technological innovations in policing over the past 25 years, that is, since the 1990s. The article situates its analysis within relevant socio-political contexts and discusses key prospects, impacts, and challenges.
Starting small: Engaging young learners with literacy through multilingual storytelling
Authors: Ollerhead Sue , Pennington Gillian
Published: December 2024

In Australian schools, approximately 20% of young children are emergent bilinguals, who are simultaneously developing their home languages while learning through English. While many teachers recognise the benefits of multilingual teaching approaches in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms, there remains a significant level of uncertainty about how to enact them. These approaches depend heavily on teachers’ ability to leverage young learners’ cultural and linguistic funds of knowledge, as well as to apply pedagogies that engage the full range of their linguistic abilities. To effectively develop these strategies, many teachers require additional support. This paper presents a study in which researchers collaborated with a classroom teacher to initiate a multilingual storytelling project aimed at children aged six to seven. The objective was to explore the potential of multilingual storytelling to engage young emergent bilingual learners in early reading and writing activities. Our findings indicate that this pedagogical approach, rooted in the principles of translanguaging, significantly enhanced the students' engagement with literacy. By validating their home languages and cultural identities, the project provided strong support for their oral language development, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating multilingual practices in the foundational years of education.
Shifting Focus: The “Other” GABAR
Authors: Kadam Shilpa D.
Published: December 2024

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Optimizing Testosterone Levels and Fertility Outcomes: A Case Series on the Impact of Lepidium peruvianum (Maca-OGTM) in Andropause and Sperm Dysfunction
Authors: Ross Kim , Schuler Corey , Sklar Marc
Published: December 2024

Low testosterone levels in men contribute to altered sexual health, including low libido, erectile dysfunction, impaired sleep, and changes in mood and energy. Nearly half of all infertility cases are implicated by male factors, such as low testosterone levels and altered semen and sperm health. The purpose of this case series is to share the experience of two men taking a concentrated, highly bioavailable gelatinized form of specific phenotypes (sometimes referred to as colors) of Lepidium peruvianum (Maca-OG™) to improve reproductive health. One man experienced an increase in total testosterone levels and fertility parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm motility, and total sperm count. The second experienced an increase in total testosterone levels, energy, mood, and sleep. This case series highlights a natural alternative for male health to support the body’s production of testosterone, especially when hormone therapy is not medically indicated or desired by the patient, or there are concerns about hormone therapy reducing the body’s production of testosterone.
Outcome reporting in studies on critically ill obstetric patients: A systematic review
Authors: Viau-Lapointe Julien , Kfouri Julia , Thompson Mary , Ashraf Rizwana , D’Souza Rohan , Lapinsky Stephen
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This systematic review is the first step in the process of standardizing outcome reporting through the development of a core outcome set for research on critically ill obstetric patients (COSCO).

Methods

A five-database search was performed to identify randomized and non-randomized studies published before November 2017, on patients admitted to intensive care or high-dependency units during or immediately after pregnancy. Reported outcomes were categorized into domains and definitions were documented.

Results

Of the 12,581 citations reviewed, 136 studies were included. The most reported outcome domains were maternal all-cause mortality ( n = 128, 94.5%), resource use ( n = 116, 85.6%), and clinical/physiological outcomes ( n = 111, 82.8%). Outcomes related to functioning/life impact and adverse effects of treatment were only reported in four (2.9%) studies. There was inconsistency in outcome definitions.

Conclusions

This review identified considerable variation in outcome reporting and definitions and generated an outcome list to consider in COSCO development.
Hearing loss and its management in the community
Authors: Kaleva Anna I. , Smith Matthew E. , Engamba Serge A. , Tysome James R.
Published: December 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that by 2050 approximately 2 billion people worldwide will have a degree of hearing impairment, and more than 700,000,000 will require hearing rehabilitation. The presentation and aetiology of patients with hearing loss changes with age, and this can be a useful starting point for an assessment. Another important discriminator in the approach to patients with hearing loss is the timing of onset, which will differentiate those needing urgent management from the more routine. Hearing loss may be ‘conductive’, due to blockage of sound passage to the inner ear, which is often reversible, or ‘sensorineural’, due to damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve such as seen in age-associated hearing loss (also known as presbycusis), which is usually permanent. This article aims to provide a systematic framework for assessing these patients in primary care and a guide to indicate when referrals to secondary care are necessary.
Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of Corema album accessions from the Atlantic coastal dunes of Portugal
Authors: Brás de Oliveira Pedro , Varela Ana Rita , Silva Maria José , Guimarães Joana Bagoin , Valdiviesso Teresa , Trindade Cândida Sofia , Nóbrega Filomena
Published: December 2024

Background

Corema album, a wild shrub endemic to the Atlantic coastal dunes of Iberian Peninsula, has important ecological and medicinal value. Corema album has been listed as an endangered plant due to threats associated with anthropogenic events. Conservation of the species is therefore critically important.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of four well-characterized populations to support pre-breeding programs aimed at enhancing species knowledge for a future berry crop culture, with the ultimate goal of protecting and conserving the threatened species C. album.

Methods

The set of 128 C. album accessions was genotyped using six EST-SSR primers and one genomic-SSR primer.

Results

A total of 65 alleles were obtained with a mean of 9.285 alleles per locus. The genetic diversity was found to be high, with mean values of observed heterozygosity ( Ho) and expected heterozygosity ( He) at 0.594 and 0.756, respectively. Moderate genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.095) was observed. STRUCTURE analysis and multivariate analyses roughly categorized the accessions into a complex mixed group. The STRUCTURE analysis revealed no correlation between genetic structure and geographical distribution; however, it facilitated the identification of pure accessions within each population.

Conclusions

The results aid in the understanding the population structure and genetic diversity and are crucial to optimize conservation strategies as well as the utilization of genetic resources of C. album for a deeper genetic study of the species.
MRI markers of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in a population study with 791 participants: Exploring reference values and associations
Authors: Constantinescu Clara , Ziegelitz Doerthe , Wikkelsø Carsten , Kern Silke , Jaraj Daniel , Rydén Lina , Westman Eric , Skoog Ingmar , Tullberg Mats
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Epidemiological studies on idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) imaging markers and their normal values are scarce. This population-based study aimed to analyze several morphologic and volumetric iNPH-related imaging markers in a large sample, determining their distribution, diagnostic accuracy, suggested cut-offs, and associations with iNPH symptoms.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 791 70 year olds, 40 with radiologically probable iNPH (iNPHRadiol) and 751 without iNPH features (reference). MRI measures included Evans index (EI), z-EI, brain per ventricle ratio at anterior (BVRAC) and posterior commissures (BVRPC), sulcal compression, Sylvian fissure enlargement, callosal angle, diameter of temporal horns, 3rd and 4th ventricles, midbrain, and pons. Volumes of ventricles, corpus callosum, and brainstem were computed using automated segmentation. ROC analysis determined imaging markers’ cut-offs. Symptoms were evaluated clinically and through self-report.

Results

In the reference group, median values (95% CI) for imaging markers were as follows: EI: 0.27 (0.26–0.27), z-EI: 0.28 (0.26–0.31), BVRAC: 1.69 (1.48–1.90), and BVRPC: 2.66 (2.24–3.27). Most imaging markers differed significantly between iNPHRadiol and the reference. Lateral ventricle volumes correlated better with z-EI and BVR than EI (Rs > 0.81 vs 0.68). Optimal cut-off values for z-EI, and BVRAC and BVRPC for distinguishing iNPHRadiol were 0.32, 1.36, and 1.83, respectively. Clinical symptoms correlated moderately with imaging markers (Rs < 0.49 for iNPHRadiol, p < .01).

Conclusions

We report population-based reference values and propose cut-offs for iNPH-related imaging markers and volumetric measurements. Z-EI and BVR are likely superior markers for assessing ventricular enlargement in iNPH. Imaging markers of iNPH correlate moderately with iNPH symptoms.
A multimodal model in the prediction of the delivery mode using data from a digital twin-empowered labor monitoring system
Authors: Bai Jieyun , Kang Xue , Wang Weishan , Yang Ziduo , Ou Weiguang , Huang Yuxin , Lu Yaosheng
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aims to address the limitations of current clinical methods in predicting delivery mode by constructing a multimodal neural network-based model. The model utilizes data from a digital twin-empowered labor monitoring system, including computerized cardiotocography (cCTG), ultrasound (US) examination data, and electronic health records (EHRs) of pregnant women.

Methods

The model integrates three modalities of data from 105 pregnant women (76 vaginal deliveries and 29 cesarean deliveries) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. It employs a hybrid architecture of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and bi-directional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) to compress the data into a single feature vector for each patient.

Results

The designed model achieves a cross-validation accuracy of 93.33%, an F1-score of 86.26%, an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 97.10%, and a Brier Score of 6.67%. Importantly, while cCTG and EHRs are crucial for labor management, the integration of US imaging data significantly enhances prediction accuracy.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that the developed multimodal model is a promising tool for predicting delivery mode and provides a comprehensive approach to intrapartum maternal and fetal health monitoring. The integration of multi-source data, including real-time information, holds potential for further improving the algorithm's predictive accuracy as the volume of analyzed data increases. This could be highly beneficial for dynamically fusing data from different sources throughout the maternal and fetal health lifecycle, from pregnancy to delivery.
Exploring the Comprehensibility of Ten Different Musical Notation Systems and Underlying Factors
Authors: Cheng Siyao , Milne Andrew J. , Dean Roger T. , Hanham José , MacRitchie Jennifer
Published: December 2024

Numerous systems of musical notation have been developed to address some of the complexities associated with conventional Staff notation, such as translating it into physical movements and memorizing the meaning of its symbols. Surprisingly, there has been little empirical research assessing and comparing the comprehensibility of conventional versus alternative notation methods. In this study, three main features were assessed for 10 different musical notation systems: discriminability (the ease of visually distinguishing pitch or duration changes in notation), iconicity (extent of resemblance between melodies and notation), and complexity. A total of 213 valid responses were collected in an online experiment. Participants completed two tasks, visual discriminability and melody-notation matching. They also provided complexity ratings for different notational systems. Multilevel Bayesian regression models show strong evidence that Figurenotes, Numbered notation, and Piano Roll notation have a relatively high level of discriminability, while Figurenotes, Proportional notation, Staff notation, and Piano Roll notation have a relatively high level of iconicity. Piano Roll notation was rated the least complex musical notation system. Differences in the results across pitch and duration dimensions, age, and musical sophistication were also found. Importantly, we also examined the effects of the different visual variables used by the notational systems (color, position, shape): changes in position have the highest discriminability, iconicity, and the lowest complexity. Qualitative analysis for some open questions also supported Piano Roll notation as being the most favorable musical notation, especially among novices.
Erythropoietin to Treat Spinal Cord Injury: Evaluation of Different Doses and Magnitudes of Trauma in Rats
Authors: Barros Alderico Girão Campos de , dos Santos Gustavo Bispo , Marcon Raphael Martus , Cristante Alexandre Fogaça
Published: December 2024

Study design

Experimental spinal cord lesion study.

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of erythropoietin at different doses on neural regeneration in rats undergoing spinal cord injury.

Methods

Anesthetized Wistar rats were submitted to standardized spinal cord injury and randomized into eight groups, receiving different magnitudes of trauma and single or repeated doses of intraperitoneal erythropoietin (500 or 5000 IU/kg of body weight). We evaluated motor function using BBB scores and sensorimotor behavior by observing the rats walking on a horizontal ladder (at 2, 4, and 6 weeks) and performed histological analysis of the spinal cord after euthanasia. We compared the scores between groups using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni multiple comparisons.

Results

The experiments were conducted with 10 animals per group (n = 80), none of which died or were excluded. BBB scores increased over time (meaning recovery) in all groups ( P < 0.001 for all). From the fourth week, animals receiving lower trauma and higher erythropoietin doses had higher BBB scores than those receiving lower doses. The total number of steps and correct steps taken on the horizontal ladder increased, and slips decreased over time with treatment in all groups. Although the number of errors was different between moments ( P < 0.001), it was not different between groups ( P = 0.707). Rats receiving higher impact lesions had more spinal cord necrosis and worse recovery of neuronal fibers than the rest.

Conclusions

Animals receiving a higher dose of erythropoietin and suffering minor trauma showed better and faster neurological recovery. Repeating erythropoietin after a week showed no benefit.
Commentary—Film (and Video) as Business Communication: “Will You Come and Join the Dance?”
Authors: Reinsch Nelson Lamar , Reinsch Paul N.
Published: December 2024

This paper describes a study of a training film about business presentations, Making Your Case. We offer this historical study in the context of a broader claim, arguing that (as part of a “visual turn”) business communication scholars should give more attention to film. We propose that scholars should develop conceptual perspectives and tools appropriate to the study of film as business communication, including an array of genres based on sponsorship and purpose. We develop one specific example, the genre of the readymade training film (RTF) and apply it to Making Your Case.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Hemoglobin Levels and Red Blood Cell Parameters for Iron Deficiency in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alsafi Walaa M , Gaffer Ahmed A , Al-Nafeesah Abdullah , AlEed Ashwaq , Alfaifi Jaber , Adam Ishag
Published: December 2024

Objective. To assess the performance of hemoglobin level and red blood cell parameters (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], and red blood cell distribution width [RDW]) in the diagnosis of iron deficiency among adolescents in eastern Sudan. Methods. A cross-sectional study. Results. Of 374 adolescents. The median age was 14.1 years. Of the participants, 62 (16.6%) had iron deficiency (serum ferritin level of < 15 µg/l). The hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, and MCHC values were significantly lower in adolescents with iron deficiency. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.71 for hemoglobin, 0.60 for MCV, 0.67 for MCH, 0.71 for MCHC, and 0.73 for RDW. Conclusion. In the current study, hemoglobin and red blood cell parameters were fairly accurate in diagnosing iron deficiency. They can be used to diagnose iron deficiency to avoid extra expense for the patients.
Indonesia’s Handling of Terrorists’ Cyber Activities: How Repressive Measures Still Fall Short
Authors: Wibisono Ali Abdullah , Kumendong Rachel , Maulana Iwa
Published: December 2024

The article examines discrepancies between the Indonesian government’s response to terrorist cyber activities and the actual activities of terrorists online. By analysing data from 55 convicted terrorists, the study reveals that while government efforts focus on censoring extremist content on social media and websites, terrorists have shifted to using messaging platforms for tactical coordination. This shift indicates that current censorship and platform removal strategies are ineffective in preventing terrorists from exploiting cyberspace. The article highlights that repressive measures, such as criminal prosecution and strict regulation, may undermine the roles of users, platform managers and tech companies in content moderation. Additionally, these measures could drive terrorists to smaller, less monitored platforms, ultimately failing to curb their online activities and compromising freedom of expression. The findings suggest that a more nuanced approach is needed to address terrorist use of cyberspace effectively.
COVID for One: Identifying Obstacles to Self-Management of COVID-19 for Single Adults
Authors: Treiber Linda , Emerson Christie , Shackleford Jenna
Published: December 2024

Given the complexities of healthcare provision, it is imperative to understand how single adults experience their interactions with medical professionals and health care organizations, manage care and treatment, and navigate the barriers encountered. This study's purpose is to understand physical and mental health experiences in consideration of social determinants of health, barriers, and coping strategies for single adults diagnosed with COVID-19. An interpretive phenomenology study design was used with 12 individuals who were single and living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews revealed important aspects of the COVID-19 illness experience. Interviews were transcribed for coding and thematic analysis. Analysis of patient interview data identified 4 themes: Dealing with Isolation, Dying Alone, Managing Stigma, and Making a Support Plan. The findings offer insight into what it means to have COVID-19 for single adults who live alone. These findings can be used to help improve the illness experiences of those with COVID-19 and other serious or complex conditions.
A Cetylpyridinium Chloride Oral Rinse Reduces Salivary Viral Load in Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Graves C. , Ghaltakhchyan N. , Ngo T.Q. , Liu C. , Babikow E. , Shoji A. , Bocklage C. , Sang Y. , Phillips S.T. , Bowman N. , Frazier-Bowers S. , Freire M. , Wallet S. , Divaris K. , Wu D. , Jacox L.A.
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Evaluating the antiviral potential of commercially available mouthrinses on SARS-CoV-2 holds potential for reducing transmission, particularly as novel variants emerge. Because SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted primarily through salivary and respiratory secretions and aerosols, strategies to reduce salivary viral burden in an antigen-agnostic manner are attractive for mitigating spread in dental, otolaryngology, and orofacial surgery clinics where patients may need to unmask.

Methods:

Patients ( n = 128) with confirmed COVID-19–positive status within 10 days of symptom onset or positive test result were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial of Food and Drug Administration–approved mouthrinses containing active ingredients ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine, chlorhexidine gluconate, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), or saline. The CPC, ethanol, and sterile water rinses were followed in a second double-blind randomized controlled trial ( n = 230). Participants provided a saliva sample before rinsing (baseline) and again at 30 and 60 min after rinse. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine salivary SARS-CoV-2 viral load at all time points. An adjusted linear mixed-effect model was employed to compare viral load after rinsing relative to baseline.

Results:

The rinse containing CPC significantly reduced salivary SARS-CoV-2 viral load 30 min postrinse relative to baseline ( P = .015), whereas no other rinse significantly affected viral load at 30 min after rinsing. At 60 min postrinsing, no group had a significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 copy number relative to baseline, indicating a rebound in salivary viral load over a 1-hour window. Participants indicated a fair to good rinsing experience with the CPC product and high willingness to use oral rinses before and during dental and medical health care visits.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that preprocedural oral rinsing could be implemented as a feasible, inexpensive approach to mitigate spread of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other enveloped viruses for short periods, which is relevant to clinical procedures involving the nasal and oropharyngeal region.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

Rinsing with a cetylpyridinium chloride–containing mouthrinse can significantly reduce salivary SARS-CoV-2 viral load for up to 30 min; patients are willing to use mouthrinses in medical and dental settings to limit transmission risk in clinics.
Medical Education: Considerations for a Successful Integration of Learning with and Learning about AI
Authors: Domrös-Zoungrana Dina , Rajaeean Neda , Boie Sebastian , Fröling Emma , Lenz Christian
Published: December 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) with its diverse domains such as expert systems and machine learning already has multiple potential applications in medicine.

Based on the latest developments in the multifaceted field of AI, it will play a pivotal role in medicine, with a high transformative potential in multiple areas, including drug development, diagnostics, patient care and monitoring.

In the pharmaceutical industry AI is also rapidly gaining a crucial role. The introduction of innovative medicines requires profound background knowledge and the latest means of communication. This drives us to intensively engage with the topic of medical education, which is becoming more and more demanding due to the dynamic knowledge landscape, among other things, accelerated even more by digitalization and AI.

Therefore, we argue for the incorporation of AI-based tools and methods in medical education, including personalized learning, diagnostic pathways, and data analysis, to prepare healthcare professionals for the evolving landscape of AI in medicine and support the fluency in dealing with AI by regular contact with various AI-based tools (Learning with AI).

Understanding AI's vast potential and its caveats as well as gaining a basic knowledge of how AI works should be an important part of medical education to ensure that physicians can effectively and responsibly leverage AI-based systems in their daily practice and in scientific communication (Learning about AI).
Participation matters: The social construction of digital twins for cities
Authors: Nochta Timea , Oti-Sarpong Kwadwo
Published: December 2024

In this commentary, we trace processes of ‘social construction’ in the design and implementation of digital twins for cities. We discuss how the layering of a Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) lens on top of already existing perspectives in smart cities and urban planning can help to develop a more nuanced account of participation, inclusion and exclusion. The aim being to facilitate critical reflection on the development trajectory of the UDT concept and highlight that much of what is often described as the natural, inevitable advancement of the technology in fact serves particular interests, with privileged access. We also emphasise that alternative interpretations exist, and should be sought out by technology developers, to facilitate progress in UDT design and implementation.
Book review: An Agonizing Search for Liberal–Secular Islam
Authors: Pankaj Ashok
Published: December 2024

Hasan Suroor, Who Killed Liberal Islam? (Delhi: Rupa, 2019), 256 pp. ₹595 (Hardcover). ISBN: 9789353335939.
Tumor burden quantified by Soluble B-Cell Maturation Antigen and Metabolic Tumor Volume determine myeloma CAR-T outcomes
Authors: Freeman Ciara L , Noble Jerald , Menges Meghan , Villanueva Ricardo , Nakashima Justyn Y , Figura Nicholas B , Tonseth R. Petter , Idiaquez Dietrich Werner , Skelson Lawrence , Smith Eric C , Abraham-Miranda Julieta , Corallo Salvatore , De Avila Gabriel , Castaneda Puglianini Omar , Liu Hien D , Alsina Melissa , Nishihori Taiga , Shain Kenneth H , Baz Rachid C , Blue Brandon J , Grajales-Cruz Ariel , Koomen John M. , Atkins Reginald M , Hansen Doris K , Siqueira Silva Ariosto , Kim Jongphil , Balagurunathan Yoganand , Locke Frederick L
Published: December 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a breakthrough treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, these products are complex to deliver and alternative options are now available. Identifying biomarkers that can predict therapeutic outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient selection. There is a paucity of data evaluating the utility of both serum soluble B-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) levels and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) at baseline in patients with RRMM undergoing CAR-T therapy. We identified a cohort of 183 patients with available serum to measure sBCMA and/or pre-treatment MTV, derived from positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans obtained per standard of care. Expectedly, high pre-treatment levels of sBCMA correlated with other established markers of tumor burden (e.g., bone marrow plasma cells/BMPCs, beta2 microglobulin) and inflammation, and were highly prognostic for CAR-T related toxicities and inferior progression free survival (PFS). High MTV values were also associated with shorter PFS and inferior overall survival (OS). The poor correlation observed between these two measures prompted evaluation of those with discordant results, identifying that those with low sBCMA and high MTV frequently had low/absent BCMA expression on plasma cells and suboptimal response. Our findings highlight the potential utility of sBCMA and MTV to facilitate more personalized treatment strategies in the management of RRMM eligible for BCMA directed CAR-T.
The GATA-3–dependent transcriptome and tumor microenvironment are regulated by eIF4E and XPO1 in T-cell lymphomas
Authors: Kady Nermin , Abdelrahman Suhaib , Rauf Ahmar M. , Burgess Alyssa , Weiss Jonathan , Gunasekara Hirushi , Ramseier Neal , Maine Ira P. , Zevallos-Morales Alejandro , Perez-Silos Vanessa , Wolfe Ashley , Hristov Alexandra C. , Brown Noah A. , Inamdar Kedar , Sverdlov Maria , Hu Ying S. , Murga-Zamalloa Carlos , Wang Chenguang , Wilcox Ryan A.
Published: December 2024

The transcription factor GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) and the transcriptional program it regulates have emerged as oncogenic drivers across diverse T-cell lymphomas (TCLs), many of which are resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents and characterized by recurrent losses of key tumor suppressor genes, including TP53 and PTEN, both of which are clients of the nuclear export protein XPO1. Here, we demonstrated that XPO1 is highly expressed by malignant T cells expressing GATA-3 and by lymphoma-associated macrophages (LAMs) within their tumor microenvironment (TME). Using complementary genetically engineered mouse models, we demonstrated that TP53- and/or phosphate and tensin homolog (PTEN)-deficient TCLs, and LAMs within their TME, are sensitive to the selective exportin-1 (XPO1) antagonist selinexor. In an effort to identify TP53- and PTEN-independent mechanisms, we used complementary and orthogonal approaches to investigate the role of eIF4E and XPO1-dependent messenger RNA nuclear export in these TCLs. We identified a novel role for eIF4E/XPO1 in exporting GATA-3 and GATA-3–dependent transcripts from the nucleus in TCLs, and in the export of therapeutically relevant transcripts, including colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor, from LAMs. Therefore, XPO1 antagonism, by impairing oncogenic transcriptional programs in TCLs and depleting LAMs from their TME, is a novel approach to target 2 independent dependencies in a group of therapeutically challenging TCLs.