bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus after kidney transplantation: trough concentration or area under curve‐based monitoring?
Authors: van Gelder Teun , Gelinck Armin , Meziyerh Soufian , de Vries Aiko P. J. , Moes Dirk Jan A. R.
Published: June 2024

Measurement of pre‐dose tacrolimus concentrations, also referred to as trough concentrations or C0 (in this paper the term C0 will be used), is the most frequently used parameter for therapeutic drug monitoring in patients after solid organ transplantation. C0 is relatively easy to obtain, and can be combined with other lab tests. C0 monitoring is convenient for patient and hospital staff. Adjusting the dose based on C0 assumes that the C0 has a good correlation with the overall exposure to the drug, as reflected in the area under concentration—time curve (AUC).

However, C0 may not be the panacea it is suggested to be, and there are patients who may benefit from additional measurements to more precisely assess drug exposure. Especially in patients with a low C0/dose ratio, the peak tacrolimus concentrations after oral administration may be unexpectedly high, resulting in toxicity and (as has been shown already) in poor long‐term graft survival. At the other extreme, patients who only need a very low dose to reach target C0 may have a low peak and also a low AUC and may be underexposed.

In this paper, the limitations of C0 will be discussed, and the type of studies needed to provide the evidence for implementation of more sophisticated therapeutic drug monitoring. The paper focuses on treatment of adult kidney transplant recipients.
Infliximab in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: External evaluation of population pharmacokinetic models
Authors: Heikal Omnia Salah , van Rheenen Patrick F. , Touw Daan J. , Kosterink Jos G. W. , Maurer Marina , Koomen Jeroen V. , Chelle Pierre , Mian Paola
Published: June 2024

Aims

Use of infliximab (IFX) has improved outcomes in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, a proportion of patients does not respond to IFX or loses response over time. Population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modelling is a promising approach for IFX dose optimization, but with the increasing number of PopPK models in literature, model evaluation is essential. The aims of this study are: (i) to validate the predictive performance of existing IFX PopPK models using a cohort of children with IBD; and (ii) to perform a Bayesian estimation of the most suitable model to predict the next IFX concentrations.

Methods

PubMed was searched for IFX PopPK models in children. Selected models were rebuilt and analysed using R. Model performance was assessed through goodness‐of‐fit‐plots, residuals against time, prediction error and prediction‐corrected visual predictive checks. The validation cohort consisted of 73 children with IBD who were treated with IFX in our centre between 2017 and 2023 (340 IFX measurements).

Results

We identified 9 PopPK models. Model bias for individual predicted values ranged from −9.29% to 8.01% compared to bias for population predicted values. The model by Vande Casteele et al. demonstrated superior performance (individual predicted bias 2.13, population predicted bias −6.11); upon Bayesian estimation, it predicted induction trough levels with median error of 12.95% but had a median error of −69% predicting maintenance concentrations.

Conclusion

The model by Vande Casteele et al. displayed superior performance in initial evaluations but had a high error in estimating next IFX levels and can only be used in practice to predict induction levels.
Exploring the cytotoxic potential of biflavones of Araucaria cunninghamii: Precise identification combined by LC‐HRMS‐metabolomics and database mining, targeted isolation, network pharmacology, in vitro cytotoxicity, and docking studies
Authors: Sahu Bharat , Chakrabarty Sanheeta , Saini Vaishali , Kandpal Meenakshi , Goel Bharat , Kumari Sanju , Ahmed Ijaz , Jha Hem Chandra , Jain Shreyans K.
Published: June 2024

The leaves of Araucaria cunninghamii are known to be nonedible and toxic. Previous studies have identified biflavones in various Araucaria species. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds from Araucaria cunninghamii after metabolomics and network pharmacological analysis. Methanol extract of Araucaria cunninghamii leaves was subjected to bioassay‐guided fractionation. The active fraction was analyzed using LC‐HRMS, through strategic database mining, by comparing the data to the Dictionary of Natural Products to identify 12 biflavones, along with abietic acid, beta‐sitosterol, and phthalate. Eight compounds were screened for network pharmacology study, where in silico ADME analysis, prediction of gene targets, compound‐gene‐pathway network and hierarchical network analysis, protein–protein interaction, KEGG pathway, and Gene Ontology analyses were done, that showed PI3KR1, EGFR, GSK3B, and ABCB1 as the common targets for all the compounds that may act in the gastric cancer pathway. Simultaneously, four biflavones were isolated via chromatography and identified through NMR as dimeric apigenin with varying methoxy substitutions. Cytotoxicity study against the AGS cell line for gastric cancer showed that AC1 biflavone (IC50 90.58 μM) exhibits the highest cytotoxicity and monomeric apigenin (IC50 174.5 μM) the lowest. Besides, the biflavones were docked to the previously identified targets to analyze their binding affinities, and all the ligands were found to bind with energy ≤−7 Kcal/mol.
Infinite 3D Landmarks: Improving Continuous 2D Facial Landmark Detection
Authors: Chandran P. , Zoss G. , Gotardo P. , Bradley D.
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we examine three important issues in the practical use of state‐of‐the‐art facial landmark detectors and show how a combination of specific architectural modifications can directly improve their accuracy and temporal stability. First, many facial landmark detectors require a face normalization step as a pre‐process, often accomplished by a separately trained neural network that crops and resizes the face in the input image. There is no guarantee that this pre‐trained network performs optimal face normalization for the task of landmark detection. Thus, we instead analyse the use of a spatial transformer network that is trained alongside the landmark detector in an unsupervised manner, jointly learning an optimal face normalization and landmark detection by a single neural network. Second, we show that modifying the output head of the landmark predictor to infer landmarks in a canonical 3D space rather than directly in 2D can further improve accuracy. To convert the predicted 3D landmarks into screen‐space, we additionally predict the camera intrinsics and head pose from the input image. As a side benefit, this allows to predict the 3D face shape from a given image only using 2D landmarks as supervision, which is useful in determining landmark visibility among other things. Third, when training a landmark detector on multiple datasets at the same time, annotation inconsistencies across datasets forces the network to produce a sub‐optimal average. We propose to add a semantic correction network to address this issue. This additional lightweight neural network is trained alongside the landmark detector, without requiring any additional supervision. While the insights of this paper can be applied to most common landmark detectors, we specifically target a recently proposed continuous 2D landmark detector to demonstrate how each of our additions leads to meaningful improvements over the state‐of‐the‐art on standard benchmarks.
The correlation between self‐reported hand eczema and clinically based diagnosis in professional cleaners
Authors: Sedeh Farnam Barati , Ullum Anna Glenn , Michaelsdóttir Thórunn Elísabet , Bang Christensen Karl , Stückler Sarah Gharabaghi , Jemec Gregor Borut Ernst , Mortensen Ole Steen , Ibler Kristina Sophie
Published: June 2024

Background

Most studies investigating the prevalence of hand eczema (HE) in professional cleaners use self‐reported questionnaire‐based data. However, no validation studies of self‐reporting of HE among professional cleaners have previously been conducted.

Objectives

To investigate (1) the point prevalence of self‐reported HE, (2) the point prevalence of HE estimated by physical examination of the hands and (3) the sensitivity and specificity of self‐reporting of HE compared with the diagnosis based on physical examination among professional cleaners.

Methods

Professional cleaners at three different hospitals in Region Zealand were invited to fill out a questionnaire. The point prevalence of self‐reported HE was estimated based on questions from the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaire, each cleaner underwent a physical examination of the hands by a dermatologist on the same day.

Results

In total, 234 cleaners were invited to participate in the study, and 224 (response rate = 96.0%) agreed to take part. Based on the self‐reported questionnaires, 5.3% (n = 12) of the cleaners had current HE. Based on an examination by a physician, 19.2% (n = 43) of the cleaners had current HE. The sensitivity of self‐reported HE was found to be 28.0%, while the specificity was found to be 100.0%. The positive predictive value was found to be 100.0%, while the negative predictive value was 85.0%.

Conclusion

The true point prevalence of HE among professional cleaners is underestimated when based on self‐reporting.
TOKYO criteria 2024 for the assessment of clinical outcomes of endoscopic biliary drainage
Authors: Isayama Hiroyuki , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Fujisawa Toshio , Fukasawa Mitsuharu , Hara Kazuo , Irisawa Atsushi , Ishii Shigeto , Ito Ken , Itoi Takao , Kanno Yoshihide , Katanuma Akio , Kato Hironari , Kawakami Hiroshi , Kawamoto Hirofumi , Kitano Masayuki , Kogure Hirofumi , Matsubara Saburo , Mukai Tsuyoshi , Naitoh Itaru , Ogura Takeshi , Ryozawa Shomei , Sasaki Takashi , Shimatani Masaaki , Shiomi Hideyuki , Sugimori Kazuya , Takenaka Mamoru , Yasuda Ichiro , Nakai Yousuke , Fujita Naotaka , Inui Kazuo ,   the Research Group of Evaluation Criteria for Endoscopic Biliary Drainage
Published: June 2024

The consensus‐based TOKYO criteria were proposed as a standardized reporting system for endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage. The primary objective was to address issues arising from the inconsistent reporting of stent outcomes across studies, which has complicated the comparability and interpretation of study results. However, the original TOKYO criteria were not readily applicable to recent modalities of endoscopic biliary drainage such as biliary drainage based on endoscopic ultrasound or device‐assisted endoscopy. There are increasing opportunities for managing hilar biliary obstruction and benign biliary strictures through endoscopic drainage. Biliary ablation has been introduced to manage benign and malignant biliary strictures. In addition, the prolonged survival times of cancer patients have increased the importance of evaluating overall outcomes during the period requiring endoscopic biliary drainage rather than solely focusing on the patency of the initial stent. Recognizing these unmet needs, a committee has been established within the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society to revise the TOKYO criteria for current clinical practice. The revised criteria propose not only common reporting items for endoscopic biliary drainage overall, but also items specific to various conditions and interventions. The term “stent‐demanding time” has been defined to encompass the entire duration of endoscopic biliary drainage, during which the overall stent‐related outcomes are evaluated. The revised TOKYO criteria 2024 are expected to facilitate the design and reporting of clinical studies, providing a goal‐oriented approach to the evaluation of endoscopic biliary drainage.
Echocardiographic surrogate of left ventricular stroke work in a model of brain stem death donors
Authors: Sato Kei , Hoe Louise See , Chan Jonathan , Obonyo Nchafatso G. , Wildi Karin , Heinsar Silver , Colombo Sebastiano M. , Ainola Carmen , Abbate Gabriella , Sato Noriko , Passmore Margaret R. , Bouquet Mahe , Wilson Emily S. , Hyslop Kieran , Livingstone Samantha , Haymet Andrew , Jung Jae‐Seung , Skeggs Kris , Palmieri Chiara , White Nicole , Platts David , Suen Jacky Y. , McGiffin David C. , Bassi Gianluigi Li , Fraser John F.
Published: June 2024

Background

The commonest echocardiographic measurement, left ventricular ejection fraction, can not necessarily predict mortality of recipients following heart transplantation potentially due to afterload dependency. Afterload‐independent left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) is alternatively recommended by the current guideline; however, pulmonary artery catheters are rarely inserted in organ donors in most jurisdictions. We propose a novel non‐invasive echocardiographic parameter, Pressure‐Strain Product (PSP), as a potential surrogate of catheter‐based LVSWI. This study aimed to investigate if PSP could correlate with catheter‐based LVSWI in an ovine model of brain stem death (BSD) donors. The association between PSP and myocardial mitochondrial function in the post‐transplant hearts was also evaluated.

Methods

Thirty‐one female sheep (weight 47 ± 5 kg) were divided into two groups; BSD (n = 15), and sham neurologic injury (n = 16). Echocardiographic parameters including global circumferential strain (GCS) and global radial strain (GRS) and pulmonary artery catheter‐based LVSWI were simultaneously measured at 8‐timepoints during 24‐h observation. PSP was calculated as a product of GCS or GRS, and mean arterial pressure for PSPcirc or PSPrad, respectively. Myocardial mitochondrial function was evaluated following 6‐h observation after heart transplantation.

Results

In BSD donor hearts, PSPcirc (n = 96, rho = .547, p < .001) showed the best correlation with LVSWI among other echocardiographic parameters. PSPcirc returned AUC of .825 to distinguish higher values of cardiomyocyte mitochondrial function (cut‐off point; mean value of complex 1,2 O2 Flux) in post‐transplant hearts, which was greater than other echocardiographic parameters.

Conclusions

PSPcirc could be used as a surrogate of catheter‐based LVSWI reflecting mitochondrial function.
Trade‐offs and synergies of soil carbon sequestration: Addressing knowledge gaps related to soil management strategies
Authors: Maenhout Peter , Di Bene Claudia , Cayuela Maria Luz , Diaz‐Pines Eugenio , Govednik Anton , Keuper Frida , Mavsar Sara , Mihelic Rok , O'Toole Adam , Schwarzmann Ana , Suhadolc Marjetka , Syp Alina , Valkama Elena
Published: June 2024

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural soils is an important tool for climate change mitigation within the EU soil strategy for 2030 and can be achieved via the adoption of soil management strategies (SMS). These strategies may induce synergistic effects by simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or nitrogen (N) leaching. In contrast, other SMS may stimulate emissions of GHG such as nitrous oxide (N2O) or methane (CH4), offsetting the climate change mitigation gained via SOC sequestration. Despite the importance of understanding trade‐offs and synergies for selecting sustainable SMS for European agriculture, knowledge on these effects remains limited. This review synthesizes existing knowledge, identifies knowledge gaps and provides research recommendations on trade‐offs and synergies between SOC sequestration or SOC accrual, non‐CO2 GHG emissions and N leaching related to selected SMS. We investigated 87 peer‐reviewed articles that address SMS and categorized them under tillage management, cropping systems, water management and fertilization and organic matter (OM) inputs. SMS, such as conservation tillage, adapted crop rotations, adapted water management, OM inputs by cover crops (CC), organic amendments (OA) and biochar, contribute to increase SOC stocks and reduce N leaching. Adoption of leguminous CC or specific cropping systems and adapted water management tend to create trade‐offs by stimulating N2O emissions, while specific cropping systems or application of biochar can mitigate N2O emissions. The effect of crop residues on N2O emissions depends strongly on their C/N ratio. Organic agriculture and agroforestry clearly mitigate CH4 emissions but the impact of other SMS requires additional study. More experimental research is needed to study the impact of both the pedoclimatic conditions and the long‐term dynamics of trade‐offs and synergies. Researchers should simultaneously assess the impact of (multiple) agricultural SMS on SOC stocks, GHG emissions and N leaching. This review provides guidance to policymakers as well as a framework to design field experiments and model simulations, which can address knowledge gaps and non‐intentional effects of applying agricultural SMS meant to increase SOC sequestration.
Size exclusion experiment in a grassland field unravels top–down control of the soil fauna on microbial community assembly
Authors: Jeanbille Mathilde , Romdhane Sana , Breuil Marie‐Christine , Bru David , Geisen Stefan , Mounier Arnaud , Spor Aymé , Philippot Laurent
Published: June 2024

Highly diverse and abundant organisms coexist in soils. However, the contribution of biotic interactions between soil organisms to microbial community assembly remains to be explored. Here, we assess the extent to which soil fauna can shape microbial community assembly using an exclusion experiment in a grassland field to sort soil biota based on body size. After 1 year, the exclusion of larger fauna favoured phagotrophic protists, with increases up to 32% in their proportion compared to the no‐mesh treatment. In contrast, members of the bacterial community and to a lesser extent of the fungal community were negatively impacted. Shifts in bacterial but not in fungal communities were best explained by the response of the protistan community to exclusion. Our findings provide empirical evidence of top–down control on the soil microbial communities and underline the importance of integrating higher trophic levels for a better understanding of the soil microbiome assembly.
Climate change fluctuations can increase population abundance and range size
Authors: MacDonald Jane Shaw , Lutscher Frithjof , Bourgault Yves
Published: June 2024

Climate change threatens many species by a poleward/upward movement of their thermal niche. While we know that faster movement has stronger impacts, little is known on how fluctuations of niche movement affect population outcomes. Environmental fluctuations often affect populations negatively, but theory and experiments have revealed some positive effects. We study how fluctuations around the average speed of the niche impact a species' persistence, abundance and realized niche width under climate change. We find that the outcome depends on how fluctuations manifest and what the relative time scale of population growth and climate fluctuations are. When populations are close to extinction with the average speed, fluctuations around this average accelerate population decline. However, populations not yet close to extinction can increase in abundance and/or realized niche width from such fluctuations. Long‐lived species increase more when their niche size remains constant, short‐lived species increase more when their niche size varies.
Mesial temporal lobe spiking reveals distinct patterns of blood oxygen level‐dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging activation using simultaneous intracranial electroencephalography–functional magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: George Antis G. , Beers Craig A. , Wilson William , Mosher Victoria , Pittman Daniel J. , Dykens Perry , Peedicail Joseph S. , Gill Laura , Gaxiola‐Valdez Ismael , Goodyear Bradley G. , LeVan Pierre , Federico Paolo ,   the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program Collaborators
Published: June 2024

Objective

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has a high probability of becoming drug resistant and is frequently considered for surgical intervention. However, 30% of TLE cases have nonlesional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which is associated with worse surgical outcomes. Characterizing interactions between temporal and extratemporal structures in these patients may help understand these poor outcomes. Simultaneous intracranial electroencephalography–functional MRI (iEEG‐fMRI) can measure the hemodynamic changes associated with interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) recorded directly from the brain. This study was designed to characterize the whole brain patterns of IED‐associated fMRI activation recorded exclusively from the mesial temporal lobes of patients with nonlesional TLE.

Methods

Eighteen patients with nonlesional TLE undergoing iEEG monitoring with mesial temporal IEDs underwent simultaneous iEEG‐fMRI at 3 T. IEDs were marked, and statistically significant clusters of fMRI activation were identified. The locations of IED‐associated fMRI activation for each patient were determined, and patients were grouped based on the location and pattern of fMRI activation.

Results

Two patterns of IED‐associated fMRI activation emerged: primarily localized (n = 7), where activation was primarily located within the ipsilateral temporal lobe, and primarily diffuse (n = 11), where widespread bilateral extratemporal activation was detected. The primarily diffuse group reported significantly fewer focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures and had better postsurgical outcomes.

Significance

Simultaneous iEEG‐fMRI can measure the hemodynamic changes associated with focal IEDs not visible on scalp EEG, such as those arising from the mesial temporal lobe. Significant fMRI activation associated with these IEDs was observed in all patients. Two distinct patterns of IED‐associated activation were seen: primarily localized to the ipsilateral temporal lobe and more widespread, bilateral activation. Patients with widespread IED associated‐activation had fewer focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures and better postsurgical outcome, which may suggest a neuroprotective mechanism limiting the spread of ictal events.
The Regionalization and Aggregation of In‐App Location Data to Maximize Information and Minimize Data Disclosure
Authors: Sieg Louise , Cheshire James
Published: June 2024

To minimize the disclosure of personal information, sensitive location data collected by mobile phones is often aggregated to predefined geographic units and presented as counts of devices at a given time. The use of grids or units created by statistical agencies for the dissemination of traditional data sets—such as censuses—are common choices for this aggregation process. However, these can result in large variations in the number of devices encapsulated within each geographic unit, resulting in over‐generalization and a loss of information in some areas. To alleviate this issue, we propose a new method for the aggregation of mobile phone generated location data sets that creates bespoke geometries that maximize the granularity of the data, whilst minimizing the risks of disclosing personal information. The resulting small areas are built on Uber's H3 hexagonal indexing system by attributing activity counts and land‐use features to each cell, then merging cells into geographies containing a predetermined number of data points and respecting the underlying topography and land use. This methodology has applications to widely available data sets and enables bespoke geographical units to be created for different contexts. We compare the generated units to established aggregates from the England and Wales Census and Ordnance Survey. We demonstrate that our outputs are more representative of the original mobile phone data set and minimize data omission caused by low counts. This speaks to the need for a data‐driven and context‐driven regionalization methodology.
Editor's Highlights – July 2024
Authors: Kemény Lajos
Published: June 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing dermatology by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and offering personalized treatment recommendations based on individual patient characteristics and medical history. This month's editorial discusses the transformative role of AI in dermatology, emphasizing its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment, and improve healthcare delivery efficiency. It highlights three manuscripts addressing AI's applications in dermatopathology, climate change‐related skin disorders, and health care for undocumented immigrants. Ethical concerns, such as AI transparency and overdiagnosis, are also noted. Additionally, new treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD) are examined. We specifically recommend two recent reports on the efficacy of dupilumab in pediatric AD and refractory hand eczema (HE), demonstrating advancements in dermatological therapy for treatment‐resistant conditions.
Second victim experiences and impact among acute care nurses: An exploratory study
Authors: Lim Siew Hoon , Zainal Humairah , Lee Li Jing , Binte Sunari Raden Nurheryany , Choh Andrea Chau Lin , Teo Kai Yunn , Tan Min Yi , Ang Shin Yuh , Aloweni Fazila
Published: June 2024

Aim

To explore the experience of second victim symptoms and adverse outcomes among nurses working in public healthcare institutions; understand the preferred components of a structured support programme; and explore the barriers to accessing existing support strategies.

Background

The second victim phenomenon is experienced by nurses during patient‐related adverse events, requiring further exploration.

Methods

A mixed‐methods design. Second Victim Experience and Support Tool and semi‐structured individual interviews were used among nurses involved in adverse events that occurred from January 2022 to April 2023. Descriptive statistics was used to describe sociodemographic characteristics and survey responses. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data.

Results

Nurses (n = 12) experienced second victim‐related physical, psychological and professional distress (58.3% to 83.3%) within one month after the event. Nurses continued to experience second victim–related distress (58.3%) three months after and turnover intentions (58.4%). Having a respected peer to discuss what happened was the most desired component of a support programme (75.0%). Five qualitative themes: (i) whirlwind of immediate emotions, (ii) lasting impact of adverse events, (iii) organisational barriers, (iv) coping resources at organisational level and (v) positive individual coping strategies.

Discussion

Nurses experienced immediate and profound distress, highlighting the pervasive and distressing nature of the second victim phenomenon.

Conclusion

It is critical to recognise the second victim phenomenon and improve organisational climate to provide adequate support to affected nurses.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Organisations can establish a structured second victim support system, allowing nurses to seek emotional aid during the occurrence of adverse events. Establishing national policies as guidelines for organisations to refer to, raise awareness of the second victim phenomenon, and provide a standardised approach for identification and intervention for affected nurses.
Insights into the HfnNb2O2n+5 homologous phases from experimental, first‐principle, and force‐field studies
Authors: Herklotz Andreas , Grove Kyle Martin , Bowen Michael S. , Quade Ryan Mc , Tippey Kristin Elizabeth , Cann David P.
Published: June 2024

Different outcomes have been presented on the preparation of high‐temperature ceramic AnB2O2n+5 (A = Hf, Zr and B = Nb, Ta). Considering the importance of these materials as refractories, the stability range of the A = Hf and B = Nb compound is experimentally determined by preparing ceramics via solid‐state synthesis and analyzing their phase compositions. Then, the density functional theory was used to study the stability of the homologous series versus decomposition to the parent compounds of HfO2 and Nb2O5. A good agreement with the experimental values is found. In order to improve the theoretical data further, an interatomic potential based on the first‐principle calculations is developed and applied to larger supercell structures. These force‐field calculations confirm the stability of the homologous series versus a solid solution. The calculations also allow us to study cation order and periodic compositional modulation.
Improving student learning performance in machine learning curricula: A comparative study of online problem‐solving competitions in Chinese and English‐medium instruction settings
Authors: Chang Hui‐Tzu , Lin Chia‐Yu
Published: June 2024

Background

Numerous higher education institutions worldwide have adopted English‐language‐medium computer science courses and integrated online problem‐solving competitions to bridge gaps in theory and practice (Alhamami Education and Information Technologies, 2021; 26: 6549–6562).

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the use of online competitions in machine learning courses and their impact on student learning. We also analyse disparities in learning outcomes and instructional language effects (Chinese vs. English).

Methods

Among 123 participants at northern Taiwan university, 74 chose Chinese instruction (CMI), and 49 opted for English instruction (EMI). The course spanned 18 weeks: team formation in week one, data analysis, machine learning, and deep learning from week 2 to 8, draft proposals and oral presentations by week 9, instructor guidance in weeks 9–17, followed by off‐campus competitions. In week 18, students presented projects for evaluation by judges.

Results

The results showed improved scores in competition proposal writing and oral presentations, especially for CMI students, who excelled in these areas and in terms of creativity. CMI students emphasized domain knowledge, implementation completeness, and technical depth in proposals. The EMI students focused on implementation completeness and artificial intelligence model accuracy, along with creativity.

Conclusion

CMI students achieved superior outcomes in machine learning courses, particularly in terms of competition proposals, oral presentations, and increased creativity. Instructional language choice significantly influenced learning trajectories, leading to distinct knowledge development focuses for CMI and EMI.
High expression of DEC2 distinguishes chondroblastic osteosarcoma and promotes tumour growth by activating the VEGFC/VEGFR2 signalling pathway
Authors: Tuerxun Maimaitiaili , Zheng Xu , Xu Jun , Yang Quanjun , Yuan Ting , Zhang Changqing , Zhou Shumin
Published: June 2024

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and young adults. Account for 80% of all OS cases, conventional OS are characterized by the presence of osteoblastic, chondroblastic and fibroblastic cell types. Despite this heterogeneity, therapeutic treatment and prognosis of OS are essentially the same for all OS subtypes. Here, we report that DEC2, a transcriptional repressor, is expressed at higher levels in chondroblastic OS compared with osteoblastic OS. This difference suggests that DEC2 is disproportionately involved in the progression of chondroblastic OS, and thus, DEC2 may represent a possible molecular target for treating this type of OS. In the human chondroblastic‐like OS cell line MNNG/HOS, we found that overexpression of DEC2 affects the proliferation of the cells by activating the VEGFC/VEGFR2 signalling pathway. Enhanced expression of DEC2 increased VEGFR2 expression, as well as increased the phosphorylation levels at sites Y951 and Y1175 of VEGFR2. On the one hand, activation of VEGFR2Y1175 enhanced cell proliferation through VEGFR2Y1175‐PLCγ1‐PKC‐SPHK‐MEK‐ERK signalling. On the other hand, activation of VEGFR2Y951 decreased mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis rate through VEGFR2Y951‐VARP‐PI3K‐AKT signalling. Activation of these two signalling pathways resulted in enhanced progression of chondroblastic OS. In conclusion, DEC2 plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and apoptosis‐resistance in chondroblastic OS via the VEGFC/VEGFR2 signalling pathway. These findings lay the groundwork for developing focused treatments that target specific types of OS.
The total xanthones extracted from Gentianella acuta alleviates HFpEF by activating the IRE1α/Xbp1s pathway
Authors: Zhao Linna , Qin Yiping , Liu Yangong , An Liping , Liu Weizhe , Zhang Chuang , Song Qiuhang , Dai Cheng , Zhang Juanjuan , Li Aiying
Published: June 2024

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by pulmonary and systemic congestion resulting from left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased filling pressure. Currently, however, there is no evidence on effective pharmacotherapy for HFpEF. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of total xanthones extracted from Gentianella acuta (TXG) on HFpEF by establishing an high‐fat diet (HFD) + L‐NAME‐induced mouse model. Echocardiography was employed to assess the impact of TXG on the cardiac function in HFpEF mice. Haematoxylin and eosin staining, wheat germ agglutinin staining, and Masson's trichrome staining were utilized to observe the histopathological changes following TXG treatment. The results demonstrated that TXG alleviated HFpEF by reducing the expressions of genes associated with myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis. Furthermore, TXG improved cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of apoptosis‐related proteins. Mechanistic investigations revealed that TXG could activate the inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α)/X‐box‐binding protein 1 (Xbp1s) signalling pathway, but the knockdown of IRE1α using the IRE1α inhibitor STF083010 or siRNA‐IRE1α impaired the ability of TXG to ameliorate cardiac remodelling in HFpEF models. In conclusion, TXG alleviates myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis through the activation of the IRE1α/Xbp1s signalling pathway, suggesting its potential beneficial effects on HFpEF patients.
Unveiling the role of RAC3 in the growth and invasion of cisplatin‐resistant bladder cancer cells
Authors: Li Haodong , Ma Hongxuan , Ma JianHua , Qin Fei , Fan Siqi , Kong Shaopeng , Zhao Sitao , Ma Jianguo
Published: June 2024

Bladder cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, and its morbidity and mortality rates have been increasing over the years. However, how RAC family small GTPase 3 (RAC3) affects the proliferation, migration and invasion of cisplatin‐resistant bladder cancer cells remains unclear. Bioinformatics techniques were used to investigate the expression of RAC3 in bladder cancer tissues. Influences of RAC3 in the grade, stage, distant metastasis, and survival rate of bladder cancer were also examined. Analysis of the relationship between RAC3 expression and the immune microenvironment (TIME), genomic mutations, and stemness index. In normal bladder cancer cells (T24, 5637, and BIU‐87) and cisplatin‐resistant bladder cancer cells (BIU‐87‐DDP), the expression of RAC3 was detected separately with Western blotting. Plasmid transfection was used to overexpress or silence the expression of RAC3 in bladder cancer cells resistant to cisplatin (BIU‐87‐DDP). By adding activators and inhibitors, the activities of the JNK/MAPK signalling pathway were altered. Cell viability, invasion, and its level of apoptosis were measured in vitro using CCK‐8, transwell, and flow cytometry. The bioinformatics analyses found RAC3 levels were elevated in bladder cancer tissues and were associated with a poor prognosis in bladder cancer. RAC3 in BIU‐87‐DDP cells expressed a higher level than normal bladder cancer cells. RAC3 overexpression promoted BIU‐87‐DDP proliferation. The growth of BIU‐87‐DDP cells slowed after the knockdown of RAC3, and RAC3 may have had an impact on the activation of the JNK/MAPK pathway.
Editorial: “What say you?” The promise and potential pitfalls of using automated and passive monitoring approaches to assess parenting behaviours from verbal and written communication
Authors: Fisher Helen L. , Firth Zoë , Aicardi Christine , Downs Johnny
Published: June 2024

Rates of mental health problems in adolescence are rising as highlighted in this current issue of theJournal. It is therefore increasingly important to identify children who may be at risk so that preventive interventions can be deployed before they reach adolescence. Adverse parenting has long been considered a risk factor for poor mental health in adolescence, but the methods traditionally used to assess this are laborious, burdensome and costly. Recently, passive monitoring and automated approaches to collecting and analysing spoken and written forms of parental communication have been proposed. This editorial examines the promise of such technological advances for assessing parenting and provides words of caution from parents and young people that should be heeded before rolling these approaches out at scale.
Innovation waves: Analysis and modeling of patents on ultrasound applications in food processing
Authors: Andrade Ivo Henrique Pinto , Nascimento Joselene Conceição Nunes , de Jesus Assis Denilson , Andrade Rhaissa Coelho , Camilloto Geany Peruch , Cruz Renato Souza
Published: June 2024

Ultrasonication is an innovative green technology with various applications in the food industry. Notably, patent analysis from a technological perspective is essential for monitoring market trends and identifying the technological stage through life cycle modeling. Thus, this study aimed to conduct an investigation using patent documents on the application of ultrasound in the food sector. The Espacenet® database was used with the keywords “Food Processing,” “Ultrasound,” and “Ultrasonication,” along with the code A23. A total of 140 documents were evaluated, with China being the main applicant country. Fruits and vegetables and bioactive compounds were the key technological sectors. Food preservation and extraction processes emerged as the primary applications. The involvement of ultrasound technology in the food industry is entering the maturity stage, as demonstrated by the function adjusted to the BiDoseResp model. This result implies further technological and market development in the food industry in the coming years.

Practical applications

This review addressed the evolution and the current scenario of ultrasound applications in food processing through patent documents deposited between 1979 and 2022, which are rich technological information sources. This approach identified the main technological sectors of food and applications in which ultrasound is most used, as well as the main institutions, inventors, and patent‐filing countries. The major challenges, impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and market trends were also discussed. Through mathematical modeling of patent mapping, it was detected that ultrasonication is integrated into the food sector while maintaining a highly competitive impact. This development indicates a future with significant advancements in the development of ultrasound in the food industry, with increasing participation of emerging countries in technological monopolies and a trend of associating ultrasound with non‐thermal emerging technologies in patented inventions. Food waste, food printing, and food for people with swallowing difficulties are potential areas for further development.
A cross‐cultural study of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for people with hearing impairment
Authors: Theocharous Stacey , Savage Greg , Charalambous Anna Pavlina , Côté Mathieu , David Renaud , Gallant Kathleen , Helmer Catherine , Laforce Robert , Leroi Iracema , Martins Ralph N. , Nasreddine Ziad , Politis Antonis , Reeves David , Russell Gregor , Sirois Marie‐Josée , Sohrabi Hamid R. , Thodi Chyrssoula , Völter Christiane , Yeung Wai Kent , Dawes Piers
Published: June 2024

Background

Cognitive screening tools enable the detection of cognitive impairment, facilitate timely intervention, inform clinical care, and allow long‐term planning. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment for people with hearing impairment (MoCA‐H) was developed as a reliable cognitive screening tool for people with hearing loss. Using the same methodology across four languages, this study examined whether cultural or linguistic factors affect the performance of the MoCA‐H.

Methods

The current study investigated the performance of the MoCA‐H across English, German, French, and Greek language groups (n = 385) controlling for demographic factors known to affect the performance of the MoCA‐H.

Results

In a multiple regression model accounting for age, sex, and education, cultural–linguistic group accounted for 6.89% of variance in the total MoCA‐H score. Differences between languages in mean score of up to 2.6 points were observed.

Conclusions

Cultural or linguistic factors have a clinically significant impact on the performance of the MoCA‐H such that optimal performance cut points for identification of cognitive impairment derived in English‐speaking populations are likely inappropriate for use in non‐English speaking populations. To ensure reliable identification of cognitive impairment, it is essential that locally appropriate performance cut points are established for each translation of the MoCA‐H.
Cannibalistic exchanges with mountain‐ancestors: Moral economies of gold mining in northern Peru
Authors: Bacigalupo Ana Mariella
Published: June 2024

Campesinos (peasants) and norteños (northerner entrepreneurs) in highland Huamachuco, la Libertad, northern Peru—reconcile their mining within Andean practices about the perceived sentience and agency of mountain‐ancestors (apus). They do so by engaging in two different types of apu cannibalism that are antithetical to each other. I analyze how the conflict between Andean campesino communities who practice small‐scale underground mining on the apu El Toro site, and, the Summa Gold open‐pit mining company (owned by former campesinos now norteño) also on apu El Toro, reshapes, on both sides, relationalities with mountain‐ancestors and capitalism. I explore miners’ practical moral economies with apus, the local government, and legal authorities to secure economic and political benefits as their worlds are transformed by capitalism. I also analyze how the power inequality between campesino and norteño miners shapes these exchanges, their ability to control the limits of extractivism, and the rhetoric around mining contamination.
Anatomical insights into fish terrestrial locomotion: A study of barred mudskipper (Periophthalmus argentilineatus) fins based on μCT 3D reconstructions
Authors: Ziadi‐Künzli Fabienne , Maeda Ken , Puchenkov Pavel , Bandi Mahesh M.
Published: June 2024

Mudskippers are a group of extant ray‐finned fishes with an amphibious lifestyle and serve as exemplars for understanding the evolution of amphibious capabilities in teleosts. A comprehensive anatomical profile of both the soft and hard tissues within their propulsive fins is essential for advancing our understanding of terrestrial locomotor adaptations in fish. Despite the ecological significance of mudskippers, detailed data on their musculoskeletal anatomy remains limited. In the present research, we utilized contrast‐enhanced high‐resolution microcomputed tomography (μCT) imaging to investigate the barred mudskipper, Periophthalmus argentilineatus. This technique enabled detailed reconstruction and quantification of the morphological details of the pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins of this terrestrial mudskipper, facilitating comparison with its aquatic relatives. Our findings reveal that P. argentilineatus has undergone complex musculoskeletal adaptations for terrestrial movement, including an increase in muscle complexity and muscle volume, as well as the development of specialized structures like aponeuroses for pectoral fin extension. Skeletal modifications are also evident, with features such as a reinforced shoulder‐pelvic joint and thickened fin rays. These evolutionary modifications suggest biomechanically advanced fins capable of overcoming the gravitational challenges of terrestrial habitats, indicating a strong selective advantage for these features in land‐based environments. The unique musculoskeletal modifications in the fins of mudskippers like P. argentilineatus, compared with their aquatic counterparts, mark a critical evolutionary shift toward terrestrial adaptations. This study not only sheds light on the specific anatomical changes facilitating this transition but also offers broader insights into the early evolutionary mechanisms of terrestrial locomotion, potentially mirroring the transformative journey from aquatic to terrestrial life in the lineage leading to tetrapods.
Leader humility and follower prosocial behaviours: Integrating three theoretical perspectives
Authors: Jia Jianfeng , Feng Baoyi , Deng Yingxin , Lin Weipeng , Ning Danzhao
Published: June 2024

Integrating social cognitive perspective, social exchange perspective, and social identity perspective, we developed a research model examining how leader humility affects follower prosocial behaviours via three psychological mechanisms (i.e., self‐efficacy, affective trust, and perceived insider status). We used two field survey studies to examine our research model. Using a three‐wave lagged design, Study 1 (N = 221) found that leader humility had positive indirect effects on employee knowledge exchange, an information‐based indicator of prosocial behaviours, through all three mechanisms. To constructively replicate and extend our findings, Study 2 (N = 230) used a multi‐source and three‐wave lagged design and incorporated two additional indicators of prosocial behaviours: helping behaviour and voice behaviour. The results showed that affective trust mediated the positive effects of leader humility on all indicators of prosocial behaviours, indicating that social exchange is a powerful theoretical lens in explaining the implications of leader humility. Self‐efficacy mediated the positive effect of leader humility on knowledge exchange and helping behaviour. However, perceived insider status did not exhibit any significant mediating effect. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for leadership.
Efficacy of oral and non‐oral migraine prophylactic treatment on self‐reported subjective sleep quality in migraine patients with sleep problems: A review and meta‐analysis
Authors: van Oosterhout W. P. J. , Kanis L. , Wiendels N. J. , Reijngoudt J. W.
Published: June 2024

This study aims to investigate the effects of oral and non‐oral migraine prophylaxis on subjective sleep quality in migraine patients with sleep problems. A bidirectional relationship between migraine and sleep is presumed, although this relationship is not fully clarified. Possibly, prophylactic treatment of migraine aiming at a reduction of migraine attack frequency can also positively affect the quality of sleep for patients with migraine with sleep problems. PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and CINAHL databases were searched in March 2022 for studies evaluating prophylactic treatment of migraine and the impact on perceived sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index or Insomnia Severity Index). A systematic review using the McMaster Tool and a random‐effects meta‐analysis (effect size Cohen's d) were conducted. Seven studies were identified, including 989 participants, of which 844/989 (85.3%) female, with a mean (SD) age of 41.3 (12.1) years. In 6/7 (85.7%) studies, monthly migraine days improved (p < 0.002). Five out of six (83.3%) studies presented a relevant improvement in quality of sleep (p < 0.05), and one study reported a clinically meaningful improvement in the treatment group (Insomnia Severity Index change >7, in >50% of participants). The meta‐analysis showed a large effect size of 1.09 (95% confidence interval 0.57–1.62; overall p < 0.001; Cochran's Q < 0.0001) for migraine prophylaxis on improving sleep quality. In conclusion, prophylactic migraine treatment improves sleep quality in patients with migraine and sleep problems, as measured with self‐reported questionnaires Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index. Unfortunately, some included studies used prophylactic treatment that is not in current (international) guidelines. The evidence for this improvement in quality of sleep is strong, and seems a generic effect of migraine prophylaxis.