bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A massage technique for chronic nonspecific low back pain:protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jiageng Zhao , Muxing Zhu , Shuwen Mao , Qingyun Zeng , Feng Zhang , Affil Sun Gangyi
Published: September 2023

Background：Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) is characterised as persistent low back pain lasting beyond a 12-week period, without any detectable particular pathology such as infection, tumour, osteoporosis, lumbar fracture, structural deformity, inflammatory disease, nerve root dysfunction, or cauda equina syndrome. The condition exhibits a substantial prevalence, impacting approximately 20% of the worldwide populace and affecting individuals across all age groups. Currently, low back pain remains the primary contributor to reduced functional capacity and prolonged disability. However, the assessment index for its therapeutic effect remains unclear, and its treatment has also imposed a significant medical burden on a global scale. In recent times, there has been a growing interest in utilising acupuncture and massage, which are considered emblematic modalities of traditional Chinese medicine, as innovative approaches for diagnosing and treating various ailments. The objective of the research was to examine the clinical effectiveness of a novel massage therapy in the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Methods:This study is an interventional trial conducted at a single centre, characterised by a prospective design and incorporating control groups. The study design also includes randomization and blinding of the participants.The experiment will be conducted across three measurement periods, specifically on days 0 and 28 (referred to as D0 and D28, respectively). During D0, the subjects will be randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Both groups will be evaluated based on their VAS scores and ODI scores.The erector spinae thickness was determined by the use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography.The experimental group received a modified massage intervention, whereas the control group received a conventional Chinese massage intervention. The subsequent measurements will be conducted in a manner consistent with the last assessment. The aforementioned timetable will be replicated on Day 28, with the completion of a single assessment.
Disscusion:This study will start in 2023.
Trial registration:This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, 2023 July, registration number is NCT05974761,The title is Clinical Observation on the Treatment of Massage Based on Fascia Chain.
Association between first-line antidepressant use and risk of dementia in older adults: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Hsin-Min (Grace) , Chen Wei-Han , Chang Shao-Hsuan , Zhang Tianxiao , Shao Hui , Guo Jingchuan , Lo-Ciganic Wei-Hsuan
Published: September 2023

Background
Prior studies suggested that antidepressant use is associated with an increased risk of dementia compared to no use, which is subject to confounding by indication. We aimed to compare the dementia risk among older adults with depression receiving first-line antidepressants (i.e., SSRI/SNRI) versus psychotherapy, which is also considered the first-line therapy for depression.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2010 to 2019. We included adults aged ≥50 years diagnosed with depression who initiated SSRI/SNRI or psychotherapy. We excluded patients with a dementia diagnosis before the first record of SSRI/SNRI use or psychotherapy. The exposure was the patient’s receipt of SSRI/SNRI (identified from self-report questionnaires) or psychotherapy (identified from the Outpatient Visits or Office-Based Medical Provider Visits files). The outcome was a new diagnosis of dementia within 2 years (i.e., survey panel period) identified using ICD-9/ICD-10 codes from the Medical Conditions file. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we reported adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We also conducted subgroup analyses by patient sex, age group, race, severity of depression, combined use of other non-SSRI/SNRI antidepressants, and presence of underlying cognitive impairment.
Results
Among 2,710 eligible patients (mean age= 61±8, female=69%, white=84%), 89% used SSRIs/SNRIs, and 11% received psychotherapy. The SSRI/SNRI users had a higher crude incidence of dementia than the psychotherapy group (16.1% vs. 12.7%), with an aOR of 1.39 (95% CI=1.21-1.59). Subgroup analyses yielded similar findings as the main analyses, except no significant association for patients who were black (0.75, 95% CI=0.55- 1.02), had a higher PHQ-2 (1.08, 95% CI=0.82-1.41), had concomitant non-SSRI/SNRI antidepressants (0.75, 95% CI=0.34-1.66), and had underlying cognitive impairment (0.84, 95% CI=0.66- 1.05).
Conclusions
Our findings suggested that older adults with depression receiving SSRIs/SNRIs were associated with an increased dementia risk compared to those receiving psychotherapy.
Ability of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to determine axillary sentinel lymph node status in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Xiao Fang , Wang Peng , Jin Mingli , Zhang Anli , Wei Chao , Zhang Miaoqi
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been confirmed to be a useful technique for identification of lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer. However, the value of DCE-MRI for the determination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status [pN0, pN0(i+), pN1mi, or pN1] is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of DCE-MRI to determine SLN status in patients with breast cancer.
Methods
Fifty-four women with breast cancer (mean age 50.30 ± 11.41 years) who underwent SLN biopsy, DCE-MRI, and axillary lymph node dissection between 2019 and 2021 were enrolled in the study. DCE-MRI kinetic parameters were investigated according to SLN status. Univariable and ordered logistic regression was used to identify risk factors according to SLN status. The diagnostic performance of the kinetic parameters was quantified by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results
The findings for DCE-MRI kinetic parameters according to SLN status were statistically significant. Ktrans was the strongest predictor of SLN status. The AUC of Ktrans for distinguishing between metastatic and nonmetastatic SLNs was 0.942 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.887–0.997, P < 0.001), 0.937 (95% CI 0.874–1.000, P < 0.001) for distinguishing between pN0 to pN1mi and pN1, and 0.928 (95% CI 0.855–1.000, P < 0.001) for distinguishing between pN0 to pN0(i+) and pN1mi to pN1.
Conclusion
DCE-MRI is a useful diagnostic modality for detection of SLN metastasis. Ktrans is the best single parameter for determination of SLN status.
Vehicle Detection and Classification using Optimal Deep Learning on High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery for Urban Traffic Monitoring
Authors: Alotaibi Youseef , Nagappan Krishnaraj , K Geetha Rani , rajendran surendran
Published: September 2023

Remote sensing images (RSI), such as aerial or satellite images, produce a large-scale view of the Earth's surface, getting them used to track and monitor vehicles from several settings like border control, disaster response, and urban traffic surveillance. Vehicle detection and classification utilizing RSIs is a vital application of computer vision and image processing. It contains locating and identifying vehicles from the image. It is done using many approaches having object detection approaches, namely YOLO, Faster R-CNN, or SSD, that utilize deep learning (DL) for locating and identifying the image. Also, the vehicle classification from RSIs contains classifying them dependent upon their variety, like trucks, motorcycles, cars, or buses utilizing machine learning (ML) techniques. This article designed and develop an automated vehicle type detection and classification using a chaotic equilibrium optimization algorithm with deep learning (VDTC-CEOADL) on high resolution RSIs. The presented VDTC-CEOADL technique examines the high-quality RSIs for the accurate detection and classification of vehicles. The VDTC-CEOADL technique employs a YOLO-HR object detector with Residual Network as a backbone model to accomplish this. In addition, CEOA based hyperparameter optimizer is de-signed for the parameter tuning of the ResNet model. For the vehicle classification process, the VDTC-CEOADL technique exploits the attention based long short term memory (ALSTM) mod-el. The performance validation of the VDTC-CEOADL technique is validated on high resolution RSI dataset, and the results portrayed the supremacy of the VDTC-CEOADL technique in terms of different measures.
Urban Waterlogging Prediction Based on Time Lag Correlation Analysis and Multi-model Coupling
Authors: Lei Xiaohui , Liu Dongkun , Long Yan , Huang Haocheng
Published: September 2023

As extreme weather becomes more frequent and the damage caused by urban waterlogging is increasing, it is important to establish a fast and accurate model of waterlogging disasters. However, the smartization of most cities starts relatively late, and the types and quality of monitoring data are uneven. Therefore, there has been a focus on researching and developing a reasonable, fast, and accurate urban waterlogging prediction model that can effectively utilize limited data. Based on this situation, a method of time lag correlation analysis considering the mechanism of regional physics (PTLC) is proposed in this paper. Combined with spatial decoupling, a prior analysis is provided for model prediction. At the same time, a deep learning model (Poar_LSTM) with automatic optimization function is proposed and coupled with hydrodynamic model (Poar_DHC). Based on the verification of Doumen area in Fuzhou, the typical rainfall process from 2021 to 2022 is reviewed. The results indicate that Poar_LSTM shows obvious advantages in the river level prediction during the same rainfall period. The Nash efficiency coefficients in the verification reach 0.969 and 0.971 respectively. Different data-driven models have little influence on the overall prediction effect of waterlogging coupling model. Poar_DHC has the highest accuracy in the prediction of underground liquid level. According to the different rainfalls, PTLC plays a good guiding role in the prior analysis and later evaluation of the early prediction of the model. This study can provide a scientific reference for the analysis of flood mechanism and the rapid and accurate prediction of rainstorms.
Infection of human macrophage-like cells by African swine fever virus
Authors: Karalyan Zaven A. , Ghonyan Susanna A. , Poghosyan Davit A. , Hakobyan Lina H. , Avagyan Hranush R. , Avetisyan Aida S. , Abroyan Liana O. , Poghosyan Arpine A. , Hakobyan Sona A. , Manukyan Gayane P.
Published: September 2023

African swine fever (ASF) virus (ASFV) and ASF-like viral sequences were identified in human samples and sewage as well as in different water environments. Pigs regularly experience infections with ASF virus. The considerable stability of the virus in the environment suggests that there is ongoing and long-term contact between humans and the ASF virus. However, humans exhibit resistance to the ASF virus, and the decisive factor in the development of infection in the body is most likely the reaction of target macrophages to the virus. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the response of human macrophages to the virus and explore the distinct features of the viral replication cycle within human macrophages. Our findings have shown that the virus effectively initiated the replication process by entering human macrophages. Subsequently, the virus shed its capsid, initiated the transcription of numerous viral genes, and at least some of these genes executed their functions. In THP-1-derived macrophages (Mφ0), ASFV implemented a number of functions to suppress cell activity, but the timing of their implementation was slower compared to virus-sensitive porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Besides, the virus was unable to complete the full replication cycle in human Mφ0, as indicated by the absence of viral factories and a decrease in infectious titers of the virus with each subsequent passage. Overall, the infection of Mφ0 with ASFV caused significant alterations in their phenotype and functions such as increased TLR2, TLR3, CD80, CD36, CD163, CXCR2, and surface LAMP-1 expression. Increased production of TNF, IL-10, and decreased production of IFN-α were also observed. Taken together, the virus enters human THP-1-derived macrophages, starts transcription, and causes a response from target cells, but is unable to complete the replicative cycle.
Simulation of the 1934 earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Sunita , Parajuli Hari Ram , Maskey Prem Nath
Published: September 2023

In this study, utilizing appropriate target spectra and a special envelope function, an artificial time history is generated for the major earthquakes of 1934 and 2015 A.D. The peak ground acceleration (PGA), mean time period, predominant period, significant duration, response spectra, and Fourier spectra of the 2015 earthquake are obtained from the generated time history and compared to those of the recorded earthquake. The maximum PGA derived from the simulation and the PGA derived from the damage-based MMI scale are compared for the earthquake of 1934. These earthquakes' significant duration is also compared with other subduction zone earthquakes. Compared to other subduction zone earthquakes, Nepal's earthquakes have a longer significant duration.
YY1 promotes breast cancer metastasis via the DUSP6/p-ERK1/2 signaling axis 1
Authors: He Shiqing , Zhou Ying , Xu Jiahao , Zhang Zeyu , Zhang Jiaxin , Liu Zhao , Zhou Xueyan
Published: September 2023

Background: The incidence of breast cancer (BC) and mortality from metastasis continue to increase. Yin Yang-1 (YY1) transcription factor is involved in tumor progression; however, its function in BC metastasis and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
Methods: The expression level and prognosis of YY1 in BC were determined by bioinformatic analysis. The biological functions of YY1 were assessed on lentiviral constructs of overexpression and shRNA cell lines using wound-healing and transwell assays, and lung metastasis was observed by bioluminescence imaging of nude mice injected subcutaneously with selected cell lines. Western blotting was conducted to measure the protein levels of genes related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway and markers for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The binding of YY1 to the promoter of dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) was evaluated by means of a luciferase reporter gene assay.
Results: In BC tissues, YY1 is expressed at a high level, and a higher expression level of YY1 is linked to the N and M stages and a worse prognosis. YY1 promotes the invasion, migration, and EMT of BC cells both in vitro and in vivo. This is the first study of BC to show how YY1 binds to the DUSP6 promoter and represses its transcription, thus activating the ERK pathway to promote EMT and BC progression.
Conclusions: As an oncogene, YY1 promotes BC metastasis by targeting DUSP6 to activate the ERK pathway. For patients with BC, it could serve as a novel treatment target.
Viviparity imparts a macroevolutionary signature of ecological opportunity in Liolaemus lizards
Authors: Domínguez-Guerrero Saúl , Esqu Damien , Burress Edward , Maciel-Mata Carlos A , Alencar Laura , Munoz Martha
Published: September 2023

Viviparity has evolved ~120 times across squamate reptiles, and has facilitated the colonization of cold habitats, where oviparous species are scarce or absent. In turn, the ecological opportunity furnished by such colonization is predicted to accelerate phenotypic diversification and reconfigure phenotypic diversity. Yet, whether independent transitions to viviparity are associated with predictable shifts in the tempo and mode of phenotypic evolution remains unclear. Here, we investigated the association between live birth and rates and patterns of body size evolution in Liolaemus lizards, the most species-rich tetrapod genus from temperate regions. We find that viviparous species exhibit two-fold faster rates of body size evolution and ~20% larger optimal body sizes than their oviparous relatives. By exploring the association between live birth and different abiotic and biotic features through a causal modeling approach, we find that viviparity indirectly influences body size evolution in Liolaemus through shifts in thermal environment and structural microhabitat use. The catalyzing influence of viviparity on phenotypic evolution arises because it potentiates access to otherwise inaccessible sources of ecological opportunity. Accordingly, niche partitioning and release from antagonists in novel habitats likely favors rapid body size evolution and larger sizes in viviparous species, an outcome potentially repeated across the tree of life.
Tandem of conduction and radiation for solar-adaptive cooling blocks composed of recycled fabric.
Authors: Kim Gunwoo , Pal Sudip , Otoufat Tohid , Bae Hoyeon , Lee Sungkwon , Lee Hoik
Published: September 2023

Radiative cooling technologies have had a significant impact on advancing carbon neutrality efforts by significantly improving passive cooling efficiency. The tandem of conduction and radiation enables the solar-adaptive radiative cooling through the insulating effect of materials along with solar absorption, which affects the thermal state of materials and enhances radiative thermal transfer from the surface under solar irradiation. This enhancement is achieved by utilizing the porous polymeric structure of materials, which facilitates improved conduction pathways along with solar reflectance while maintaining the effective emission of thermal radiation. In this particular scenario, blocks, which was made of recycled fibers, offer a great opportunity as solar-adaptive cooling materials, enabling their easy deployment for cooling applications. Herein, we have fabricated a porous block using fiber wastes that combines strong solar reflectance (92%), high thermal infrared emittance (~ 80%). The combination of effective solar reflection and thermal-infrared emission allows the fiber block to achieve high cooling performance of approximately 240 W/m² under solar irradiation. In addition, the fiber block works effectively for insulation during the night, thereby enhancing its heat retention capabilities. The economic and environmental advantages of the fiber block make it a cost-competitive and sustainable choice for near-market cooling technologies. This design is anticipated to expand the practical application range of passive cooling.
TFPsocialmedia: A Public Dataset for Studying Turkish Foreign Policy
Authors: Mehmetcik Hakan , Ganiz Murat Can , Koluk Melih , Yuksel Galip , Yilmaz Muslim , Ince Muhammed Mustafa , Tortumlu Emre
Published: September 2023

Objectives:
This data note introduces the TFPsocialmedia dataset, designed to aid social media researchers investigating Turkish Foreign Policy (TFP). With over 180 thousand tweets from 3,597 accounts across 27 countries, the dataset encompasses intricate social and communication networks. It facilitates analysis of political actors, public perceptions of foreign policy, and policy-related events around TFP. This study illuminates Turkey's representation within the Twitter community and highlights the efficacy of Twitter data in foreign policy analysis.
Data description:
The TFPsocialmedia dataset offers a comprehensive social media data for understanding Turkish Foreign Policy. Curated tweets capture nuances of political discourse, while the social network structure enables insightful research on public perceptions and foreign policy events. Researchers can employ the dataset to unravel online portrayals of Turkey and explore the utilization of Twitter data in foreign policy analysis. This resource is particularly valuable for scholars seeking a deep dive into the digital dimensions of international relations.
Adaptive Fuzzy Control of Stochastic Nonlinear Systems with Predefined Time via Self-Triggered Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Xu , Tan Jieqing , Wu Jian
Published: September 2023

This paper is conducted on the adaptive fuzzy predefined time tracking control problem for a class of non-strict feedback stochastic nonlinear systems with input delay and error boundary constraints. Based on the fixed-time stability criterion for stochastic nonlinear systems, the stability criteria for the practically predefined time of the stochastic nonlinear system is developed. Additionally, an auxiliary system is constructed to address the computational complexity caused by the input delay, and an adaptive fuzzy controller is designed using backstepping technique via self-triggering mechanism. Under the proposed control scheme, it can be proven that the tracking error converges within a dynamically defined boundary within a predefined time, independent of the initial state and system parameters.
Following the developed the stability criteria for the practically predefined time, the closed-loop system stability analysis is completed.
Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of the main findings.
The first 30 minutes hidden aftershocks of the 2022 Guanshan, Taiwan earthquake and its seismological implications
Authors: Huang Bor-Shouh , Ku Chin-Shang , Lin Chin-Jen , Lee Shiann-Jong , Chen Yen-Ling , Jiang Juen-Shi , Sun Wei-Fang
Published: September 2023

The first 30 minutes of the aftershock sequence following the 2022 September 17, ML 6.4,Guanshan, Taiwan earthquake is investigated by the back-projection (BP) method. Based on the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) to process individual earthquake record and sort waveforms by epicentral distance, 80 events are identified near the Guanshan earthquake epicenter to verify its temporal variation. However, most of these events cannot clearly image by the BP method to determine its spatial locations for its small amplitude and short time separation. In total, 29 aftershocks are imaged by this study to identify its spatial locations during this time period. The relocated events are compared with the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) rapid report catalogue. Only 5 events have been reported by the CWB rapid report catalogue. These unreported hidden aftershocks are identified to distribute surrounding the epicenter and extended to the east. This extracted information of hidden aftershocks is crucial for assessing the potential for future large aftershocks and estimating the associated seismic hazards in a given region, and provide extra message to evaluate the source physics in general.
Anthropometric Assessment of Obesity and Blood Pressure Control in Patients with Hypertension attending the Family Medicine Clinics of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Nigeria.
Authors: Oseni Tijani Idris Ahmad , Ahmed Sulaiman Dazumi , Oku Afiong Oboko , Ayoola Yekeen Ayodele , Udonwa Ndifreke Ekpo
Published: September 2023

Introduction:
Obesity can be a major problem due to its potential to cause a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the association between obesity as assessed by body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist height ratio (WHtR) and blood pressure control among patients with hypertension attending the Family Medicine Clinics of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, a semi-urban community in Edo State, southern Nigeria.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study among 250 patients with hypertension attending the Family clinics of Irrua specialist Teaching hospital, aged 18 to 65 years. The anthropometric indices of consenting participants, including BMI, WHR, and WHtR were evaluated and blood pressure determined. Data was analysed using statistical package of Social Sciences version 24.0.
Result
Study participants had a mean age of 51.5 ± 10.0 years, with a mean BMI of 28.60 ± 5.71kg/m2. The median and interquartile range of the waist hip ratio and waist height ratio were 1.02 (1.01, 1.03) and 0.61 (0.58, 0.66) respectively. The proportion of obese participants, defined by WHtR, with uncontrolled BP was significantly higher than that for those with controlled BP (63.9% vs 47.5%; p = 0.024). Upon adjusting for sociodemographic variables, participants who were obese based on WHtR had 2.71 times the odds of having uncontrolled blood pressure compared to those who were not obese. This finding was statistically significant. (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI = 1.37–5.38; p = 0.004).
Conclusion
Anthropometric indices remain valuable predictors of blood pressure control. The WHtR, a measure of central obesity, compared to the BMI, was significantly associated with poor blood pressure control.
Who and what are represented in the IPCC’s assessments? Institutional diversity and the politics of representation in global environmental assessments
Authors: Standring Adam
Published: September 2023

In line with the IPCC’s own mandate to select a more diverse group of experts to contribute to their assessments, the proportion of women and participants from the Global South has increased over recent assessment cycles. Criticisms remain, however, over the continued dominance of experts and institutions of the Global North, the relative place of different disciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledges in assessments, and the extent to which, once selected to participate, underrepresented groups have the space and opportunity to speak and be heard. Taken together, these criticisms point to a particular weakness of the diversity agenda – that once an imperative to diversity has been institutionalised, it becomes just another target or metric to be gamed. As a top-down, depoliticised measure, institutional diversity can serve to obscure – or even exacerbate – continued the institutional exclusion of marginalised groups. This article proposes a move away from the concentration on diversity as an indicator of the plurality and epistemic strength of an organisation, towards a focus on the politics representation. This move is radical in two specific ways: firstly, it entails more openness and transparency from the IPCC over how their assessments are produced. Representation cannot be easily quantified but must be observed and analysed qualitatively. Secondly, it understands that, unlike diversity, representation requires agency and capacity, signifying a different relationship between the IPCC and the participant. Representation is thus conceptualised as a more political, yet more impactful way of extending the IPCC’s policy (and social) relevance.
Risk-based Evaluation of ML Classification Methods Used for Medical Devices
Authors: Haimerl Martin , Reich Christoph
Published: September 2023

Background: In the future, more and more medical devices will be based on machine learning (ML) methods. For such medical devices, the rating of risks is a crucial aspect and should be considered when evaluating their performance. This means that an integration of risks and their associated costs into the corresponding metrics should be taken into account. This paper addresses three key issues towards a risk-based evaluation of ML-based classification models.
Methods: First, it analyzes a selected set of scientific publications for determining how often risk-based metrics are currently utilized in the context of ML-based classification models. Second, it introduces an approach for evaluating such models where expected risks and associated costs are integrated into the corresponding performance metrics. Additionally, it analyzes the impact of different risk ratios on the resulting overall performance. For this purpose, an artificial model was used which allows to easily adapt key parameters. Third, the paper elaborates how such risk-based approaches relate to regulatory requirements in the field of medical devices. A set of use case scenarios were utilized to demonstrate necessities and practical implications, in this regard.
Results: With respect to the first research question, it was shown that currently most scientific publications do not include risk-based approaches for measuring performance. For the second topic, it was demonstrated that risk-based considerations have a substantial impact on the outcome. The relative increase of the resulting overall risks can go up 198%, i.e. the risk value almost triples, when the ratio between different types of risks (risk of false negatives in comparison to false positives) goes down/up to 0.1 or 10.0. As discussed within the third research question, this situation typically represents a case where the risk increases one level in the corresponding risk matrix. Based on this, it was demonstrated that differences in parameter settings lead to a substantially different behavior when risk factors are not addressed properly.
Conclusion: In summary, the paper demonstrates the necessity of a risk-based approach for the evaluation of ML-based medical devices, develops basic steps towards such an approach, and elaborates consequences which occur, when these steps are neglected.
Development of an automated region-of-interest-setting program based on a deep neural network for brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography quantification methods
Authors: Tomimatsu Taeko , Yamashita Kosuke , Sakata Takumi , Kamezaki Ryosuke , Ikeda Ryuji , Shiraishi Shinya , Ito Shigeki
Published: September 2023

A simple noninvasive microsphere (SIMS) method using 123I-IMP and an improved brain uptake ratio (IBUR) method using 99mTc-ECD for the quantitative measurement of regional cerebral blood flow have been recently reported. The input functions of these methods were determined using the administered dose, which was obtained by analyzing the time activity curve of the pulmonary artery (PA) for SIMS and the ascending aorta (AAo) for the IBUR methods for dynamic chest images. If the PA and AAo regions of interest (ROIs) can be determined using deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) for segmentation, the accuracy of these ROI-setting methods can be improved through simple analytical operations to ensure repeatability and reproducibility. The purpose of this study was to develop new PA and AAo-ROI setting methods using a DCNN. A U-Net architecture based on convolutional neural networks was used to determine the PA and AAo candidate regions. Images of 290 patients who underwent 123I-IMP RI angiography and 108 patients who underwent 99mTc-ECD RI angiography were used. The PA and AAo results for the automated method were compared to those obtained using manual methods. The coincidence ratio for the locations of the PA and AAo-ROI obtained using the automated program and that for the manual methods was 100%. Strong correlations were observed between the DCNN and manual methods. New ROI-setting programs were developed using a DCNN for the SIMS and IBUR methods. The accuracy of these methods is comparable to that of the manual method.
Machine Learning-based Classifier to Decipher Immune Landscape of Uveal Melanoma and Predict Patient Outcomes
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Shen Ni , Jiang Aimin , Zhao Jiawei , Sang Yanzhi , Wang Anbang , Shen Wei , Gao Yu
Published: September 2023

Uveal melanoma (UVM) is influenced by immune infiltration features, making the analysis of UVM genomic and immune signatures crucial for predicting patient prognosis and identifying potential targeted therapies.To address this issue, we leveraged multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GEO datasets, especially immune infiltration data, to classify UVM into distinct immune-related subgroups using an unsupervised clustering algorithm. The resulting subgroups were denoted as uveal melanoma carcinoma subtype 1 (UMCS1) and subtype 2 (UMCS2). We further examined differences in the immune microenvironment, immunotherapy response, and tumor metabolic pathways between these subgroups, aiming to identify targets related to immune infiltration. Additionally, we devised a risk scoring system based on subtype-specific markers to forecast the prognosis of UVM patients. Performance evaluation of the risk scoring system was conducted using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curves.Our analysis successfully identified two distinct subtypes of UVM patients, characterized by genomic mutations and disparities in the immune environment. These subtypes exhibited diverse clinical features and biological processes. The aggressive subtype, UMCS2, presented a higher TNM stage and poorer patient survival. UMCS2 was distinguished by elevated metabolism and increased immune infiltration. However, UMCS2 also demonstrated a higher tumor mutational burden and immune dysfunction, resulting in diminished responsiveness to immunotherapy. Notably, the two subgroups exhibited differential sensitivity to targeted drugs due to substantial variances in metabolic and immune environments, with UMCS2 displaying lower sensitivity. Finally, we developed a risk scoring system utilizing subtype-specific biomarkers and assessed its diagnostic performance for UVM patients, achieving satisfactory results through ROC curves, decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. Our findings suggest that the remodeled immunometabolic pathways and the immune microenvironment contribute to the relatively low sensitivity of UVM to immunotherapy. Targeting these mutated pathways and immune infiltrating molecules may potentially address the current treatment dilemma in UVM. Moreover, the newly developed risk assessment system not only aids in predicting patient prognosis but also facilitates the identification of suitable populations for combination therapy.
Honorary authorship is highly prevalent in health sciences: systematic review and meta-analysis of surveys
Authors: Reynders Reint A. Meursinge , Riet Gerben ter , Girolamo Nicola Di , Cavagnetto Davide , Malički Mario
Published: September 2023

A systematic review and meta-analysis of survey research was conducted to estimate honorary authorship prevalence in health sciences. We searched PubMed, Lens.org, and Dimensions.ai. until January 5 2023. Methodological quality was assessed and quantitative syntheses were conducted. Nineteen surveys were included and rated as having low methodological quality. We found a pooled prevalence of 26% [95% CI 21–31](6 surveys, 2,758 respondents) of researchers that perceived co-author(s) as honorary on the publication at issue (when they were not referred to any authorship criteria). That prevalence was 18% [95% CI 15–21](11 surveys, 4,272 respondents) when researchers were referred to Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship criteria, and 51% [95% CI 47–56](15 surveys, 5,111 respondents) when researchers were asked to declare their co-author(s) contributions on the publication at issue (and these were then compared to ICMJE criteria). 10% of researchers [95% CI 9–12](11 surveys, 3,663 respondents) reported being approached by others to include honorary author(s) on the publication at issue and 16% [95% CI 13–18](2 surveys, 823 respondents) admitted adding (an) honorary author(s). Survey research consistently indicates that honorary authorship in the health sciences is highly prevalent, however the quality of the surveys’ methods and reporting needs improvement. Registration and publication of the protocol. Our protocol was preregistered (https://osf.io/5nvar/) and published at: (https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-022-01928-1)
Development of chronic kidney disease after major surgery
Authors: Meersch Melanie , Weiss Raphael , Strauß Christian , Albert Felix , booke Hendrik , Forni Lui , Pittet Jean-Francois , Kellum John A. , Rosner Mitchell , Mehta Ravindra , Bellomo Rinaldo , Rosenberger Peter , Zarbock Alexander
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant health care burden worldwide. However, little is known about its development after major surgery.
Methods
We conducted an international prospective, observational, multi-center study in 30 countries among patients undergoing major surgery. The primary study endpoint was the incidence of CKD (defined as new onset CKD with an eGFR < 60ml/min/1.73m2 at day 90). Secondary endpoints included the relationship between early postoperative-AKI (within 72h after major surgery) and development of postoperative CKD, the identification of risk factors for CKD, and the rate and risk factors for CKD progression in patients with pre-existing CKD.
Results
We studied 9,510 patients without pre-existing CKD. Of these, 940 (9.9%) developed CKD with 34.2% experiencing an episode of early postoperative-AKI. CKD rates significantly increased with the severity of early AKI (19.1% KDIGO1, 24.5% KDIGO2, 34.3% KDIGO3; P < 0.001) and duration (15.5% transient vs 38.3% persistent AKI; P < 0.001). Independent risk factors for CKD included early postoperative-AKI, exposure to perioperative nephrotoxic agents, and postoperative pneumonia. Early postoperative-AKI carried an independent odds ratio for CKD of 2.64 (95%-CI 2.21–3.15). Of 663 patients with pre-existing CKD, 42 (6.3%) had worsening CKD at day 90 as defined. In patients with CKD and an episode of early AKI, CKD progression occurred in 11.6%.
Conclusion
One in ten major surgery patients developed postoperative CKD, most of them without an episode of early postoperative-AKI. However, early postoperative-AKI severity and duration was associated with an increased rate of CKD with early postoperative-AKI being a major independent risk factor for CKD.
Clinical trial number:
The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04165369).
A nomogram based on radiomics for predicting the high-grade histologic patterns in pure-solid clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhou Xiaojun , Yang Liuqiong , Dai Qi , Han Dan , Leng Shaoyi , Zhang Jingfeng
Published: September 2023

Background: High-grade histologic subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are associated with poor prognosis, and preoperative identification of it may influence the decision of treatment strategy.
Methods: In this retrospective study, data of 352 patients who underwent surgery for clinical stage IA LUAD from December 2019 to February 2022 were collected, in which 297 patients were from center 1 and 55 patients were from center 2. According to the percentage of solid(SOL) and micropapilary (MIP) histologic subtypes composition, all patients were divided into 2 groups (high-grade and low to median grade). Radiomics features were extracted from preoperative CT images by Python, Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used for radiomics factors selection and rad-score calculation. A final classification model was developed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: A rad-score consisted of 6 features selected from 1130 radiomics showed considerable predictive performance in the internal training set (Area under the curve, AUC=0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.69~0.82). In contrast, the AUC of the model consisting of tumor diameter, lobulation sign and emphysema was only 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60~0.75). The nomogram based on radiomics and conventional imaging morphology features showed better performance on discrimination in the training set (AUC=0.79,95%CI:0.73~0.86), validation set (AUC=0.79, 95%CI: 0.69~0.89) and external validation set (AUC=0.77, 95CI%:0.63~0.90).
Conclusions: A nomogram based on radiomics and conventional imaging morphology features can help to identify the worse prognosis of pure-solid clinical stage IA LUAD.
Regulatory T cells mediate the decreased susceptibility of males to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
Authors: Rodgers Aoife , Monahan Avril M. , Dubois Alice , Faniyi Aduragbemi A. , Marshall Helina E. , Jenkinson Faith , Muir Roshell , Osbourn Megan , Elborn J. Stuart , Fuente Alerie Guzman de la , Ingram Rebecca J.
Published: September 2023

Background
Sex hormones have been shown to play a role in the susceptibility of female patients with CF to P. aeruginosa chronic infection; however, the cellular mechanisms responsible for such sex-based imbalance are poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the role of the female sex hormone estrogen in a murine model of P. aeruginosa induced lung infection and to elucidate the cellular immune mechanisms involved.
Methods
The bacterial burden and inflammatory parameters following intranasal infections with P. aeruginosa were compared in male and female mice. Female mice were treated with anastrozole, which lowers estradiol, and the impact on survival assessed. Infection in male and female RAG1−/− mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes, and Foxp3DTR/GFP mice, in which Tregs can be selectively depleted, were also compared.
Results
We demonstrate that female adult mice are more susceptible to P. aeruginosa lung infection, compared to that of males, while this effect was not evident in pre-pubescent mice. Pre-treatment of female adult mice with anastrozole, resulted in increased survival and a greater ability to control P. aeruginosa induced lung infection, as evidenced by reduced bacterial burden in the lung and reduced levels of serum IL-6. This increased susceptibility of adult female mice to P. aeruginosa was not seen during infection in RAG1−/− mice, or following depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in Foxp3DTR/GFP mice. In male mice, there was a significant increase in IL-6 levels following Treg depletion, demonstrating liberation from regulation, which did not occur in female mice.
Conclusions
This data demonstrates, for the first time, that the increased susceptibility of female mice to P. aeruginosa-induced lung infection is a result of the reduced action of Tregs. The potential benefits of targeting Treg activity in CF warrants further investigation in prevention and treatment of P. aeruginosa infection.
Steam combined dry reforming of methane over CoMo/Al2O3 nanoflake catalyst at low microwave power irradiation
Authors: None Nabil Majd , Minh Hoang Nguyen , Al-Mohammedawi Hassan H. , AL-Zuhairi Firas Khaleel , Abdullah Thamer Adnan , Sukkar Khalid A , Alrubaye Jamal M. Ali
Published: September 2023

This research involved performing steam-assisted dry reformation (SDR) on methane over a CoMo2/Al2O3 nanoflake catalyst irradiated at microwave frequencies. CoMo2 nanoflakes showed great catalytic activity for reforming reactions due to their excellent exposed surface to the incident MW and better ability to absorb MW. Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis is used to manufacture liquid fuels, and the predicted syngas ratio (H2/CO) can be easily modified by adjusting the quantity of steam to carbon ratio (S/C) supplied into the reactor. With an intake S/C ratio of less than (0.1) and (200 W) of MW power, it is possible to get an H2/CO ratio greater than one. Compared to carbon-based catalysts, the catalytic stability of the CoMo2 nanoflakes catalysts was much higher after 16 hours of time-on-stream (TOS) of the SDR process while being exposed to MW irradiation. Steam combination dry reforming, MW assistance, and a CoMo catalyst are some keywords that might be used here.
Harmonic Voltage Phasor Reconstruction and Harmonic State Estimation Based on the Measurement Data of a Capacitive Voltage Transformer
Authors: ZHU Xiaoxian , PENG Qingjun , ZOU Dexu , WANG Shan , WANG Haozhou , ZHOU Fangrong
Published: September 2023

Harmonic state estimation, which highly depends on accurate synchronized phasors, is a crucial basis for the location, traceability, and governance of harmonics in power systems. However, most existing synchronous phasor measurement units (PMUs) provide power frequency phasors rather than harmonic phasors. In addition, as the dominant voltage signal provider for PMUs in power systems, capacitive voltage transformers (CVTs) have complex frequency responses and cannot be directly used for harmonic measurement. Therefore, accurate harmonic state estimation is difficult to achieve in applications. In this study, we proposed a method for harmonic voltage phasor reconstruction and harmonic state estimation based on the measurement data of a CVT. First, the reasons for harmonic voltage measurement errors were analyzed. Second, the scattering parameter method was used to measure the wideband voltage transfer characteristics of CVT. Third, a voltage reconstruction method was proposed to improve the measurement accuracy and expand the frequency range of synchronous phasor measurement. Fourth, this method was applied to harmonic state estimation, and the performance of harmonic state estimation before and after voltage reconstruction was quantitatively compared. Results showed that the proposed method can remarkably improve the accuracy of harmonic state estimation. Finally, some factors, such as state observability, complex error disturbances, CVT structure, and harmonic order, influencing the performance of the proposed method were investigated. Results further demonstrated that the method has high accuracy, strong anti-interference, and adaptability, and can provide basic information for harmonic localization and traceability.
Attributing human mortality from fire PM2.5 to climate change
Authors: Park Chaeyeon , Takahashi Kiyoshi , Fujimori Shinichiro , Jansakoo Thanapat , Burton Chantelle , Huang Huilin , Kou-Giesbrecht Sian , Reyer Christopher , Mengel Matthias , Burke Eleanor , Li Fang , Hantson Stijn , Takakura Jun'ya , Lee Dong Kun , Hasegawa Tomoko
Published: September 2023

Wildfires affect human health by emitting hazardous air pollutants. The contribution of climate change to global fire-induced health impacts has not been quantified so far. Here, we used three fire-vegetation models in combination with a chemical transport model and health risk assessment framework to attribute global human mortality from fire fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions to climate change. Among the total 31,934 (1960s) –75,870 (2010s) annual fire PM2.5 mortalities, climate change generated excess annual deaths from 819 (1960s) to 5,541 (2010s). The influence of climate change on fire mortality is strongest in South America, southern Australia, and Europe, coinciding with a significant decrease in relative humidity. In other regions, such as South Asia, increasing relative humidity has gradually decreased fire mortality. Our study highlights that climate change already contributed to fire mortality and our findings will help public health authorities to better predict and manage fire mortality.
Tunable ferroelectric topological defects on 2D topological surfaces: strain engineering skyrmion-like polar structures in 2D materials
Authors: Deng Junkai , Xu Bo , Gong Zhanpeng , Liu Jingran , Hong Yunfei , Yang Yang , Li Lou , Liu Yilun , Liu Jefferson Zhe
Published: September 2023

Polar topological structures in ferroelectric materials have attracted significant interest due to their fascinating physical properties and promising applications in high-density, nonvolatile memories. Currently, most polar topological patterns are only observed in the bulky perovskite superlattices. In this work, we report a discovery of tunable ferroelectric polar topological structures designed and achieved using topological strain engineering in two-dimensional PbX (X = S, Se, and Te) materials via integrating first-principles calculations, machine learning molecular dynamics simulations, and continuum modelling. Our first-principles calculations discover the strain-induced reversible ferroelectric phase transition with diverse polarization directions strongly correlated to the straining conditions. Taking advantage of the mechanical flexibility of 2D PbX, using MD simulations, we successfully demonstrate that the complex strain fields of 2D topological surfaces under mechanical indentation can generate unique skyrmion-like polar topological vortex patterns. Our further continuum simulations for experimentally accessible larger-scale 2D topological surfaces uncover multiple skyrmion-like structures (i.e., vortex, anti-vortex, and flux-closure) and transition between them by adopting/designing different types of mechanical loadings (such as out-of-plane indention and air blowing). Topological surfaces with various designable reversible polar topological structures can be tailored by complex straining flexible 2D materials, which provides excellent opportunities for next-generation nanoelectronics and sensor devices.