bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finding the Mole and Choosing the Apple: Executive Function Challenges in Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Authors: Sanhueza Soraya , Urrutia Mabel , Marrero Hipólito
Published: December 2024

Background: Children with a developmental language disorder (DLD) frequently experience deficits in cognitive skills such as working memory (WM) and sustained attention (SA), which are closely related to language development. Yet, these cognitive deficits remain underexplored in early childhood, particularly during the preschool years. Objective: This study explores WM and SA in Chilean preschoolers with a DLD compared to their typically developing (TD) peers, using the nonverbal tasks “Torpo the Clumsy Mole” for WM and the Continuous Performance Task (CPT) “Duno and the Worms” for SA, both from the Child Neuropsychological Evaluation Test (TENI in Spanish). Method: Thirty DLD and 30 TLD peers (aged 4 to 4 years 11 months) participated. Accuracy and reaction times in both tasks were assessed. Results: The children with a DLD demonstrated significant deficits in working memory accuracy and poorer sustained attention accuracy despite exhibiting shorter reaction times in the sustained attention task compared to TLD children. Conclusions: The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of a DLD, particularly in relation to cognitive dimensions beyond language, such as working memory and sustained attention. Early identification of these differences emphasizes the important role of executive functions in DLDs.
Enhancing Communication and Swallowing Skills in Children with Cri Du Chat Syndrome: A Comprehensive Speech Therapy Guide
Authors: Papadopoulou Soultana , Anagnostopoulou Areti , Katsarou Dimitra V. , Megari Kalliopi , Efthymiou Efthymia , Argyriadis Alexandros , Kougioumtzis Georgios , Theodoratou Maria , Sofologi Maria , Argyriadi Agathi , Pavlidou Efterpi , Toki Eugenia I.
Published: December 2024

Background: A specific deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p) is the hallmark of the rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat Syndrome (CdCS). It causes severe difficulty with swallowing, speech, motor skills, and cognitive deficiencies. These arise from characteristic laryngeal abnormalities and oral–motor dysfunctions. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of speech and language intervention in addressing the multifaceted challenges of CdCS, including speech and language impairments, feeding difficulties, and social communication deficits. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to synthesize existing studies from the last 35 years on therapeutic interventions for individuals with CdCS. This review focused on interventions targeting speech, language, and swallowing therapy. Comprehensive searches were performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases using descriptors such as “Cri du Chat”, “swallowing disorders”, “speech disorders”, “speech and language disorders”, and “speech and language therapy.” From the identified records, 40 peer-reviewed English-language publications that addressed speech, language, and swallowing interventions were selected based on relevance and inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed independently by four reviewers, working in two teams. Any disagreements between the teams were resolved through discussion with an independent researcher to ensure reliability and minimize bias. Results: The findings demonstrate that speech and language therapy (SLT) significantly enhances speech clarity, articulation, and oral–motor coordination. Augmentative communication systems effectively bridge gaps in nonverbal communication, fostering improved social interaction. Specific interventions reduce aspiration risks and improve feeding safety, enhancing the overall quality of life. Early multidisciplinary approaches and tailored therapeutic strategies are key to maximizing the benefits of SLT. Conclusions: SLT is crucial for improving communication, swallowing, and social integration in individuals with CdCS. Regular early intervention involving individualized programs and family participation is recommended to achieve optimal outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and develop cultural and technologically adaptable therapies.
Microbial Spectrum, Intraoperative Findings, and Postoperative Outcomes in Native Knee Joint Infections: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Roos Jonas , Mangels Britta , Jaenisch Max , Wimmer Matthias Dominik , Randau Thomas Martin , Prangenberg Christian , Welle Kristian , Gathen Martin
Published: December 2024

Background: Native knee joint infections, while uncommon, present a serious condition predominantly instigated by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Without timely intervention, they can result in joint destruction or sepsis, with risk factors encompassing preexisting medical conditions and iatrogenic procedures. The diagnostic process includes a comprehensive patient history, clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, imaging studies, and microbiological investigations. Treatment typically involves joint aspiration and arthroscopy. This study aims to examine and establish correlations between diagnostic criteria and treatment modalities, enhancing the speed and specificity of future therapeutic strategies. Materials and methods: The present study is a retrospective cohort study conducted at a 1200-bed university clinic between 2007 and 2017, with an in-depth examination of patient details, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes. A scoring system was developed to classify the severity of knee joint impairment, categorizing patients on the basis of hospital stay duration, surgeries, and postoperative factors such as recurring symptoms, pain, and range of motion. Results: This study of 116 patients with knee joint infections revealed that clinical symptoms such as pain, swelling, and effusion are common but not definitive for diagnosis. Laboratory analysis revealed no significant differences in CRP or leukocyte counts between cultures positive or negative for pathogens. Hospital stay and disease severity are influenced by factors such as age, sex, presence of polyarthritis, neutrophil count, and type of pathogen, with higher weight and cortisone treatment associated with poorer outcomes. Conclusions: This study highlights the diagnostic challenges in native knee joint infections, revealing the need for comprehensive approaches given the nonspecificity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. This underscores the importance of advancing research through standardized methodologies and prospective studies to increase the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment in this field.
Buckling Resistance and Its Effect on the Gas Barrier of Composite Coating Layers Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol and Montmorillonite
Authors: Zainal Abedin Nur Hanani , Schiessl Stefan , Langowski Horst-Christian
Published: December 2024

In addition to the mechanical properties and barrier performance, one of the key properties of flexible films used in food packaging is the resistance of their gas barrier layer to buckling and bending. Testing the gas barrier before and after mechanical stress is time-consuming and resource-intensive, but important to assure a certain gas barrier during the whole life time of the package until food consumption. The aim of this study was, on the one hand, to identify the most significant influencing factors of a composite lacquer formulation and coating on its buckling resistance and, on the other hand, to show a fast and efficient method to identify defects occurring during buckling. The influence of mechanical stress was simulated via Gelbo-Flex treatment, and the samples were examined and evaluated before and after using light microscopy. The evaluation was verified with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and helium barrier measurement. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) films were coated with composite barrier lacquers made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and montmorillonite (MMT) and the wet coating layer thickness (20, 40, 80, and 130 μm) and the composition of the coating were changed. It was found that thin coatings are more resistant to buckling than thick coatings. It was also shown that a higher proportion of MMT in the coating layer leads to a better gas barrier, but poorer buckling resistance. Additionally, it was found that soft PE films are already subjected to high stresses during the coating process, which means that barrier coatings do not build up ideally. However, the barrier-coated soft film withstood mechanical stress better and lost less barrier by a lower factor than the counterpart on the basis of PET. To conclude, the evaluation of the buckling resistance with microscopy offers an efficient method during lacquer development; however, the final decision on the right lacquer composition is dependent on many factors.
Classical Chaos in a Driven One-Dimensional Quartic Anharmonic Oscillator
Authors: Lin Yun-Hsi , Chai Jeng-Da
Published: December 2024

In this work, we investigate the transition from regular dynamics to chaotic behavior in a one-dimensional quartic anharmonic classical oscillator driven by a time-dependent external square-wave force. Owing to energy conservation, the motion of an undriven quartic anharmonic oscillator is regular, periodic, and stable. For a driven quartic anharmonic oscillator, the equations of motion cannot be solved analytically due to the presence of an anharmonic term in the potential energy function. Using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method to numerically solve the equations of motion for the driven quartic anharmonic oscillator, we find that the oscillator motion under the influence of a sufficiently small driving force remains regular, while by gradually increasing the driving force, a series of nonlinear resonances can occur, grow, overlap, and ultimately disappear due to the emergence of chaos.
Identifying Bias in Deep Neural Networks Using Image Transforms
Authors: Erukude Sai Teja , Joshi Akhil , Shamir Lior
Published: December 2024

CNNs have become one of the most commonly used computational tools in the past two decades. One of the primary downsides of CNNs is that they work as a “black box”, where the user cannot necessarily know how the image data are analyzed, and therefore needs to rely on empirical evaluation to test the efficacy of a trained CNN. This can lead to hidden biases that affect the performance evaluation of neural networks, but are difficult to identify. Here we discuss examples of such hidden biases in common and widely used benchmark datasets, and propose techniques for identifying dataset biases that can affect the standard performance evaluation metrics. One effective approach to identify dataset bias is to perform image classification by using merely blank background parts of the original images. However, in some situations, a blank background in the images is not available, making it more difficult to separate foreground or contextual information from the bias. To overcome this, we propose a method to identify dataset bias without the need to crop background information from the images. The method is based on applying several image transforms to the original images, including Fourier transform, wavelet transforms, median filter, and their combinations. These transforms are applied to recover background bias information that CNNs use to classify images. These transformations affect the contextual visual information in a different manner than it affects the systemic background bias. Therefore, the method can distinguish between contextual information and the bias, and can reveal the presence of background bias even without the need to separate sub-image parts from the blank background of the original images. The code used in the experiments is publicly available.
Vaccine Hesitancy Toward COVID-19 Vaccines Among Humanitarian Healthcare Workers in Lebanon, 2021
Authors: Ali Zawar , Perera Shiromi M. , Garbern Stephanie C. , Abou Diwan Elsie , Othman Alaa , Germano Emma R. , Ali Javed , Awada Nada
Published: December 2024

Refusals and delay in receiving COVID-19 vaccines due to vaccine hesitancy present major barriers to optimal vaccine uptake and thus epidemic control, with crisis-affected populations facing additional challenges. International Medical Corps conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding COVID-19 and identify determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among 413 healthcare workers (HCW) working at 90 national primary healthcare centers in Lebanon, just prior to widespread vaccine rollout. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of vaccine acceptance using the health belief Model. More than half (56.9%) of HCWs were categorized as being vaccine-hesitant, while 43.1% reported they would receive a vaccine when available. Perceived benefits, cues to action, and social norms were positively associated with vaccine acceptance. More than half (56.4%) believed the national health system was not capable of ensuring safe administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Targeted interventions that emphasize the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, highlight cues to vaccinate, and promote vaccination as a social norm are critical in motivating HCWs to get vaccinated. Increasing HCW trust in Lebanon’s national health system is critical to building confidence toward COVID-19 vaccines and has implications for the success of future responses to infectious disease outbreaks.
Understanding the Effect of Austempering Temperature on the Crystallographic Features and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon Bainitic Steel
Authors: Wu Hao , Yu Jieru , Wang Ziqi , Qi Guangjie , Xiao Bai , Hu Bin , Liu Shilong , Yu Yishuang
Published: December 2024

The effect of austempering temperature on crystallographic features and mechanical properties is investigated in low-carbon bainitic steel, focusing on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties. After isothermal holding at, above, and below martensite start (MS) temperatures and tempering, a mixed microstructure of martensite/bainite and martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents is obtained. The fraction of M/A constituents increases as the austempering temperature increases, while the density of block boundaries decreases. The instantaneous work hardening rate exhibits continuous decay without a notable transition because of the retained austenite in the M/A constituents. The toughness decreases with increasing austempering temperature, which is related not only to the fraction of M/A constituents but also to the density of block boundaries. Isothermal treatment below the MS temperature enables the formation of structures with fewer M/A constituents and high-density block boundaries, through which excellent toughness can be achieved.
The Influence of Nordic Walking Training on the Serum Levels of Sirtuins, FOXO3a, and Vitamin D Metabolites in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Czerwińska-Ledwig Olga , Żychowska Małgorzata , Jurczyszyn Artur , Kryst Joanna , Dzidek Adrianna , Zuziak Roxana , Jurczyszyn Anna , Piotrowska Anna
Published: December 2024

Background: Multiple myeloma, a malignancy of plasma cells, often involves the disruption of vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D, acting through its receptor (VDR), affects transcription factors like FOXO and sirtuins, which regulate cellular processes. The impact of physical activity on these markers in multiple myeloma patients is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-week training program on these parameters. Material and methods: The study was completed by 30 patients, including 16 in the Nordic walking training group (TG) and 14 in the control group (non-exercising, CG). All participants underwent a thorough medical interview before starting the project. Venous blood samples were collected from all participants four times—at baseline, after 3 weeks, after 6 weeks, and after 9 weeks (follow-up). The serum concentrations of sirtuin 1, sirtuin 3, Foxo3a, vitamin D receptor (VDR), 25(OH)D3, and 1,25(OH)2D were determined. Body composition, physical fitness, and physical activity level were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks. Results: No statistically significant changes were observed in the serum levels of sirtuins, the FOXO3a protein, and 1,25(OH)2D. A statistically significant difference was observed in the levels of VDR for both time and group factors, but this was not confirmed in the post hoc test. Vitamin 25(OH)D3 level increased significantly in the study group with time. Conclusions: The applied 6-week Nordic walking training cycle positively affected the level of vitamin 25(OH)D3 but did not influence the rest of the biochemical parameters studied. The obtained results also indicate that the applied intervention is safe for patients and does not interfere with body composition.
The Role of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Oligometastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wan Benson , Lecavalier-Barsoum Magali
Published: December 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major cause of mortality in Canada, with many patients presenting with metastatic disease. The oligometastatic state (OM-NSCLC) may be amenable to cure using aggressive local consolidative therapies. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), which entails the utilization of a high dose of radiation in one or few fractions, has many benefits in this setting, including its applicability in varied patient populations to ablate lesions in varied anatomical locations. It has also been demonstrated to prolong the time to next-line systemic therapy, to reduce financial burden, to improve quality-adjusted life years, and reduce adverse events caused by these lesions. This review outlines the published phase II and III trials that have already demonstrated the utility of SBRT in OM-NSCLC, as well as the many ongoing trials aiming to further define its role, including the largest phase II/III trial to date, NRG-LU002. Overall, SBRT appears to improve outcomes when combined with a broad range of standard-of-care therapies and is generally well tolerated; however, careful patient selection is necessary to maximize benefits while minimizing harm. Ongoing trials will help define the optimal patients for SBRT and the best timing for this intervention.
The Impact of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis on the Social Interaction Patterns of Young Omani Women: A Qualitative Study Approach
Authors: Al-Azri Mohammed , AL-Kiyumi Zayana , Al-Bimani Khalid , Al-Awaisi Huda
Published: December 2024

Background and Aim: Young women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) face considerable psychological and emotional distress, impacting their interactions with themselves, their families, and the wider community. This study sought to explore the interaction patterns of young Omani BC survivors following their diagnosis and during treatment. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 11 Omani women diagnosed with BC, recruited from the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre in Muscat, Oman. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to target Omani BC survivors aged under 45 years, with one to five years of survivorship post-diagnosis. Framework analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data. Results: Six key types of interactions with various groups were identified: self, children, spouses, family, friends, and society. While many BC survivors demonstrated resilience through their strong faith, viewing the illness as part of a divine plan, others experienced diminished confidence and social withdrawal due to body image issues. Interactions with children centred on maintaining normalcy, while spouses typically provided emotional support despite challenges with intimacy. Family and friends offered crucial support, although concerns regarding societal stigma led some women to conceal their diagnosis. Conclusions: Participants in this study demonstrated a strong sense of acceptance of their cancer diagnosis as a result of their faith, viewing it as part of a divine plan. Their belief in divine guidance, paired with optimism about the available treatments, fostered resilience, allowing them to maintain a calm and hopeful outlook during their journey of treatment and recovery. However, some participants experienced a decline in self-confidence, particularly after treatment. This affected their willingness to socialise and interact with others, leading to introversion and a marked withdrawal from social interactions, often related to changed self-perception or fear of judgment following changes in appearance.
Breaking Barriers: Empowering Cervical Cancer Screening with HPV Self-Sampling for Sex Workers and Formerly Incarcerated Women in Toronto
Authors: Vahabi Mandana , Hynes Jenna , Wong Josephine Pui-Hing , Kithulegoda Natasha , Moosapoor Masoomeh , Akbarian Abdolreza , Lofters Aisha
Published: December 2024

Background: Although cervical cancer (CC) is highly preventable through appropriate screening methods like the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, which enables early detection of malignant and precancerous lesions, access to such screening has not been equitable across social groups. Sex workers and people with records of incarceration are among the most under-screened populations in Ontario. Little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of HPV self-sampling (HPV-SS) as an alternative cervical cancer screening method for these groups. This online, community-based mixed-methods pilot study aimed to address this knowledge gap. Methods: Eighty-four under- and never-screened sex workers and ex-prisoners aged 25–69 years and residing in the Greater Toronto Area, were recruited by community peer associates. Participants completed an online survey and viewed short videos about CC and screening with Pap and HPV-SS. Those who opted for HPV-SS conducted the test at one of two collaborating organizations. Results: The median age of participants was 36.5 years. Most had limited knowledge about CC and screening. Approximately 13% identified as non-binary, and 5% as two-spirit or trans men, with the majority having completed secondary education. Of the participants, 88% chose HPV-SS, and one-third tested positive for high-risk HPV types. The ability to self-sample without judgment from healthcare providers was noted as a key advantage. However, there was a need for training on proper HPV-SS techniques. Conclusions: To improve cervical cancer screening among sex workers, increasing awareness through participatory community co-creation of sexual health education is essential. Additionally, offering HPV-SS as a screening option is crucial, given its demonstrated acceptability and feasibility within this population, many of whom lack a primary care provider and face discriminatory attitudes in healthcare settings.
A New Species of Herpetoreas Günther, 1860 (Serpentes: Natricidae) from Yunnan, China
Authors: Liu Shuo , Hou Mian , Zhou Hongxin , Zuo Changsheng , Yin Fawang , Rao Dingqi
Published: December 2024

A new species of the genus Herpetoreas is described from Yunnan Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yingjiang County, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The new species can be separated from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: tail length to total length being 0.29, dorsal scales being all strongly keeled, 165 ventrals, divided cloacal plate, 89 pairs of subcaudals, 24 maxillary teeth, last two maxillary teeth being distinctly enlarged, approximately 13 white speckles presenting on anterior lateral surface of body, pale pink anterior venter, pink posterior venter, and rose red ventral tail. The genetic divergence between the new species and other species of this genus ranged from 6.7% to 13.0% in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The new taxon represents the fifth species of the genus Herpetoreas in China and the first species of this genus in Yunnan Province.
Analysis of the Incidence of Ocular Extraintestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Songel-Sanchis Bruno , Cosín-Roger Jesús
Published: December 2024

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, extraintestinal manifestations may occur in the liver, musculoskeletal system and eyes. Its etiology remains unknown, and further research is required in order to develop pharmacological drugs which achieve complete remission of the pathology. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of ocular extraintestinal manifestations in IBD patients. Methods: A total of six searches were carried out on the medical publication server “PubMed” in June and July 2024, using different keywords; a total of 323 results were obtained, of which 34 were finally selected for study. Results: Ocular extraintestinal manifestations in IBD patients are more common in the anterior pole of the eye, with uveitis, scleritis and episcleritis being the most usual ones. In the case of the posterior pole, the most common manifestations are posterior uveitis and optic neuritis. Conclusions: The incidence of ocular complications whose origin is inflammatory, such as uveitis, scleritis, episcleritis and neuritis, is higher than that of complications of non-inflammatory origin.
Prognostic Factors for Cancer-Specific Survival and Disease-Free Interval in 130 Patients with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma: Single Institution Experience
Authors: Buzejic Matija , Bukumiric Zoran , Rovcanin Branislav , Jovanovic Milan , Stojanovic Marina , Zoric Goran , Tausanovic Katarina , Slijepcevic Nikola , Zivaljevic Vladan
Published: December 2024

Background: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is categorized into three groups: minimally invasive FTC (MIFTC), encapsulated angioinvasive FTC (EAIFTC), and widely invasive FTC (WIFTC). FTC is the second most common type of thyroid tumor, though it remains relatively rare in the general population. This study aimed to examine the prognosis and prognostic factors in patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Methods: Data were obtained from a tertiary referral center for 130 FTC patients, covering the period from 1995 to 2020. Clinical data included demographic characteristics, tumor features, type of surgery, tumor recurrence, and vital status. Descriptive statistical methods, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional hazard regression were used for statistical analysis to identify independent predictors. Results: Distant metastases occurred in 12 patients during the follow-up period. The 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were 98.1%, 92.3%, 83.5%, and 79.8%, respectively. Independent unfavorable prognostic factors for CSS included widely invasive tumor type (hazard ratio [HR] 3.63, 95% CI 1.29–10.18), multifocality (HR 6.7, 95% CI 1.37–32.72), and presence of distant metastases (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.08–4.84). When disease-free interval (DFI) was considered, the 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year rates were 92.3%, 85.3%, 82.0%, and 76.6%, respectively. Independent unfavorable prognostic factors for DFI were widely invasive tumor type (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.02–6.28) and tumor multifocality (HR 7.69, 95% CI 1.07–55.17). Conclusions: The 10-year survival rate for patients with FTC is relatively favorable. Factors associated with poorer prognosis include the presence of distant metastases, WIFTC, and multifocality. Factors linked to disease recurrence are WIFTC and multifocality.
Usefulness of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Pediatric Dentistry
Authors: Kusaka Satoru , Akitomo Tatsuya , Hamada Masakazu , Asao Yuria , Iwamoto Yuko , Tachikake Meiko , Mitsuhata Chieko , Nomura Ryota
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT has developed rapidly in recent years, and in the medical field, its usefulness for diagnostic assistance has been reported. However, there are few reports of AI use in dental fields. Methods: We created 20 questions that we had encountered in clinical pediatric dentistry, and collected the responses to these questions from three types of generative AI. The responses were evaluated on a 5-point scale by six pediatric dental specialists using the Global Quality Scale. Results: The average scores were >3 for the three types of generated AI tools that we tested; the overall average was 3.34. Although the responses for questions related to “consultations from guardians” or “systemic diseases” had high scores (>3.5), the score for questions related to “dental abnormalities” was 2.99, which was the lowest among the four categories. Conclusions: Our results show the usefulness of generative AI tools in clinical pediatric dentistry, indicating that these tools will be useful assistants in the dental field.
Machine Learning for Enhanced COPD Diagnosis: A Comparative Analysis of Classification Algorithms
Authors: Elashmawi Walaa H. , Djellal Adel , Sheta Alaa , Surani Salim , Aljahdali Sultan
Published: December 2024

Background: In the United States, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant cause of mortality. As far as we know, it is a chronic, inflammatory lung condition that cuts off airflow to the lungs. Many symptoms have been reported for such a disease: breathing problems, coughing, wheezing, and mucus production. Patients with COPD might be at risk, since they are more susceptible to heart disease and lung cancer. Methods: This study reviews COPD diagnosis utilizing various machine learning (ML) classifiers, such as Logistic Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), Random Forest Classifier (RFC), K-Nearest Neighbors Classifier (KNC), Decision Tree (DT), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). These models were applied to a dataset comprising 1603 patients after being referred for a pulmonary function test. Results: The RFC has achieved superior accuracy, reaching up to 82.06% in training and 70.47% in testing. Furthermore, it achieved a maximum F score in training and testing with an ROC value of 0.0.82. Conclusions: The results obtained with the utilized ML models align with previous work in the field, with accuracies ranging from 67.81% to 82.06% in training and from 66.73% to 71.46% in testing.
An Epigenetic Locus Associated with Loss of Smell in COVID-19
Authors: Aslan Elif Sibel , White Kenneth , Meral Gulsen , Akcay Zeyneb Nur , Altundag Aytug , Gur Savas , Dokur Mehmet , Baktir Mehmet Akif , Karcioglu Batur Lutfiye
Published: December 2024

Background/Aim: Loss of smell, also known as anosmia, is a prevalent and often prolonged symptom following infection with SARS-CoV-2. While many patients regain olfactory function within weeks, a significant portion experience persistent anosmia lasting over a year post-infection. The underlying mechanisms responsible for this sensory deficit remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have identified genetic variants near the UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 genes that are linked to anosmia in COVID-19 patients. However, the role of epigenetic changes in the development and persistence of smell loss has not been well explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate epigenetic alterations in the form of DNA methylation in the UGT1A1 gene, which is a locus associated with olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We analysed DNA methylation patterns in blood samples from two carefully matched cohorts of 20 COVID-19 patients each, which are differentiated by their olfactory function—those with normal smell (normosmia) and those suffering from smell loss (anosmia). The cohorts were matched for age and sex to minimize potential confounding factors. Results: Using quantitative analysis, we found significantly lower levels of DNA methylation in the UGT1A1 locus in the anosmia group compared to the normosmia group, with a 14% decrease in median methylation values in patients with smell loss (p < 0.0001). These findings highlight potential epigenomic alterations in the UGT1A1 gene that may contribute to the pathogenesis of anosmia following COVID-19 infection. Our results suggest that the methylation status at this locus could serve as a biomarker for olfactory dysfunction in affected individuals. Conclusion: This study is among the first to describe epigenetic changes associated with smell loss in COVID-19, providing a foundation for future research into targeted interventions and potential therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing persistent anosmia. Further investigations involving larger cohorts and additional loci may help elucidate the complex interaction between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors influencing long-term sensory impairment post-COVID-19.
Misleading Imaging Findings: Bilateral Mylohyoid Defect Presenting as a Submandibular Mass Due to Sublingual Gland Protrusion
Authors: Grabovska Dagnija , Li Junsiyuan , Radziņa Maija , Balodis Arturs
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: The muscular base of the oral cavity is formed of the mylohyoid muscle, which forms a sling inferior to the tongue. The muscle is often discontinuous, and defects may include salivary tissues, fat, and/or blood vessels. Hypertrophic sublingual glands located in mylohyoid defects can be herniated into bilateral submandibular spaces and present as palpable masses. The etiology of this condition may be congenital or acquired, and although such anatomical variations are common, they often go unrecognized in clinical practice. Sialoceles are cyst-like structures that result from chronic inflammation or ductal injury, indicating underlying problems with drainage efficiency. Methods: In this case series, we present two patients. Results: The first patient is a 44-year-old female who presented with a slowly enlarging right submandibular mass for two years, while the second is a 70-year-old female who presented with nonspecific neck discomfort, lacking palpable masses. In both, initial imaging (ultrasound and CT) was inconclusive. MRI revealed right sublingual gland herniation through a mylohyoid defect (mylohyoid boutonniere) in both cases. Conclusions: This highlights the importance of comprehensive imaging in the diagnosis of submandibular masses and emphasizes the need for considering mylohyoid boutonniere in cases of bilateral submandibular masses. Further research is warranted into the sialoceles associated with salivary gland abnormalities.
A Comprehensive CNN Model for Age-Related Macular Degeneration Classification Using OCT: Integrating Inception Modules, SE Blocks, and ConvMixer
Authors: Yusufoğlu Elif , Fırat Hüseyin , Üzen Hüseyin , Özçelik Salih Taha Alperen , Çiçek İpek Balıkçı , Şengür Abdulkadir , Atila Orhan , Guldemir Numan Halit
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant cause of vision loss in older adults, often progressing without early noticeable symptoms. Deep learning (DL) models, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), demonstrate potential in accurately diagnosing and classifying AMD using medical imaging technologies like optical coherence to-mography (OCT) scans. This study introduces a novel CNN-based DL method for AMD diagnosis, aiming to enhance computational efficiency and classification accuracy. Methods: The proposed method (PM) combines modified Inception modules, Depthwise Squeeze-and-Excitation Blocks, and ConvMixer architecture. Its effectiveness was evaluated on two datasets: a private dataset with 2316 images and the public Noor dataset. Key performance metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, were calculated to assess the method’s diagnostic performance. Results: On the private dataset, the PM achieved outstanding performance: 97.98% accuracy, 97.95% precision, 97.77% recall, and 97.86% F1 score. When tested on the public Noor dataset, the method reached 100% across all evaluation metrics, outperforming existing DL approaches. Conclusions: These results highlight the promising role of AI-based systems in AMD diagnosis, of-fering advanced feature extraction capabilities that can potentially enable early detection and in-tervention, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. While the proposed model demon-strates promising performance on the datasets tested, the study is limited by the size and diversity of the datasets. Future work will focus on external clinical validation to address these limita-tions.
Exploring Voice Acoustic Features Associated with Cognitive Status in Korean Speakers: A Preliminary Machine Learning Study
Authors: Lee Jiho , Kim Nayeon , Ha Ji-Wan , Kang Kyunghun , Park Eunhee , Yoon Janghyeok , Park Ki-Su
Published: December 2024

Objective: To develop a non-invasive cognitive impairment detection system using speech data analysis, addressing the growing global dementia crisis and enabling accessible early screening through daily health monitoring. Methods: Speech data from 223 Korean patients were collected across eight tasks. Patients were classified based on Korean Mini-Mental State Examination scores. Four machine learning models were tested for three binary classification tasks. Voice acoustic features were extracted and analyzed. Results: The Deep Neural Network model performed best in two classification tasks, with Precision-Recall Area Under the Curve scores of 0.737 for severe vs. no impairment and 0.726 for mild vs. no impairment, while Random Forest achieved 0.715 for severe + mild vs. no impairment. Several acoustic features emerged as potentially important indicators, with DDA shimmer from the /i/ task and stdevF0 from the /puh-tuh-kuh/ task showing consistent patterns across classification tasks. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that certain acoustic features may be associated with cognitive status, though demographic factors significantly influence these relationships. Further research with demographically matched populations is needed to validate these findings.
Robust Task Offloading and Trajectory Optimization for UAV-Mounted Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Wang Runhe , Huang Yang , Lu Yiwei , Xie Pu , Wu Qihui
Published: December 2024

Mobile edge computing (MEC) deployed in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has shown special strength by enhancing computational capacity and prolonging the battery lives of terrestrial user equipment (UE). Nevertheless, current research lacks studies of robust offloading scheme scheduling and trajectory planning using terrestrial random channels. The state-of-the-art joint task-offloading and trajectory-planning optimization techniques for UAV-mounted MEC are focused on scenarios where only air–ground channels exist rather than time-varying terrestrial channels. By contrast, this paper considers the scenario where both the time-varying/random terrestrial channels and the line-of-sight air–ground channels occur. Aiming at robust resource scheduling for energy-efficient UAV-assisted MEC, we formulate a novel joint optimization of UAV trajectory planning and task offloading, which, however, is highly nonconvex. As a countermeasure, the original optimization is recast as subproblems related to task offloading and trajectory planning and solved by a novel robust iterative optimization algorithm that combines the methods of weighted minimum mean square error, S-procedure, successive convex approximation, etc. Numerical results indicate that, compared to various baselines, the proposed algorithm can effectively reduce energy consumption and optimize the trajectory in the presence of a large number of input tasks. In addition, in terms of stability and effectiveness, the proposed robust iterative optimization algorithm can reduce energy consumption more stably in time-varying/random channels compared to non-robust schemes.
A Brief Review of Hydrodynamic Circulation in the Mediterranean Gulfs
Authors: Aspioti Alexandra G. , Fourniotis Nikolaos Th.
Published: December 2024

In this paper, a brief review regarding the hydrodynamic circulation of the Mediterranean gulfs is presented. Studies concerning the hydrodynamics of the Mediterranean gulfs with significant environmental and commercial importance were gathered as an initial insight of studies in the Mediterranean microtidal environment. Numerical models, field measurements, and satellite images are the methods used by the investigators for the description and prediction of the circulation in the gulfs. The basic hydrodynamic characteristics of the gulfs are mainly defined by the wind action and less by tide and baroclinicity. Most of the gulfs are characterized by a cyclonic wind-driven circulation, since the tidal effect remains weak in the Mediterranean basin. However, tidal resonance and strong currents are evident in the shallow coastal areas as well as in the wider area of straits. Basic gulfs’ characteristics are summarized in a table that gives an overview of the main Mediterranean gulfs, which can be especially useful for young researchers or new hydroenvironmental studies in the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment.
Stochastic Gradient Descent for Kernel-Based Maximum Correntropy Criterion
Authors: Li Tiankai , Wang Baobin , Peng Chaoquan , Yin Hong
Published: December 2024

Maximum correntropy criterion (MCC) has been an important method in machine learning and signal processing communities since it was successfully applied in various non-Gaussian noise scenarios. In comparison with the classical least squares method (LS), which takes only the second-order moment of models into consideration and belongs to the convex optimization problem, MCC captures the high-order information of models that play crucial roles in robust learning, which is usually accompanied by solving the non-convexity optimization problems. As we know, the theoretical research on convex optimizations has made significant achievements, while theoretical understandings of non-convex optimization are still far from mature. Motivated by the popularity of the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) for solving nonconvex problems, this paper considers SGD applied to the kernel version of MCC, which has been shown to be robust to outliers and non-Gaussian data in nonlinear structure models. As the existing theoretical results for the SGD algorithm applied to the kernel MCC are not well established, we present the rigorous analysis for the convergence behaviors and provide explicit convergence rates under some standard conditions. Our work can fill the gap between optimization process and convergence during the iterations: the iterates need to converge to the global minimizer while the obtained estimator cannot ensure the global optimality in the learning process.
The Relationship Between Happiness and Foreign Direct Investment in African Countries
Authors: Kariuki Caroline Wanjiru , Karanu Jeniffer Wairimu
Published: December 2024

This research looks into the relationship between happiness and foreign direct investment (FDI) in African countries so as to shed light on whether or not the inward FDI stock in African countries has an influence on happiness in the region. The study utilises annual panel data from 2006 to 2022 for 46 African countries and uses the Cantril life ladder data as a measure of happiness. The findings from this research reveal that there is a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between inward FDI stock and happiness in Africa. The results suggest that FDI alone does not directly contribute to economic development in African countries, but rather the benefits of FDI may be contingent on other factors in the country. Nonetheless, the positive relationship observed provides a foundation for policymakers to encourage FDI, as it has the potential to improve happiness levels in African nations. Additionally, the results from this study show that the level of happiness in the previous year and social support have a positive and statistically significant effect on happiness in African countries.
Long-Term Care Policies in Spain: Welfare State and Resilience in the European Context
Authors: Díaz-Tendero Aída , Ruano José M.
Published: December 2024

This paper analyses the long-term care system in the context of Spain’s aging population from a comparative and multilevel perspective. Starting with the European regulatory framework, it examines the main characteristics of long-term care systems in Europe and the challenges of establishing a welfare system in Spain amidst two consecutive crises: the economic and financial crisis of 2008–2014 and the pandemic crisis of 2020–2022. To achieve this, in addition to a thorough review of international literature, the study utilises legislation and reports from the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization, databases from the National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Social Rights, and Spain’s Ministry of Health. The article concludes that Spain’s long-term care model has evolved over time and has established a universal system characterised by territorial inequality. This inequality stems from regional preferences for service provision versus monetary compensation and their varying degrees of reliance on direct management or involvement of private organisations.
Addressing Trauma in Early Childhood—Shaping Education, Policy, and Actionable Strategies in Ireland: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sheehan Catherine , Butler Judith , O’Neill Cian
Published: December 2024

The breadth and volume of research exploring the complexities of childhood trauma in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) environments has grown significantly in recent years, yet, little is known about this trajectory in an Irish context. Consequently, the purpose of the current study was twofold: (i) consult with influential figures in the wider ECEC domain to access expert knowledge on the provision of trauma awareness education in Ireland and to (ii) gain invaluable insights into the trauma awareness knowledge, training, and experiences of ECEC professionals working in Irish ECEC settings. Utilising a qualitative methodological approach, eight semi-structured interviews with ECEC sector representatives (i.e., IV Group) and six focus groups with managers (n = 8), room leaders (n = 8), and practitioners (n = 8) (i.e., FG Group) were conducted as explorative processes to investigate the presence of trauma awareness in ECEC, if any, and the factors supporting/hindering this discourse from the perspectives of diverse stakeholders and professionals in Ireland. Results revealed that the provision of trauma awareness is challenged by the dearth of relevant educational opportunities during both Initial Practitioner Education (IPE) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) pathways, with an absence of neuro-informed practice among the FG Group. Contrastingly, while sector representatives in the IV Group demonstrated an awareness of childhood trauma, these participants identified the need for (i) government investment, (ii) training reform, and (iii) professional practice considerations. Based on the cumulative findings, this research recommends that policymakers in Ireland prioritise the provision of funded and/or incentivised professional development opportunities for the ECEC profession to enhance the knowledge and skills associated with trauma-informed practice.