bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Der prognostische Stellenwert der Körperzusammensetzung („body composition“) in der onkologischen Viszeralchirurgie
Authors: Elhabash Saleem , Langhammer Nils , Fetzner Ulrich Klaus , Kröger Jan-Robert , Dimopoulos Ioannis , Begum Nehara , Borggrefe Jan , Gerdes Berthold , Surov Alexey
Published: October 2024

Das Screening des Ernährungsstatus spielt eine entscheidende Rolle im perioperativen Management von Krebspatienten und ist im Rahmen der Zertifizierungsvorgaben von Krebszentren durch die Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (DKG) vorgeschrieben. Die verfügbaren Screening-Tools unterscheiden nicht zwischen Muskel- und Fettgewebe. Die Fortschritte der Computertomographie (CT) und der Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) wie auch die automatisierte PACS(„picture archiving communication system“)-getriggerte Bildanalyse erlauben in den letzten Jahren erstmals eine detaillierte Analyse des Fettgewebes und der Muskelqualität in der klinischen Routine. Es gibt eine rasch zunehmende Evidenz dafür, dass die Parameter der Körperzusammensetzung („body composition“), insbesondere die reduzierte Muskelmasse, mit einem negativen Einfluss auf das „overall survival“, die Chemotherapietoxizität und chirurgische Komplikationen bei Tumorpatienten assoziiert sind. In diesem Artikel fassen wir die aktuelle Literatur zusammen und stellen damit den klinischen Einfluss der „body composition“ bei viszeralonkologischen Erkrankungen dar.
Assessment of gamified mixed reality environments for upper limb robotic rehabilitation: pilot study on healthy adults
Authors: Garcia-Hernandez N. , Buccelli S. , De Angelis A. , Taglione E. , Laffranchi M. , De Michieli L.
Published: October 2024

Exoskeletons for rehabilitation have the potential to aid movement and promote intensive, task-oriented, and personalized motor training. However, robotic-assisted training and user experience could be further improve by including Mixed Reality Environments (MREs) and using a gamification approach. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a MR solution based on Microsoft Hololens 2 for robot-assisted bilateral shoulder training. It is based on gamified MREs designed to guide and encourage bilateral synchronous and asynchronous movements of the upper extremities while a 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) exoskeleton (FLOAT) provides motor assistance only to the impared limb. The robotic-assisted bimanual tasks involve the use of rehabilitative tools (such as a dowel rod), as a means to interact with the virtual world and to enable the intact limb guide and control the motions of the disable limb. The gamified MR training solution generates meaningful performance metrics from the kinematic analysis of hands movement, captured by Hololens. The subjective evaluation of the gamified MR solution focused on usability, cognitive load, and user experience. Meanwhile, the objective evaluation encompassed the analysis of the robot-assisted movements with and without gamified MREs, a comparative analysis between metrics obtained from Hololens and Vicon data, and the collection of reference data and trajectories. There were twenty-one healthy adults involved in the evaluation of the system. The results with the gamified MREs highlight excellent system usability, low cognitive load, and high user experience. Additionally, integrating gamified MREs into robot-assisted movements enhances shoulder movements. Data collection with Hololens demonstrated to be reliable and consistent. Furthermore, the normal reference values, paths, and velocity profiles obtained from healthy individuals offer a foundation for assessing the performance of individuals with disabilities. In summary, the introduction of gamified MREs for robot-assisted bilateral shoulder movements marks a significant and promising advancement in rehabilitation technology.
Latent periodicity in epilepsy
Authors: Baud Maxime O. , Rao Vikram R.
Published: October 2024

Evidence collected from trials of chronic electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings has shown that a cyclical organization of seizures and interictal epileptiform activity is widespread among patients with focal epilepsy. Yet, seizures reported by patients themselves or their family do not always exhibit such regularity. In this review, we discuss various reasons explaining the apparent discrepancy between continuous EEG data and patient-reported seizures.
Common equivalence and size of forgetting from Horn formulae
Authors: Liberatore Paolo
Published: October 2024

Forgetting variables from a propositional formula may increase its size. Introducing new variables is a way to shorten it. Both operations can be expressed in terms of common equivalence, a weakened version of equivalence. In turn, common equivalence can be expressed in terms of forgetting. An algorithm for forgetting and checking common equivalence in polynomial space is given for the Horn case; it is polynomial-time for the subclass of single-head formulae. Minimizing after forgetting is polynomial-time if the formula is also acyclic and variables cannot be introduced, NP-hard when they can.
Psychosocial Consequences of Sexual Assault on Women: A Scoping Review
Authors: Serrano-Rodríguez Ester , Luque-Ribelles Violeta , Hervías-Parejo Vanesa
Published: October 2024

Women are at a higher risk of sexual assault, partly due to societal sexism. This scoping review addresses the question: What is known about the psychosocial consequences of sexual assault on women? To understand these impacts, various studies were reviewed. Searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycArticles, and PsycINFO between April and May 2022. The methodology followed Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework. PRISMA guidelines were used for screening and the Scoping Reviews Checklist was employed to ensure the quality of the review process. As a result, 1744 studies were identified, and 21 were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, with publication years ranging from 1997 to 2021. The total sample of women analyzed across these studies was 20,071 (M = 955.76; σ = 2236.53). These 21 studies examined the psychosocial consequences of sexual assault on women's lives. The primary psychosocial outcomes identified were depressive symptoms (n = 13), anxiety symptoms (n = 11), post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 11), alcohol dependence (n = 6), and sleep disorders (n = 3). In conclusion, this review enhances our understanding of the effects of sexual assault on women and identifies areas for future research to further understand and address this phenomenon. This work can ultimately guide efforts to improve the well-being of survivors.
Using Bifactor Twin Modeling to Assess the Genetic and Environmental Dimensionality of Adult ADHD Symptoms
Authors: Knyspel Jacob , Morneau-Vaillancourt Geneviève , Eley Thalia C.
Published: October 2024

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common and heritable neurodevelopmental condition that has been the subject of a wealth of genetics research. Because ADHD has an early age of onset, most of this work has focused on children, meaning that less is known about the genetics of ADHD in adults. Additionally, while much research has assessed the heritability of ADHD as a general dimension, less has assessed the heritability of individual subtypes (inattention, hyperactivity) or symptoms of ADHD. It therefore remains unclear whether the genetic factors underlying ADHD symptoms conform to a unidimensional or multidimensional structure. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic and environmental dimensionality of adult ADHD symptoms. We analyzed data from 10,454 twins of the Twins Early Development Study, who provided self-reports of ADHD symptoms using the Conners scale at age 21 years. The data conformed well to a psychometric bifactor model, providing support for a general dimension of ADHD in addition to secondary dimensions for inattention and hyperactivity. However, a bifactor independent pathway twin model provided support for a general dimension only at the level of non-shared environmental effects and not additive genetic or shared environmental effects. This suggests that symptoms of ADHD cluster together under a general dimension of non-shared environmental effects, although the two subtypes of ADHD (inattention and hyperactivity) are meaningfully genetically distinct. We found the overall heritability of ADHD to be 40%, comparable with previous estimates for adult ADHD symptoms. Our results provide useful insights into the genetic and environmental architecture of specific ADHD symptoms.
An Experimental Investigation of the
Relationship Between Emotion Regulation Flexibility, Negative Affect and Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder
Authors: Lim Madeleine , Nickerson Angela , Specker Philippa
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Emerging research investigating mechanisms underpinning PTSD has
identified emotion regulation (ER) flexibility – the ability to flexibly
use ER strategies according to contextual demands – as one promising
mechanism. To date, however, no study has investigated whether brief training in
ER flexibility can minimise negative affect elicited from evocative stimuli.
This study investigated the impact of instructed ER flexibility on emotional
responding in probable PTSD.

Methods

Participants (N = 148) viewed images that differed in negative
emotional intensity (high or low). For each image, participants followed
instructions to adopt either a flexible or inflexible ER approach through
randomisation to either an ER flexible
condition or one of three control conditions (Inflexible
Reappraisal, Inflexible
Distraction, Context
Insensitive). In the ER
Flexible condition, participants were instructed to switch
between distraction and reappraisal according to the emotional intensity of the
image. The control conditions required participants to either employ a single ER
strategy (Inflexible Distraction and
Inflexible Reappraisal) or switch between
strategies in a way that did not align with image intensity (Context Insensitive). Negative affect was rated
after each image.

Results

Participants with probable PTSD in the ER
Flexible condition demonstrated the lowest levels of negative
affect. For participants without probable PTSD, negative affect did not differ
between the ER conditions.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that individuals with probable PTSD benefitted from
being instructed in ER flexibility. This finding supports the adaptiveness of ER
flexibility and provides a preliminary temporal link between instructed ER
flexibility and improved emotional responding for those with PTSD.
The impact of agricultural insurance on farmers’ mental health: what we can learn from the literature
Authors: Rana Rezwanul Hasan , Adeyinka Adewuyi Ayodele , Mushtaq Shahbaz , Barratt Jonathan , Alam Khorshed
Published: October 2024

This systematic review aimed to examine evidence in the extant literature on the nexus between agricultural insurance and the mental health of farmers. The key hypothesis was that increasing access to agricultural insurance will enhance the mental and emotional well-being of farmers globally and will consequently preserve the future of agriculture, particularly as climate change exacerbates weather risk. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. We searched several databases, including EBSCOHost Megafile, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed (Medline) and Google Scholar, based on predetermined criteria in July 2024. We conducted a full-text review of twelve potential articles. None of the articles met the inclusion criteria and reported a clear understanding of the relationship between access to agricultural insurance and the mental health nexus. We concluded that there is no evidence to support the hypothesis that access to agricultural insurance has a positive impact on farmer’s mental health. Our hypothesis is premised on the fact that while agricultural insurance smoothens farmers’ income, this should lead to some forms of mental health advantage, but we do not have any evidence in extant literature. The lack of literature is perhaps due to the complexity of the agricultural insurance product design. We recommend studies that will provide reliably conclusive evidence on this critical issue because agriculture requires risk management tools to help farmers cope with multidimensional risks, including exacerbated weather events due to climate change.
Occupational Well-Being Profiles and Learning Climate as an Organizational Resource: A Latent Transition Analysis
Authors: Lehtiniemi Katariina , Tolvanen Asko , Rantanen Johanna , Feldt Taru
Published: October 2024

The aim of the present longitudinal study was to profile the occupational well-being (burnout, work engagement) of highly educated employees (n=442) at three measurement points: in 2017 (T1), 2019 (T2), and 2021 (T3). We were interested in whether profile transitions would occur during the follow-up, and if so, whether the three dimensions of perceived learning climate (facilitation, appreciation, and error avoidance) predict these transitions, and hence function as an organizational-level resource that could help highly educated employees to sustain or improve their occupational well-being. We identified three profiles at each measurement point: (1) burnout, lowered engagement; (2) average exhaustion, high engagement; and (3) low burnout, very high engagement. Latent Transition Analysis indicated that employees both maintained their profiles and made transitions during the follow-up. The findings for the second study period (T2-T3) showed a somewhat less favorable development of occupational well-being. Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis revealed that perceived learning climate predicted the T2-T3 but not T1-T2 transitions. We conclude that employee well-being can simultaneously comprise both positive and negative states. Although the organizational resource perspective gained some support, this tentative evidence also raises the question of whether employees perceive an appreciative learning climate as more stressful than helpful. Overall, the longitudinal relationship of occupational well-being with the dimensions of perceived learning climate warrants further study.
Fluctuations of the Occupation Density for a Parking Process
Authors: Coletti Cristian F. , Gallo Sandro , Roldán-Correa Alejandro , Valencia León A.
Published: October 2024

Consider the following simple parking process on $$\Lambda _n:= \{-n, \ldots , n\}^d,d\ge 1$$

Λ
n

:
=

{
-
n
,
…
,
n
}

d

,
d
≥
1

: at each step, a site i is chosen at random in $$\Lambda _n$$

Λ
n

and if i and all its nearest neighbor sites are empty, i is occupied. Once occupied, a site remains so forever. The process continues until all sites in $$\Lambda _n$$

Λ
n

are either occupied or have at least one of their nearest neighbors occupied. The final configuration (occupancy) of $$\Lambda _n$$

Λ
n

is called the jamming limit and is denoted by $$X_{\Lambda _n}$$

X

Λ
n

. Ritchie (J Stat Phys 122:381–398, 2006) constructed a stationary random field on $$\mathbb {Z}^d$$

Z

d

obtained as a (thermodynamic) limit of the $$X_{\Lambda _n}$$

X

Λ
n

’s as n tends to infinity. As a consequence of his construction, he proved a strong law of large numbers for the proportion of occupied sites in the box $$\Lambda _n$$

Λ
n

for the random field X. Here we prove the central limit theorem, the law of iterated logarithm, and a gaussian concentration inequality for the same statistics. A particular attention will be given to the case $$d=1$$

d
=
1

, in which we also obtain new asymptotic properties for the sequence $$X_{\Lambda _n},n\ge 1$$

X

Λ
n

,
n
≥
1

.
Stabilization system for solar loading thermography applied on cultural heritage objects exposed outdoors: the contribution of advanced algorithms and dual-branch U-Net
Authors: Ding Yinuo , Russo Gilda , Tshiangomba Reagan Kasonsa , Pellegrino Enza , Cicone Antonio , Sfarra Stefano , Zhang Hai
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the use of solar loading thermography (SLT) for thermal non-destructive testing (TNDT) and image stabilization of cultural heritage objects, specifically focusing on a century-old ancient book. The irregular contours and deteriorated areas of the book posed significant challenges for feature extraction due to non-uniform temperature variations. To address these challenges, a convolutional neural network (CNN) based dual-branch network of U-Net was used to stabilize the dataset across three degrees of freedom with the ancient book. The stabilization process involved tracking feature lines across each frame of the time-domain datasets, correcting for frame misalignment caused by sample movement during prolonged data acquisition. The effectiveness of this stabilization technique was evaluated by comparing the results of principal component analysis (PCA), fast Fourier transform (FFT), and fast iterative filtering (FIF) algorithms before and after stabilization. Significant improvements were observed, particularly in the clarity and accuracy of defect detection, indicating that this technique provides a robust foundation for further analysis and processing of SLT datasets in cultural heritage preservation. This research demonstrates the potential of combining advanced image processing techniques with SLT to enhance the quality and reliability of NDT in preserving valuable historical artifacts.
Manfluencers and Young Men’s Misogynistic Attitudes: The Role of Perceived Threats to Men’s Status
Authors: Renström Emma A. , Bäck Hanna
Published: October 2024

Misogynistic attitudes have surged in the past few years and the “manosphere” – an online milieu promoting toxic and rigid masculinity norms – is often seen as an arena for spreading such ideas. Within the manosphere, manfluencers (i.e., male influencers who espouse misogynistic content and beliefs) are known for trying to persuade men to view women and feminism as a threat to their masculinity and status as men. In this article, we examine how perceived threats to masculine identity as presented by manfluencers affect the formation of young men’s attitudes towards women. In an original survey (N = 2857) with Swedish men, we found that young men who follow more manfluencers are more likely to dehumanize women. In two experiments (N = 597, 630), we presented potentially threatening content from a fictive manfluencer to a group of participants and found that young men exposed to such content were more mistrustful of women and misogynistic, especially if they felt like they had been rejected by women in the past. The results highlight the importance of how social media influencers may increase misogyny among young men. This research has important implications for policymakers and practitioners, who should be made aware of the role manfluencers have in the formation of attitudes toward gender equality.
How negative institutional power moderates contestation: Explaining dissatisfied powers’ strategies towards international institutions
Authors: Daßler Benjamin , Heinkelmann-Wild Tim , Kruck Andreas
Published: October 2024

International institutions are increasingly under attack from their member states, who embark on varying and sometimes escalating modes of contestation. At the same time, states’ negative institutional power, i.e. their opportunities to avoid undesired outcomes in international institutions, has been declining for some time. This paper claims that dissatisfied states’ negative institutional power endowments are key to understanding their varying contestation modes: the more limited (extensive) the negative institutional power of dissatisfied states in an institution, the more radical (moderate) modes of institutional contestation they will choose. We argue that, all else equal, states’ (1) inside options to prevent undesired outcomes within the institution and (2) their outside options to evade undesired outcomes by leaving the institution jointly condition whether they choose a strategy of voice, subversion, exit, or rollback to contest the dissatisfying institution. We assess the plausibility of our Negative Institutional Power Theory (NIPT) by means of four detailed case studies of the Trump Administration’s contestation of the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the Paris Agreement, and the Iran Nuclear Deal. We demonstrate the generalizability of our arguments by assessing our claims across eight additional instances of other dissatisfied powers’ contesting different international institutions. The twelve case studies demonstrate that negative power matters for states’ choice of institutional contestation modes. Our findings suggest that whether, in the future, international institutions will be increasingly challenged from within and outside, can be influenced by reforms that grant (or deny) states negative institutional power.
School climate assemblies: an educational tool for empowering pupils and youth to take climate and sustainability action
Authors: Cebrián Gisela , Boqué Anna , Olano Jon Xavier , Prieto Juan
Published: October 2024

This paper presents school climate assemblies, conceived as an innovative educational tool for the co-creation of climate change and sustainability solutions in educational institutions and communities. It describes an intervention research project that builds on previous processes and experiences of climate citizen assemblies which have been organised in different countries across the world. School climate assemblies are conceived of as a tool that promotes the active engagement of pupils and their communities in co-creating climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies towards jointly defining innovative sustainability and climate change solutions. An intervention, piloted in five secondary schools in the Spanish region of Tarragona, is reported, presenting the main phases and steps followed. To test the effectiveness of the intervention, this paper outlines the policy climate change recommendations that emerged from the co-creation process to identify and agree on a set of actions to tackle climate change and sustainability challenges and the degree of student satisfaction with the intervention. A detailed methodology for organising school climate assemblies that can be replicated in other educational institutions, contexts and regions, is presented, enabling the widespread adoption of this innovative approach. The study emphasises the potential of co-creation methods in the educational context and underscores the critical role of education in fostering sustainability in citizens and empowering students to become active change agents in their local communities. The results lead to policy implications for integrating co-creation approaches into school curricula worldwide, aiming to empower students and drive sustainability action.
Dealing with regression models’ endogeneity by means of an adjusted estimator for the Gaussian copula approach
Authors: Liengaard Benjamin D. , Becker Jan-Michael , Bennedsen Mikkel , Heiler Phillip , Taylor Luke N. , Ringle Christian M.
Published: October 2024

Endogeneity in regression models is a key marketing research concern. The Gaussian copula approach offers an instrumental variable (IV)-free technique to mitigate endogeneity bias in regression models. Previous research revealed substantial finite sample bias when applying this method to regression models with an intercept. This is particularly problematic as models in marketing studies almost always require an intercept. To resolve this limitation, our research determines the bias’s sources, making several methodological advances in the process. First, we show that the cumulative distribution function estimation’s quality strongly affects the Gaussian copula approach’s performance. Second, we use this insight to develop an adjusted estimator that improves the Gaussian copula approach’s finite sample performance in regression models with (and without) an intercept. Third, as a broader contribution, we extend the framework for copula estimation to models with multiple endogenous variables on continuous scales and exogenous variables on discrete and continuous scales, and non-linearities such as interaction terms. Fourth, simulation studies confirm that the new adjusted estimator outperforms the established ones. Further simulations also underscore that our extended framework allows researchers to validly deal with multiple endogenous and exogenous regressors, and the interactions between them. Fifth, we demonstrate the adjusted estimator and the general framework’s systematic application, using an empirical marketing example with real-world data. These contributions enable researchers in marketing and other disciplines to effectively address endogeneity problems in their models by using the improved Gaussian copula approach.
Perspectives of patients, partners, primary and hospital-based health care professionals on living with advanced cancer and systemic treatment
Authors: Kolsteren Evie E. M. , Deuning-Smit Esther , Prins Judith B. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Kwakkenbos Linda , Custers José A. E.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

An emerging group of patients lives longer with advanced cancer while receiving systemic treatment. This study aimed to investigate psychosocial aspects of living longer with advanced cancer, and experiences with psychosocial care, from the perspectives of patients, partners, and health care professionals (HCPs).

Methods

From May to December 2020, participants were purposively selected. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by video or phone call, containing open questions regarding psychosocial aspects and psychosocial care in oncology. The data was analysed following thematic analysis, leading to overarching psychosocial themes and indications for optimal organisation of psycho-oncological care.

Results

Fifteen patients, seven partners and eleven HCPs were interviewed. The main psychosocial aspects were increasing loss in several life domains, complexity of making life choices, ongoing uncertainty, and fluctuating fear and hope. Partners were affected by their loved ones’ condition and reported to put themselves second for longer periods of time, while sometimes missing adequate support. HCPs were challenged by addressing the altering psychosocial needs of patients, and tools to identify those in need for psychosocial support are currently lacking.

Conclusions

Living longer with advanced cancer presents unique challenges for patients and their partners, as well as for HCPs in delivering optimal psychosocial care.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Identifying and addressing patients’ psychosocial needs from an early stage on, appointing a central hospital-based contact person, limiting the waiting time between scans and consultations, and addressing the partners’ wellbeing are suggestions to organise optimal psychosocial support in advanced cancer.
A Review of Technologies and Challenges for Integrated Modeling Analysis
Authors: Sigler Laurence , Ubach Pere-Andreu , Mora Javier , Oñate Eugenio
Published: October 2024

The natural and built environment form a complex system, comprised of many interrelated subsystems, each interacting in multiple nexus. Manifestations of these interactions can be seen in complex events. Climate change, natural disasters, military conflicts, pandemics, and other such events require accurate preparation, preparedness, and response planning, in a fast, ever changing context. With exascale ($$10^{18}$$

10
18

floating point operations per second) computational levels reached, computing power gives us the capability to model and simulate complex scenarios. This capability gives decision makers tools to game possibilities and enact preparatory and preventative measures to build resilience. There has been a trend of development of decision support, risk assessment, and operational forecasting systems to address this issue, aggregating diverse data sources onto unified platforms. Nonetheless, the majority of such platforms focus on the aggregation of just data and not models, and remain in silos of disciplines. What is needed to prepare and plan for disruptive events is a move towards decision support based on holistic, integrated, model-based analysis. While modeling individual systems has been done for many years, modeling in holistic analysis presents additional challenges. This paper presents an overview of the challenges and advances present for a move to a model-based holistic analysis, and an evaluation of some platforms currently in development and operation. The present work signals gaps in research to be addressed. Finally, we formulate base requirements for the development of systems to perform holistic model-based analysis, and discuss future plans for the development of such a platform.
Individual learning ambidexterity behavior and individual job performance in services: the role of organizational structure
Authors: Ceptureanu Sebastian Ion , Ferraro Giovanna , Ceptureanu Eduard Gabriel , Georgescu Bogdan
Published: October 2024

This study analyzed the impact of individual learning ambidexterity on individual job performance and tested the moderating effects of the organizational structure, represented in this research by formalization, decentralization, and structural differentiation. Despite the importance of individual learning ambidexterity, there is a limited understanding of how employees’ explorative and exploitative learning behaviors affect their individual job performance. The study expands the research by confirming the relevance of individual learning ambidexterity for individual performance for non-managerial employees; an understudied research setting for individual ambidexterity. We demonstrate that individual learning ambidexterity is positively correlated with individual job performance. We also provide evidence that formalization, decentralization, and structural differentiation moderate the effects of individual learning ambidexterity on individual job performance. The empirical context for the research was non-managerial employees from the Romanian IT services industry. Prior research has shown that ambidexterity is important in the IT industry, making it an adequate setting to analyze the effects of individual learning ambidexterity on individual job performance. By using polynomial regressions on a sample consisting of 342 employees, we were able to analyze four research hypotheses. This study demonstrates the moderating mechanism of organizational setting in the improvement of individual job performance in relation to individual learning ambidexterity. Taken as a whole, our findings provide new insights into how and under which organizational conditions the individual-level explorative and exploitative learning behaviors affect individual job performance.
Immune Response in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Cáceres Eder , Olivella Juan Camilo , Di Napoli Mario , Raihane Ahmed S. , Divani Afshin A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose of Review

This review aims to comprehensively examine the immune response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how its disruption can impact healing and recovery.

Recent Findings

The immune response is now considered a key element in the pathophysiology of TBI, with consequences far beyond the acute phase after injury. A delicate equilibrium is crucial for a healthy recovery. When this equilibrium is disrupted, chronic inflammation and immune imbalance can lead to detrimental effects on survival and disability.

Globally, traumatic brain injury (TBI) imposes a substantial burden in terms of both years of life lost and years lived with disability. Although its epidemiology exhibits dynamic trends over time and across regions, TBI disproportionally affects the younger populations, posing psychosocial and financial challenge for communities and families. Following the initial trauma, the primary injury is succeeded by an inflammatory response, primarily orchestrated by the innate immune system. The inflammasome plays a pivotal role during this stage, catalyzing both programmed cell death pathways and the up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors. These events trigger the activation and differentiation of microglia, thereby intensifying the inflammatory response to a systemic level and facilitating the migration of immune cells and edema. This inflammatory response, initially originated in the brain, is monitored by our autonomic nervous system. Through the vagus nerve and adrenergic and cholinergic receptors in various peripheral lymphoid organs and immune cells, bidirectional communication and regulation between the immune and nervous systems is established.
Authorship and Citizen Science: Seven Heuristic Rules
Authors: Sandin Per , Baard Patrik , Bülow William , Helgesson Gert
Published: October 2024

Citizen science (CS) is an umbrella term for research with a significant amount of contributions from volunteers. Those volunteers can occupy a hybrid role, being both ‘researcher’ and ‘subject’ at the same time. This has repercussions for questions about responsibility and credit, e.g. pertaining to the issue of authorship. In this paper, we first review some existing guidelines for authorship and their applicability to CS. Second, we assess the claim that the guidelines from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), known as ‘the Vancouver guidelines’, may lead to exclusion of deserving citizen scientists as authors. We maintain that the idea of including citizen scientists as authors is supported by at least two arguments: transparency and fairness. Third, we argue that it might be plausible to include groups as authors in CS. Fourth and finally, we offer a heuristic list of seven recommendations to be considered when deciding about whom to include as an author of a CS publication.
Diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities for detection of spinal metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Harlianto Netanja I. , van der Star Simone , Suelmann Britt B. M. , de Jong Pim A. , Verlaan Jorrit-Jan , Foppen Wouter
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Detecting spinal metastases is highly relevant in patients with oncological disorders as it can affect the staging and treatment of their disease. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, bone scintigraphy (BS), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for spinal metastases detection.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched until March 2024 for diagnostic accuracy studies on spinal metastases detection (PROSPERO-registration: CRD42024540139). Data extraction and quality assessment using the QUADAS-2 tool were performed by two independent reviewers. Using bivariate random effects modeling, pooled sensitivities, specificities, and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) were calculated, and hierarchical summary operating curves were constructed.

Results

Twenty-five studies (49 datasets), encompassing 3102 patients were included. Per-patient pooled sensitivities of CT, MRI, PET/CT, BS and SPECT were 70%, 93%, 82%, 75%, and 84%, respectively. Pooled specificities were 74%, 85%, 75%, 92%, and 81%, respectively. Per-lesion pooled sensitivities of CT, MRI, PET/CT, BS and SPECT were 76%, 91%, 92%, 77%, and 92%, respectively. Pooled specificities were 91%, 94%, 85%, 52%, and 86%, respectively. MRI had the highest DOR in per patient and lesion analyses.

Conclusion

MRI had highest diagnostic accuracy for spinal metastases detection on patient and lesion level, suggesting a broader use in addition to the routine staging CT, at least in patients at high risk and where the detection of a spinal metastasis could alter therapy decisions. Herein, results should be considered with the limitations of each modality.
One-Step Polyester Dyeing and Antibacterial Treatment Using Innovative Thiazole Azo Dyes in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Sofan Mamdouh , Elsisi Hanan , El-Taweel Fathy , El-nagar Khaled , Yuesf Mohamed , Negm Elham
Published: October 2024

A novel approach in the field, a range of new azothiazole dyes substituted with different hydrophobic groups, was utilized as colorants for dyeing polyester fabrics in a supercritical carbon dioxide environment. The innovative dyes were analyzed using standard spectroscopy techniques and elemental analysis. The dyeing process was assessed for its dyeing ability, color strength, and color fastness for twelve different dyes. The polyester fabrics dyed with these dyes appeared in various shades, between red and magenta. Using the AATCC method, the antibacterial assessment revealed that some dyes exhibited significant antibacterial properties against both positive and negative bacteria. All 12 dyes showed outstanding resistance to washing, rubbing, and light, with staining and color change ratings of 4–5. The results indicate that the synthesized dyes could be employed for large-scale, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly polyester fabric dyeing utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide.

Graphical abstract
Post-War Ukraine: A Kind of “Big Israel” in Europe?
Authors: Ginzburg Boris
Published: October 2024

In April 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that post-war Ukraine could resemble a “big Israel” in Europe regarding its security policy. But what implications would this have on the European security order? By comparing Kyiv’s and Jerusalem’s security circumstances, this paper shows that Ukraine cannot view itself as a “European Israel”, although some parallels exist between both states. However, Israel’s foreign policy could serve as a template for Kyiv.
The metabolic profiles of phenolic acids and aromatic amino acids in the Orobanche crenata parasite and its host faba bean at different infestation stages
Authors: El-Mergawi Ragab , El-Dabaa Mahmoud , Elkhawaga Fathia
Published: October 2024

Orobanche crenata is a root holoparasite that depends on its host for nutritional requirements. The shikimate pathway that metabolizes about 30% of the assimilated carbon in photosynthetic plants plays a role in host-parasite relationships. Aromatic amino acids (AAAs) and phenolic acids are derived from the shikimate pathway and serve as precursors of a wide number of primary and secondary metabolites. The effects of the O. crenata parasite on the phenolic acid and AAA profiles of two faba bean varieties and the differences of these compounds between the host organs and attached parasite at infestation stages were studied. Hosts and attached parasites were collected and divided, depending on the stage of parasite development, into four stages. The results revealed that phenolic acids and free AAAs tended to increase in parasitized roots compared to those of healthy roots, and the greatest increase in phenolic contents occurred at the first infestation stage. Syringic acid was observed to be unique to the parasite. Profiles of phenolic acids and AAAs were changed during the developmental stages of the parasite and differed from those of its host. Caffeic in the parasite reached more than 100 times that in Nubaria 4 host roots at the fourth infestation stage. Free phenylalanine in the parasite ranged between 2.2 and 5.5 times its level in host roots at all infestation stages. This study provides much evidence that indicates O. crenata is able to self-regulate its phenolic and AAA metabolites during its developmental stages, which differ from those of its host.
Performance of an Oral Rinse Point-Of-Care Assay to aid in the diagnosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) in a High-Risk Danish Ear-Nose Throat (ENT) Clinic
Authors: Jensen David Hebbelstrup , Klokker Mads
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Oral examination and biopsy are established methods for early detection of oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC). The aim of the current study was to evaluate performance of a point-of-care (POC) assay to aid in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

Materials and methods

150 consecutive patients were enrolled from a high-risk ear nose and throat clinic at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. A positive POC test represented as a CD44 band or elevated level of total protein (TP) was correlated with biopsy results and then evaluated with sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), PPV, NPV and multivariate models.

Results

119 patients enrolled between January 2016 and April 2017. Presence of a CD44 band or TP ≥3: Se of 73% (95% CI 57.0–84.6%), Sp of 50% (95% CI 39.4–60.5%), and NPV of 94.77% (95% CI 84.12–98.33%). CD44 band or TP of ≥ 2 for non-smkers and ≥ 3 for smokers improved performance: Se 81% (95%CI 66–90%) and Sp 33% (95%CI 24–44%), NPV of 94%. Multivariate models with male gender and ≥ 60 years: Se of 84% (95%CI 67–92%) and Sp of 37% (95%CI 27–47%), NPV of 95%. Non-biopsied, healthy, non-smoking, females (n = 17): Sp of 78%.

Conclusions

POC assay performed well for identifying OOSCC in a prospective clinical trial. Clinical features such as age, smoking status and gender are important variables in assessing risk. Additional studies are underway to further confirm these results including the incorporation of a version 2 POC device.
The Mindful Brain at Rest: Neural Oscillations and Aperiodic Activity in Experienced Meditators
Authors: McQueen Brittany , Murphy Oscar W. , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Bailey Neil W.
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Previous research has demonstrated that mindfulness meditation is associated with a variety of benefits, including improved mental health. Researchers have suggested these benefits may be underpinned by differences in neural oscillations. However, previous studies measuring neural oscillations have not controlled for non-oscillatory neural activity, the power spectrum of which follows a 1/f distribution (whereby the power of neural activity at each frequency is inversely proportional to that frequency (such that as frequency increases, power decreases)) and contributes to power measurements within oscillation frequencies of interest. We applied recently developed methods to determine if past findings related to neural oscillations in meditation are present even after controlling for non-oscillatory 1/f activity.

Method

Forty-eight experienced meditators and 44 demographically matched non-meditators provided resting electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. Whole-scalp EEG comparisons (topographical ANOVAs) were used to test for differences between meditators and non-meditators in the distribution or global power of activity for theta, alpha, beta, and gamma oscillations, and for the 1/f components slope and intercept using the extended Better OSCillation detection toolbox.

Results

Results indicated that meditators showed differences in theta, alpha, and gamma oscillatory power compared to non-meditators (all p < 0.05). Post hoc testing suggested that the oscillatory differences were primarily driven by differences in the distribution of neural activity between meditators and non-meditators, rather than differences in the overall power across all scalp electrodes.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that experience with meditation is associated with higher oscillatory power and altered distributions of theta, alpha, and gamma oscillations, even after controlling for non-oscillatory 1/f activity. Band-specific differences in oscillatory activity may be a mechanism through which meditation leads to neurophysiological benefits.

Preregistration

This study was not preregistered.
Bias-Motivated Physical or Verbal Violence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Findings from the Lisbon Cohort of MSM
Authors: Vieira Laís , Fraga Sílvia , Rocha Miguel , Oliveira Miguel , Meireles Paula
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Victimization based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a cause for concern. Bias-motivated violence affect not only the individuals targeted but also their communities and societies as a whole.

Objective

To estimate the proportion of bias-motivated victimization among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and to compare sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and HIV and syphilis test results between victims and non-victims.

Methods

We used data from the baseline visit of 2811 adult cisgender MSM from July 2017 to December 2020 in the Lisbon Cohort of MSM. Victimization was defined as self-reported lifetime or recent (in the previous 12 months) experience of physical or verbal violence motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. Rapid HIV and syphilis tests determined serostatus. We conducted descriptive statistics to summarize the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and the prevalence of victimization and compared groups using the Student t-test or Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test, as appropriate.

Results

Overall, 40.3% of participants reported lifetime bias-motivated physical or verbal violence, and 11.7% reported recent victimization. Recent victimization contexts more frequently reported were street/neighborhood (67.9%) and workplace/school (35.5%). Victimization was associated with younger age (mean age: 26.5 vs 30.2, p-value < 0.001), being born in Brazil or other American countries, or being 14 or younger at their anal intercourse with a man debut (19.5% vs. 11.0%, p-value < 0.001). Lifetime victimization was not significantly associated with reactive results for HIV (p-value = 0.135) or syphilis (p-value = 0.760).

Conclusion

The violence motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity was quite frequent in this community. The occurrence of violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the Lisbon Cohort of MSM was associated with adverse social conditions and health risk behaviors.

Policy Implications

Raising awareness about bias-motivated violence as a hate crime may deter potential aggressions. Primary violence prevention should tackle specificities of sexual and gender minorities.
In silico analysis of R2R3-MYB transcription factors in the basal eudicot model, Aquilegia coerulea
Authors: Phukela Banisha , Leonard Hanna , Sapir Yuval
Published: October 2024

R2R3-MYBs are an important group of transcription factors that regulate crucial developmental processes across the plant kingdom; yet no comprehensive analysis of the R2R3-MYBs in the early-diverging eudicot clade of Ranunculaceae has been conducted so far. In the present study, Aquilegia coerulea is chosen to understand the extent of conservation and divergence of R2R3-MYBs as a representative of the family by analysing the genomic distribution, organization, gene structure, physiochemical properties, protein architecture, evolution and possible mode of expansion. Genome-wide analysis showed the presence of 82 putative homologues classified into 21 subgroups, based on phylogenetic analysis of full-length protein sequences. The domain has remained largely conserved across all homologues with few differences from the characterized Arabidopsis thaliana R2R3-MYBs. The topology of the phylogenetic tree remains the same when full-length protein sequences are used, indicating that the evolution of R2R3-MYBs is driven by the domain region only. This is supported by the presence of similar structures of exon–intron and conserved motifs within the same subgroup. Furthermore, comparisons of the AqcoeR2R3-MYB members with monocots and core-eudicots revealed the evolutionary expansion of a few functional clades, such as A. thaliana R2R3-MYB subgroup 6 (SG6), the upstream regulatory factors of floral pigment biosynthesis and floral color. The reconstructed evolutionary history of SG6-like genes across angiosperms highlights the occurrence of independent duplication events in the genus Aquilegia. AqcoeR2R3-MYB genes are present in all seven chromosomes of A. coerulea, most of which result from local and segmental duplications. Selection analysis of these duplicated gene pairs indicates purifying selection except one, and the physiochemical analyses of R2R3-MYBs reveal differences among the MYBs signifying their functional diversification. This study paves the way for further investigation of paralogous copies and their probable role in the evolution of different floral traits in A. coerulea. It lays the foundation for functional genomic studies of R2R3-MYBs in the basal eudicots and facilitates comparative studies among angiosperms. The work also provides a framework for deciphering novel genetic regulatory pathways that govern the diversity of floral morphology.