bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of macular neovascularisation characteristics for photoreceptor integrity in nAMD: a prospective observational study
Authors: Pu Jiaxin , Zhuang Xuenan , Li Miaoling , Hao Xinlei , He Guiqin , Su Yongyue , Gan Yuhong , Zhang Xiongze , Ji Yuying , Mi Lan , Zhang Yining , Yang Ruijun , Chen Xuelin , Wen Feng
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To explore the relationship between characteristics of macular neovascularisation (MNV) and photoreceptor integrity in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods

This prospective study enrolled treatment-naïve nAMD eyes and conducted a 3-month follow-up. 16 quantitative MNV features were evaluated using optical coherence tomography angiography, and the impaired areas of ellipsoid zone (EZ), external limiting membrane (ELM) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were obtained using optical coherence tomography. Correlation and regression analyses assessed the relationships between MNV features and photoreceptor integrity.

Results

110 nAMD eyes from 110 patients (73.64% men) were included. Baseline MNV characteristics, including MNV perimeter, maxFeret, minFeret, vessel area, total vessel length, total number of junctions and endpoints, and mean E lacunarity, were positively correlated with photoreceptor damage areas (r ranging from 0.227 to 0.558, p<0.05 for all). Meanwhile, vessel density negatively correlated with photoreceptor damage (r=−0.468 for EZ, −0.394 for ELM and −0.538 for ONL, all p<0.05). After the loading phase, the EZ prognosis was independently associated with baseline MNV minFeret (Std β=0.362, p=0.011) and mean E lacunarity (Std β=0.130, p=0.041). The prognosis for ELM was independently linked to baseline MNV minFeret (Std β=0.373, p=0.014), while no significant factors were found to influence ONL prognosis (p>0.05 for all).

Conclusion

A strong correlation was observed between MNV features and photoreceptor integrity, with larger and more complex vascular networks associated with greater photoreceptor damage.
Optic nerve sheath enhancement on orbital MRI in giant cell arteritis
Authors: Ephrem Rebka K , Mohan Suyash , Rebello Ryan , Liang Rui , Kurtz Robert , Song Jae W , Tamhankar Madhura A , Rhee Rennie L
Published: December 2024

Background

Differentiating arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (A-AION) due to giant cell arteritis (GCA) from non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) may pose a diagnostic challenge. Our study aimed to assess the use of standard orbital MRI in distinguishing ocular manifestations of GCA from NA-AION.

Methods

This study included 25 consecutive patients (11 GCA, 14 NA-AION) who underwent contrast-enhanced orbital MRIs within 3 months of symptom onset. Two radiologists blinded to clinical data independently evaluated MRIs for the enhancement of the optic nerve sheath (ONS) and other orbital structures.

Results

On orbital MRI, ONS enhancement of at least one eye was more common in patients with GCA than NA-AION (64% vs 14%, p=0.02). ONS enhancement on MRI was seen in patients with typical ophthalmologic exam findings of A-AION as well as in GCA patients with other features of ocular ischaemia (eg, retinal artery occlusion). Among patients with GCA, ONS enhancement was bilateral in six of seven cases even when visual symptoms and signs were unilateral.

Conclusion

Patients with ocular GCA are more likely to have ONS enhancement on MRI compared with NA-AION. ONS enhancement was observed in (i) A-AION and other forms of ocular ischaemia, demonstrating the potential value of MRI in multiple orbital pathologies in GCA, and (ii) both the affected and unaffected eye, suggesting MRI may detect early subclinical ocular disease in GCA. These results highlight the potential value of adding orbital MRI to the diagnostic workup of ocular GCA.
Concurrent symptom domains and associations with recovery timelines among collegiate athletes with sport-related concussion
Authors: D'Alonzo Bernadette A , Schneider Andrea LC , Barnett Ian J , Master Christina L , Hamilton Roy H , Wiebe Douglas J
Published: December 2024

Objective

Concussion symptoms can be clustered into domains and understanding how multiple symptom domains present clinically may guide more accurate interventions. We investigate the associations between concurrent symptom domains and clinical recovery outcomes, as well as the role of sex in these relationships.

Methods

We analysed data from the Ivy League–Big Ten Epidemiology of Concussion Study and included sport-related concussions (SRC) across five academic years 2015–2016/2019–2020 with complete data (n=1160). We used symptoms from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 22-symptom evaluation, previously categorised into symptom domains. Symptom profiles characterise how athletes endorse concurrent symptom domains. Outcomes are time (in days) from SRC to symptom resolution, return to academics, and full play.

Results

Females more commonly endorsed headache, sensory, and affective symptom domains. Four classes/symptom profiles emerged: (1) ‘low’ on all domains, (2) ‘high’ on headache and sensory domains, (3) ‘high’ on vestibulo-ocular, cognitive, and sleep domains, and (4) ‘high’ on all domains. Time to symptom resolution, return to academics, and return to play were consistently shorter among class/symptom profile 1 compared with other classes/profiles. Compared with class/profile 1, the chance of having symptoms resolve was lower among classes/profiles 2, 3, and 4 (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.88; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.92; HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.57, respectively). Results were similar for return to academics and full play outcomes. Interactions with sex were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Four symptom profiles characterised how concussion symptom domains co-occur. We found differences in recovery timelines among these groups, but not by sex. Findings inform and support targeted, symptom domain-specific interventions in concussion management.
Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with the incidence and progression trajectory of cardiometabolic multimorbidity
Authors: Chen Yanchun , Yang Hongxi , Li Dun , Zhou Lihui , Lin Jing , Yin Xin , Yang Weiling , Gao Ying , Zhang Qing , Leng Sean X , Wang Yaogang
Published: December 2024

Objectives

This study examined the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the transition from healthy status to first cardiometabolic disease, subsequent cardiometabolic multimorbidity and further to death.

Methods

We used data from the UK Biobank of 47 484 participants without cardiometabolic diseases at baseline. CRF was assessed via a 6 min incremental ramp cycle ergometer test and expressed in metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs, 1 MET=3.5 mL/kg/min). Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was defined as at least two diseases among diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Results

Over 12.5 years median follow-up, 8123 participants developed first cardiometabolic disease, 1958 developed cardiometabolic multimorbidity and 2177 died. CRF was associated with different transition stages in cardiometabolic multimorbidity development. The HRs (95% CIs) per MET increase in CRF were 0.94 (0.93 to 0.95) and 0.97 (0.96 to 0.99) for transitions from healthy baseline to first cardiometabolic disease and subsequent cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Per MET increase in CRF was associated with reduced risk of transition from healthy baseline to death (HR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99), but not for the transition from first cardiometabolic disease and cardiometabolic multimorbidity to death. When first cardiometabolic disease was divided into specific cardiometabolic diseases, there were comparable trends of CRF on the disease-specific transitions from healthy baseline to first cardiometabolic disease and subsequent cardiometabolic multimorbidity.

Conclusion

Higher CRF was associated with a lower risk of progression from a healthy state to first cardiometabolic disease and subsequently to cardiometabolic multimorbidity. These findings suggest that improving CRF is a potential strategy for preventing cardiometabolic multimorbidity development.
Clinical outcomes and severity of laboratory-confirmed RSV compared with influenza, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus in Australian children attending secondary care
Authors: Sarna Mohinder , Le Huong , Taye Belaynew Wasie , Glass Kathryn , Levy Avram , Richmond Peter , Moore Hannah C
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are a major contributor to the global infectious disease burden and a common cause of hospitalisation for children under 2 years. We compared clinical severity in children hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and influenza virus (IFV).

Methods

We used a probabilistically linked population cohort born in Western Australia between 2010 and 2020 and hospitalised before the age of 2 years. Outcomes compared included length of hospital stay (LOS), admission to intensive care unit (ICU), need for respiratory support (RS), complex hospital course (RS, death, ICU admission or LOS >75th percentile), 7-day and 30-day mortality, hospital-in-the-home care, 30-day all-cause and ALRI-specific readmissions and emergency department presentations 14 days prior to hospitalisation. Logistic regression was used for binary outcomes, and negative binomial regression was used for discrete count variables. Incidence rates, time to RS and time to readmissions were calculated using survival analysis techniques.

Results

The final cohort included 210 997 hospitalised children under 24 months of age for a total of 315 769 admissions. Infants hospitalised before 6 months had the highest rates for all virus-specific hospitalisations, particularly RSV hospitalisations (50.4 per 1000 child-years (95% CI 48.7 to 52.1)). Infants <6 months had higher odds of an ICU admission (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.39, 95% CI 1.36 to 4.19) and RS (aOR 4.68, 95% CI 2.95 to 7.44) and a complex hospital course (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 2.13 to 3.42) with RSV and four times higher hazards of requiring RS earlier (adjusted HR (aHR) 4.06, 95% CI 2.59 to 6.36). An ALRI-coded 30-day readmission was recorded in 10%–24% of virus-specific hospitalisations.

Discussion

Young infants have a more severe and complex hospital course with RSV hospitalisation compared with hospitalisation with other respiratory viruses and should be prioritised for prevention measures such as the single-dose monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab.
Early detection of colorectal cancer using aberrant circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA fragmentomics
Authors: Wang Siyuan , Peng Fan , Dang Miao , Jiao Huanmin , Zhang Huanqin , Zhou Kaixiang , Guo Wenjie , Gong Zhiyun , Guo Lin , Lu Renquan , Li Deliang , Liu Bingrong , Guo Xu , Xing Jinliang , Liu Yang
Published: December 2024

Background

Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is crucial for improving the survival rates of patients.

Objective

We aimed to develop a novel strategy for early CRC detection using the fragmentomic features of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA).

Design

Here, a total of 1147 participants, including 478 healthy controls (HCs), 112 patients with advanced adenomas (AAs) and 557 patients with CRC, were enrolled from five hospitals and plasma samples were collected for capture-based ccf-mtDNA sequencing.

Results

Our data analysis revealed significantly aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features in patients with CRC and AA when compared with HCs. Then, a CRC detection (CD) model was constructed based on the fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA from 246 patients with CRC and 168 HC in the training cohort, showing area under the curve of 0.9863, sensitivity of 92.68% and specificity of 93.45%. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of CD model in distinguishing patients with early-stage CRC from HCs, greatly surpassing the performance of serum biomarkers. Furthermore, our CD model can also detect patients with AA with a sensitivity of 79.35% in AA cohort 1 and 85.00% in AA cohort 2.

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features, a novel and non-invasive approach was established for the detection of patients with early-stage CRC or AA, with high performance.
Associations between extreme weather events and child undernutrition: evidence from sub-Saharan Africa, 2010–2019
Authors: Petscavage Kenneth , Mutua Martin Kavao , Wagner Abram Luther , Treleaven Emily
Published: December 2024

Background

Extreme weather events, or natural disasters, present a large and increasing threat to human health, infrastructure and food security, including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the burden of undernutrition is high. However, research about associations between natural disasters and undernutrition in early childhood is limited.

Methods

We combined anthropometric data of children aged 0–59 months from 51 Demographic and Health Surveys datasets collected from 2010 to 2019 in 30 countries in SSA with information on natural disaster events (flood, drought, other) from the Emergency Events Database database to determine disaster exposure. The analytic sample included 320 479 children. We used generalised estimating equations to predict stunting, wasting and anaemia by disaster exposure and selected covariates.

Results

Almost 20% (19.7%) of children under five were exposed to a natural disaster in the preceding year. In adjusted analysis, children exposed to at least one disaster in the preceding year had a relative risk (RR) of wasting 1.17 times higher than unexposed children (95% CI 1.12, 1.22). Adjusted models examining exposure to drought or flood consistently estimated higher risks of wasting post-disaster (drought RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.26, 1.47; flood RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12). RRs increased when using a 3-month exposure period. However, exposure to natural disaster was not consistently associated with significant differences in RR of stunting or anaemia.

Conclusion

Natural disasters are prevalent in SSA. Given the high risk of wasting associated with disaster exposure, policymakers should prioritise interventions to address wasting in post-disaster settings.
Diameter thresholds for pure ground-glass pulmonary nodules at low-dose CT screening: Chinese experience
Authors: Ye Wenjun , Fu Wenhai , Li Caichen , Li Jianfu , Xiong Shan , Cheng Bo , Xu Bin , Wang Qixia , Feng Yi , Chen Peiling , He Jianxing , Liang Wenhua
Published: December 2024

Background

Limited research exists on screening thresholds for low-dose CT in detecting malignant pure ground-glass lung nodules (pGGNs) in the Chinese population.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of the Guangzhou Lung-Care programme was conducted, retrieving average transverse diameter, location, histopathology, frequency and follow-up intervals. Diagnostic performances for ‘lung cancers’ were evaluated using areas under the curve (AUCs), decision curve analysis (DCA), sensitivities and specificities, with thresholds ranging from 5 mm to 10 mm. We divide malignant pGGNs into three groups: (1) minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and invasive adenocarcinoma (IA), (2) atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and MIA and IA and (3) IA-only.

Results

In ‘MIA+IA’, increasing the threshold from 5 mm to 8 mm improved specificity (60.97% to 88.85%, p<0.001) and positive predictive values (PPVs; 5.87% to 14.88%, p<0.001), but decreased sensitivity (94.44% to 75.56%, p<0.001). Further raising threshold from 8 mm reduced sensitivity (75.56% to 60.00%, p<0.001), while slightly increasing specificity (88.85% to 93.47%, p<0.001) and PPVs (14.88% to 19.15%, p<0.001). Increasing threshold from 5 mm to 7 mm enhanced the AUC for ‘MIA+IA’ (from 0.711 to 0.829), ‘AAH+AIS+MIA+IA’ (from 0.748 to 0.804) and ‘IA-only’ (from 0.783 to 0.833). At 8 mm, the AUCs for these categories were similar. However, increasing the threshold from 7 mm to 10 mm resulted in reduced AUCs for ‘MIA+IA’ (0.829 to 0.767), ‘AAH+AIS+MIA+IA’ (0.804 to 0.744) and ‘IA-only’ (0.833 to 0.800). DCA reveals that the 8 mm predictive model demonstrates greater clinical utility compared with models with other thresholds.

Conclusions

Increasing the diameter threshold for positive results for pGGNs, up to 8 mm could enhance diagnostic performance.

Trial registration number

NCT04938804.
Spatial analysis of oil palm growth and soil properties in a plantation in Nigeria
Authors: Awe G.O. , Adepoju B.D. , Omotoye T.A. , Olaoba I.T. , Sylvester W.V. , Bejide A.O. , Machado D.M.
Published: December 2024

Relationships between spatially correlated soil properties and crop performance at field scale are vital when planning specific site management for sustainable crop production. This study investigated the correlations and relationships between some soil properties and oil palm trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) at the Oil Palm Plantation, Teaching and Research Farm, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, southwest Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 10 cm surface layer at 81 georeferenced points within the plantation to determine soil properties and oil palm trunk DBH. The soil properties and trunk DBH varied widely with particle density, soil pH, bulk density, and field capacity showing least variability (coefficient of variation (CV) < 12%), oil palm trunk DBH, soil organic matter, air capacity, soil texture, soil water content, permanent wilting point, total porosity, and available water showed moderate variability (12.0% < CV < 60.0%), while saturated hydraulic conductivity was highly variable (CV > 60%). Classical linear multiple regression showed that the sand, soil pH, and bulk density could only explain 16% of the variability in DBH, whereas the principal component regression analysis had explained about 72% of the variability in DBH. The minimum suitable sampling interval for spatially independent variables was 10 m (1 lag), while it was the sampling point (0 lag) for spatially dependent variables. The results could be used as baseline data for delineating soil and nutrient management zones for the oil palm plantation and other crops in the study area.
On action ground states of defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Chushan , Zhao Xiaofei
Published: December 2024

We investigate the action ground states of the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation with and without rotation. Our primary focus is on characterizing the relationship between the action ground states and the energy ground states. Theoretically, we prove a complete equivalence of the two in the non-rotating case and a conditional equivalence in the rotating case. Our theoretical results are supported by extensive numerical experiments. Notably, in the rotating case, we provide numerical examples of non-equivalence showing that non-equivalence typically occurs at the transition points where the number of vortices in the action ground state is increasing. Additionally, we study the asymptotic behavior of the action ground states and the associated physical quantities in certain limiting parameter regimes, with numerical results validating and complementing our analysis. Furthermore, we explore the formation and change of the vortex pattern in the action ground states numerically.
TEESlice: Protecting Sensitive Neural Network Models in Trusted Execution Environments When Attackers have Pre-Trained Models
Authors: Li Ding , Zhang Ziqi , Yao Mengyu , Cai Yifeng , Guo Yao , Chen Xiangqun
Published: December 2024

Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) are used to safeguard on-device models. However, directly employing TEEs to secure the entire DNN model is challenging due to the limited computational speed. Utilizing GPU can accelerate DNN's computation speed but commercial widely-available GPUs usually lack security protection. To this end, scholars introduce
TEE-shielded DNN partition
(TSDP), a method that protects privacy-sensitive weights within TEEs and offloads insensitive weights to GPUs. Nevertheless, current methods do not consider the presence of a knowledgeable adversary who can access abundant publicly available pre-trained models and datasets. This paper investigates the security of existing methods against such a knowledgeable adversary and reveals their inability to fulfill their security promises. Consequently, we introduce a novel partition before training strategy, which effectively separates privacy-sensitive weights from other components of the model. Our evaluation demonstrates that our approach can offer full model protection with a computational cost reduced by a factor of 10. In addition to traditional CNN models, we also demonstrate the scalability to large language models. Our approach can compress the private functionalities of the large language model to lightweight slices and achieve the same level of protection as the shielding-whole-model baseline.
Adversarial Machine Learning Attacks and Defences in Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Standen Maxwell , Kim Junae , Szabo Claudia
Published: December 2024

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) is susceptible to Adversarial Machine Learning (AML) attacks. Execution-time AML attacks against MARL are complex due to effects that propagate across time and between agents. To understand the interaction between AML and MARL, this survey covers attacks and defences for MARL, Multi-Agent Learning (MAL), and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). This survey proposes a novel perspective on AML attacks based on attack vectors. This survey also proposes a framework that addresses gaps in current modelling frameworks and enables the comparison of different attacks against MARL. Lastly, the survey identifies knowledge gaps and future avenues of research.
Synthesizing Invariants for Polynomial Programs by Semidefinite Programming
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Qiuye , Xue Bai , Zhan Naijun , Zhi Lihong , Yang Zhi-Hong
Published: December 2024

Constraint-solving-based program invariant synthesis takes a parametric invariant template and encodes the (inductive) invariant conditions into constraints. The problem of characterizing the set of all valid parameter assignments is referred to as the
strong invariant synthesis problem
, while the problem of finding a concrete valid parameter assignment is called the
weak invariant synthesis problem
. For both problems, the challenge lies in solving or reducing the encoded constraints, which are generally non-convex and lack efficient solvers.

In this article, we propose two novel algorithms for synthesizing invariants of polynomial programs using semidefinite programming (SDP): (1) The Cluster algorithm targets the strong invariant synthesis problem for polynomial invariant templates. Leveraging robust optimization techniques, it solves a series of SDP relaxations and yields a sequence of increasingly precise under-approximations of the set of valid parameter assignments. We prove the algorithm’s soundness, convergence, and weak completeness under a specific robustness assumption on templates. Moreover, the outputs can simplify the weak invariant synthesis problem. (2) The Mask algorithm addresses the weak invariant synthesis problem in scenarios where the aforementioned robustness assumption does not hold, rendering the Cluster algorithm ineffective. It identifies a specific subclass of invariant templates, termed masked templates, involving parameterized polynomial equalities and known inequalities. By applying variable substitution, the algorithm transforms constraints into an equivalent form amenable to SDP relaxations. Both algorithms have been implemented and demonstrated superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods in our empirical evaluation.
Formalization of Android Activity-Fragment Multitasking Mechanism and Static Analysis of Mobile Apps
Authors: He Jinlong , Wu Zhilin , Chen Taolue
Published: December 2024

The multitasking mechanism between activities and fragments plays a fundamental role in the Android operating system, which involves a wide range of features, including launch modes, intent flags, task affinities, and structured activities containing fragments. All of them are being widely used in Android apps, both open-source and commercial ones. In this paper, we present a formal semantics of the Android multitasking mechanism between activities and fragments, which accommodates all the important features and gives insofar the most comprehensive and accurate formalization. In particular, our semantics is formulated based on multi-stack systems, and fully captures the behavior of task stacks and activity stacks regarding fragments. Based on the semantics, we provide new static analysis algorithms, which are both multi-stack-aware and fragment-sensitive, thus achieve more precise static analysis for Android apps. We validate our approach by extensive experiments on both open-source and commercial Android apps. The results highlight the benefits of the considering the semantics of the multitasking mechanism between activities and fragments in static analysis, and confirm the efficacy of our approach.
La competencia por el conocimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible en curso de Ciencias Contables
Authors: Da Silva Gomes Sonia María , Santos Aguiar José Hilton , Seido Santiago Yasmin , S. De A. Ribeiro Vívian Gabrielle , Lima Dos Santos Ticiane
Published: December 2024

Este estudio investigó las contribuciones que la participación en una Gymkhana, en modalidad híbrida (virtual y presencial), aportó al aprendizaje, concientización y compromiso de los estudiantes de una carrera de Ciencias Contables, relacionados con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Usando el enfoque grupo como técnica de recolección de datos, se formaron 3 grupos focales, con 4 estudiantes en cada uno, 1 moderador, 2 relatores y 1 observador. Las entrevistas tuvieron una duración promedio de 2 horas. Para interpretar los datos se utilizó la técnica del Análisis del Discurso, de forma contextualizada, a través del análisis de vocabulario y aspectos centrales en los discursos, además de comparar los resultados para buscar comprender los elementos que trascendieron en los discursos individuales. El estudio demostró que la Gymkhana de los ODS contribuyó a aumentar la conciencia y la reflexión sobre la Agenda 2030 - Los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, con impacto en las acciones cotidianas de los estudiantes. También se constató el protagonismo estudiantil, es decir, como sujeto activo, comprometido en las acciones cognitivas de pensar, articular y hacer, en busca de formas creativas e innovadoras de resolver desafíos y presentar posiciones significativas frente a cada desafío propuesto. Este estudio contribuye a la discusión del proceso de aprendizaje fuera del aula al involucrar a los estudiantes en la temática de los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), parte de la Agenda 2030. También expone el uso del concepto de gamificación como enseñanza. metodología, que puede contribuir al camino de formación de estudiantes de Administración y Contaduría conscientes de los problemas relacionados con el triple resultado.
Table 3 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Evaluation of concordance of hypoxia modification in patients with two or more lesions, by assessing serial values of HVMRI at pretreatment and W2 and W4.
Supplementary Table S4 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Supplementary Table S4. Summary of cohort lesion parameter median values at baseline and W2 and W4.
Supplementary Table S1 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Supplementary Table S1. MR sequence parameters for T1 mapping, OE-MRI and DCE-MRI sequences.
Table S1 from DeePathNet: A Transformer-Based Deep Learning Model Integrating Multiomic Data with Cancer Pathways
Authors: Cai Zhaoxiang , Poulos Rebecca C. , Aref Adel , Robinson Phillip J. , Reddel Roger R. , Zhong Qing
Published: December 2024

Overview of datasets used in this study
Neutrophils-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and Systemic Lupus erythematosus activity: a cross-sectional study in Brazilian patients
Authors: Pontes Jady Elen , Santos Thiago Alberto Fernando Gomes dos , Nisihara Renato Mitsunori , Skare Thelma Larocca
Published: December 2024

Background: To identify disease activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is important to choose the correct treatment. Neutrophil /Lymphocyte (N/L) and Platelet/ Lymphocyte (P/L) ratio have been considered to reflect inflammatory status in several situations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of N/L and P/L with SLE disease activity. Methods: This is a crosssectional study of 189 SLE patients for disease activity for SLEDAI-2K (SLE Disease activity index), ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C reactive protein) and hemogram with N/L and P/L ratio. Results: N/L ratio demonstrated correlation with SLEDAI (rho=0.24; p=0.0009) ESR (rho =0.17; p=0.02) and CRP (rho=0.23; p=0,004); P/L correlated with SLEDAI (rho=0.21; p=0.003), CRP (rho=0.26; p=0.001), ESR (rho=0.23; p=0.003) and levels of anti-dsDNA (rho=0.29; p=0.02) and had a negative correlation with hemoglobin (rho= -0.27; p=0.0001). A cut-off of 2.28 in N/L ratio had sensitivity of 68.6% and specificity of 68.2% for active disease; a cut-off of 124.1 in P/L ratio had sensitivity of 82.9 and specificity of 41.1% for active SLE. Conclusions: N/L and P/L ratio are useful in the evaluation of SLE disease activity.
Associação entre situação bucal e necessidade de internação de mulheres em unidade hospitalar de alta complexidade
Authors: Leite Hadda Lyzandra Austriaco , Lopes Fernanda Ferreira
Published: December 2024

Maintaining oral health is important for hospitalized patients. There is a bidirectional causality between some diseases of the oral cavity and systemic morbidities. Objective: To analyze the association between oral condition and hospitalization needs. Methods: Cross-sectional observational research with secondary data referring to the moment of the first dental appointment after hospital admission, from July 2017 to July 2019. To analyze the associations between the categorical variables, the Chi-square Partition test was applied, with 5% significance level. Results: 1683 patients were analyzed, and only 1.12% (N=19) did not need dental treatment. There was a higher frequency of oral alterations in patients hospitalized for cardiological, neurological and endocrine reasons. Conclusions: Some oral alterations are more common in hospitalized patients according to medical specialty; therefore, the oral condition can have a significant impact on the patient’s general health.
Prevalência e fatores relacionados às reações adversas no tratamento da acne com isotretinoína
Authors: Souza Luma Miranda , Oliveira Mariana Moura , Lima David Fernandes , Lopes Johnnatas Mikael , Lopes Matheus Rodrigues , Almeida Isnaia Firminia de Souza
Published: December 2024

Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de reações adversas com a utilização do fármaco isotretinoína em pacientes submetidos ao tratamento de acne e as características  relacionadas ao desfecho. Métodos: Estudo observacional do tipo transversal analítico com dados secundários obtidos por meio da análise de 120 prontuários de pacientes com acne submetidos ao tratamento com isotretinoína oral, no período de 2010 a 2019. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 21,3 anos, com distribuição similar em relação ao sexo. A prevalência de reações adversas foi de 83%, com média de 2,3 reações/paciente. A prevalência de algum tipo de reação adversa ao uso da isotretinoína foi de 82,5%. Constatou-se correlação positiva entre o número de reações adversas e o tempo de tratamento (p<0,0001; r=0,51). O tempo de tratamento foi relacionado ao surgimento de reações adversas, independentemente do sexo, idade, dose e grau da acne (p=0,001). Xerodermia e ressecamento de mucosas foram as reações adversas mais comuns (78,3%), enquanto a alopecia foi mais comum no sexo feminino, sendo em torno de cinco vezes mais frequente do que no sexo masculino (p=0,03). Conclusão: A prevalência de reações adversas durante o uso da isotretinoína foi alta. A quantidade de reações adversas foi associada apenas ao tempo de tratamento, independentemente do sexo, idade e dosagem de isotretinoína.
Prevalence and associated factors with rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Cunha Ana Paula de Souza , Souza Bianca Oliveira , Souza Cícero Santos , Bomfim Danilo Miranda , Jesus Marcos Vinicius Santos de , Lemos Gisele da Silveira , Pereira Rafael , Lemos Lucas Brasileiro
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis (RB) is a frequent syndrome defined as skeletal muscle injurywhereby intramuscular molecules, such as myoglobin and creatine phosphokinase, are released into the bloodstream. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of RB and associated factors to this outcome in in-hospital patients. Methods: This is an observational study - cross-sectional, retrospective, with a descriptive and analytical approach. The sample was composed of all in-hospital patients from a Brazilian public hospital that presented serum creatine- phosphokinase measures recorded in medical records in the period from April 2020 to september 2021. Descriptive analysis was carried out with frequencies (absolute and relative) and means±standard deviation. The Chi-square test was used to infer the association to RB, and the variables presenting p-value ≤ 0.2 were included in a multivariate logistic regression technique applied to investigate the interaction among the selected independent variables and the RB. Results: Among 388 patients included in the present study, the prevalence of RB was 3.89% and the mortality rate was 39.43%. The main cause of hospitalization was circulatory system-related diseases. The frequency of RB was higher in males and in younger adults. The variables sex, age group, presence of comorbidities, trauma as the hospitalization cause, and history of recent exhaustive physical effort were significantly associated with RB. Conclusion: Our data share light on the profile of hospitalized patients prone to develop RB, a relevant clinical condition that could be unrecognized in many mild cases, but also lead to acute signals of renal failure. Additionally, our data brings a better understanding regarding mortality associated with RB, requiring greater attention from health professionals and managers.
Prevalência e fatores associados a medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados e interações medicamentosas em pessoas idosas de uma assistência primária à saúde
Authors: Oliveira Glenda Pereira Lima , Falçoni Júnior Aldren Thomazini , Pampolim Gracielle , Sogame Luciana Carrupt Machado
Published: December 2024

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência e os fatores associados às interações medicamentosas e aos medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados utilizados por idosos assistidos por uma Unidade Básica de Saúde. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado com 236 idosos com idade ≥ 60 anos, assistidos pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família. As variáveis dependentes foram a presença de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados e as interações medicamentosas, valendo-se dos critérios de Beers e da organização sistemática Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical. As variáveis independentes foram idade, sexo, cor, estado civil, escolaridade, contribuição para renda familiar, presença de tabagismo, presença de etilismo, mora sozinho, sair de casa sozinho, prática de atividade física, prática de atividade de lazer, prática de atividades ofertadas pela UBS, autopercepção de saúde, multimorbidade e presença de polifarmácia. Realizou-se análises descritivas e as análises associativas foram feitas pelo teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson. Resultados: 27,5% dos idosos utilizavam ao menos 1 medicamento potencialmente inapropriado, sendo associado a idade maior ou igual a 75 anos (38,5%), sexo feminino (32,4%), cor branca (40,3%), ausência de tabagismo (44,4%), ausência da prática de atividades lazer (31,8%), presença de multimorbidades (34,4%) e prática de polifarmácia (43,8%). Já as interações medicamentosas estiveram presente em 18,2% da amostra e associação com sexo feminino (22,7%), prática de atividades na UBS (31,4%), autopercepção da saúde como negativa (23,9%), presença de multimorbidade (25,3%) e presença da polifarmácia (42,7%). O principal medicamento potencialmente inapropriado foi o omeprazol e a principal interação medicamentosa foi sinvastatina com anlodipino. Conclusão: A presença de medicamentos inapropriados e interações medicamentosas indevidas podem provocar perda funcional significativa nos idosos, com efeitos adversos, novas doenças ou declínio cognitivo, dando origem à cascata de prescrições. A coordenação do cuidado da pessoa idosa é necessária para otimizar a farmacoterapia e evitar desfechos desfavoráveis.
Risco psíquico: uma abordagem psicanalítica na identificação de alterações subjetivas em pacientes assistidos em um complexo hospitalar
Authors: Souza Miryelle Viana de
Published: December 2024

This paper proposes an analysis, based on psychoanalytic theory, of the “psychological risk” instrument used by the multidisciplinary team of a prestigious hospital complex to collect information and identify possible subjective changes in patients treated in the institution. This tool is used to identify and refer patients to mental health services for psychological follow-up and monitoring. The objective was to recognize the specificity of the tool called “psychological risk”, its possibilities and scope, as another option to listen to patients in distress. The use of the tool has reinforced the importance of a prior assessment of the patient, contributing significantly to the elaboration of a care plan and interventions aimed at providing quality psychological assistance during the illness process.
The neural basis of event segmentation: Stable features in the environment are reflected by neural states
Authors: Oetringer Djamari , Gözükara Dora , Güçlü Umut , Geerligs Linda
Published: December 2024

Our senses receive a continuous stream of complex information. Parsing this information into meaningful events allows us to extract relevant information, remember it, and act upon it. Previous research has related these events to so-called neural states: temporally and regionally specific stable patterns of brain activity, which tend to coincide with events in the stimulus. Neural states show a temporal cortical hierarchy: short states are present in early sensory areas, while longer states can be found in higher-level areas. Here we investigated what these neural states represent. We hypothesized that states at different levels of the cortical hierarchy are shaped by aspects of the stimulus to which these brain areas are responsive. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed fMRI data of participants watching a movie, using a data-driven method to identify the neural states. We found support for the aforementioned hypothesis: specifically the parahippocampal place area and retrosplenial cortex, known to be sensitive to places, showed an alignment between neural state boundaries and moments in the movie with a change in location, independent of changes in visual features and other covariates. These findings suggest that neural states reflect stable features in the (internal model of) the external environment, and that the cortical temporal hierarchy partly reflects the temporal scales at which representations of the environment evolve.
The Intertwining Relationship between Acculturation and Space
Authors: Haque Maliha , Khatun Hafiza
Published: December 2024

During the partition of India, Muslims from India migrated to Bangladesh, where they started to be known as Bihari. But years of cultural dissimilarities and political conflict in 1971 with the local Bengalis forced most of them to live in camps dispersed across the country. The goal of this study was to determine whether the Bihari community’s degree of acculturation is influenced by the geographical locations of the camps. The aim of the research is to understand how geography affects acculturation and vice versa. The research objectives were supported by direct interviews, key informant interviews (KII) and camp observations in three distinct locations. According to the study, hosts and camp-residents from various spatial backgrounds integrated with each other in different ways. It found that a camp that offered better opportunity for Bihari–Bengali interaction, less communal conflict and a more tolerant attitude towards the dominant group assimilated better with the native population.
Locative alternation in Proto-Indo-European
Authors: Ginevra Riccardo
Published: December 2024

I argue for the reconstruction within Proto-Indo-European morpho-syntax of the phenomenon of “Locative Alternation”, i.e. the alternation for the same verb between a locatum-as-object construction (e.g., English spray paint onto the wall) and a location-as-object construction (e.g., English spray the wall with paint). Drawing inspiration from Iwata’s (2008) lexical-constructional approach to the phenomenon, I discuss its possible relevance to the reconstruction of the morpho-syntax and semantics of PIE verbal formations belonging to three PIE polysemous roots, namely *leu̯g- ‘bend, make bent, twisted, not straight; enclose’, *u̯el- ‘roll round, coil; enclose, enfold’, and *pleh1- ‘be abundant, much; be full, filled’.
A database and interactive identification key for the anatomy of woods of the Ethiopian Afromontane Forest
Authors: Bodin Stéphanie C. , Beldados Alemseged , Lulekal Ermias , Wondafrash Melaku , Angesom Friyat , Tarekegn Tefera , Neumann Katharina
Published: December 2024

Identifying wood and wood charcoal from sub-tropical to tropical regions is challenging, due to the high floristic diversity. This is especially true for the Horn of Africa, characterized by a high degree of endemism, for which no wood anatomy atlas is available. Yet, there is a strong need for anatomical descriptions and identification tools, in particular concerning archaeobotanical research.

Numerous rock shelters in the Ethiopian highlands provide rich charcoal assemblages. Their study is of utmost interest to decipher past human-vegetation relationships. Many of these sites are located in the Afromontane Forest, the potential natural vegetation of the highlands within the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, hosting 483 dicot woody species.

Here, we present the first wood database for the species of the Ethiopian Afromontane Forest. It is set up on the online open-access platform Xper3 and includes an interactive identification key. The anatomical features follow the IAWA nomenclature and include additional ones, to improve the identification process. The database comprises wood anatomical descriptions of (1) 68 species from the wood reference collections of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; (2) 72 species from InsideWood and (3) 92 genera/species from specialized literature. The database also includes original pictures taken on samples from the reference collections. Our original coded descriptions and pictures are also available in InsideWood.
Effects of salt concentration, temperature, and blanching time on insect protein extraction yield: optimisation by response surface methodology
Authors: Kim Y.J. , Kim T.K. , Choi Y.J. , Yu H.H. , Kang M.C. , Cha J.Y. , Jang H.W. , Choi Y.S.
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to optimise the protein extraction yield from black soldier fly larvae by employing a blanching process to enhance protein solubility and mitigate oxidation. Through response surface methodology, we determined the optimal blanching conditions, with the temperature set at 85.152 °C, a duration of 12.411 s, and a sodium chloride concentration of 0.46 M. These parameters were selected to maximise protein solubility while minimising oxidation. The results of this study reveal significant improvements in protein functionality after blanching, particularly with respect to increased emulsification stability. Notably, no significant effect on foam formation was observed. These findings underscore the efficacy of blanching as a pre-processing step to enhance the quality of proteins extracted from black soldier fly larvae. Moreover, these optimised conditions have promising applications in various food and feed formulations, contributing to sustainable protein sourcing and processing methods. By addressing key challenges related to food security and environmental sustainability, this study provides valuable insights into the utilisation of insect proteins as an alternative protein source in the face of global challenges, such as climate change and dwindling natural resources.
Rituals of Liberation
Authors: Monahan Michael
Published: December 2024

This article argues that sites of coercion and oppression are generated through repeated acts or “ritual practices” that serve to shape psychic space. The author draws on Simone de Beauvoir’s account of oppression to articulate three different categories of “sites of coercion”—geographic, embodied, and spiritual—and argues that amelioration of such sites of coercion requires the cultivation of “rituals of liberation,” which serve to restructure psychic space in ways that foster genuine reciprocity.
Did the Original Scribes Write the Distigmai in Codex Vaticanus B of the Bible (Vat. gr. 1209)?
Authors: Gordon Nehemia , Andrist Patrick , Hahn Oliver , Vasileiadis Pavlos D. , Calvillo Nelson , Rabin Ira
Published: December 2024

The fourth-century Greek Bible manuscript Codex Vaticanus B (Vat. gr. 1209) contains pairs of horizontally aligned marginal dots known as distigmai, which correspond to textual variants in other manuscripts. The production of the distigmai has been variously dated to the 4th or 16th centuries. A fourth-century date would prove the early existence of hundreds of textual variants, many of which are otherwise only witnessed by later manuscripts. Near infrared microscope reflectography combined with micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy proved that the distigmai, both those categorized as “apricot” (which are visually similar to the ink of the original main text) and “chocolate” (which are visually similar to the reinking of the main text) were written with ink(s) made from chemically purified vitriol, a process that only became standard in the 16th century. As a result, there is no reasonable chance that the distigmai were written in the fourth century. Horizontal lines that have been hypothesized to function as text-critical obeloi were written in the same ink as the original main text, which differs completely from that of the distigmai. In other words, the distigmai and horizontal lines tested were not produced during the same writing session and are separated by more than 1,000 years, making it impossible for them to have functioned as conjoining text-critical symbols in the 4th century.