bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrothermal alteration, not metamictization, is the main trigger for modifying zircon in highly evolved granites
Authors: Han Jinsheng , Hanchar John M. , Pan Yuanming , Hollings Pete , Chen Huayong
Published: September 2023

The question of whether the high U and Th concentrations in zircon are primary or secondary is often difficult to resolve, and a clear understanding of the modification processes of secondary U- and Th-rich zircon is lacking. Zircon crystals from two well-studied, highly evolved granites, the Jiangjunshan muscovite granite in the Chinese Altai Mountains and the Cuonadong leucogranite in the Eastern Tethyan Himalaya, have been investigated and classified into two types. Type I exhibits typical igneous growth zoning, and type II has “diffuse” or “spongy” internal structures. These textures, along with compositional data, indicate that the type II zircon crystals formed through hydrothermal modification of magmatic zircon (type I) by infiltrating hydrothermal fluids. During hydrothermal modification, the U and Th concentrations increase from type I to type II in the Jiangjunshan muscovite granite but decrease from type I to type II in the Cuonadong leucogranite. The Raman spectra of type II zircon crystals from Jiangjunshan muscovite granite have broader peaks (i.e., measured as the full width at half maximum, FWHM) with decreased intensities than their type I counterparts, which indicates that the former are affected by significant accumulated radiation damage. However, the preserved radiation damage in both the type I and II zircon measured by Raman spectroscopy is less than that expected from the total dose of alpha particles calculated from the U and Th contents, which indicates variable degrees of annealing. We propose that late magmatic-hydrothermal alteration was responsible for the modification of magmatic zircon grains in highly evolved granites and resulted in the enrichment or redistribution of U and Th. The calculated radiation dose of the Cuonadong leucogranite zircon is far below that required for metamictization, which indicates that metamictization is not always responsible for diffuse and spongy textures.
Factors affecting African postdoctoral researcher capacity development within ‘learn-by-doing’ international research partnerships: findings from the ‘Partnership for Increasing the Impact of Vector Control (PIIVeC)’
Authors: Amegee Quach Jessica , Valea Innocent , Bates Imelda , Pulford Justin
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The Partnership to Increase the Impact of Vector Control sought to develop the research and leadership capacity of 10 African postdoctoral vectorborne disease scientists via a ‘learn-by-doing’ approach. We identified factors that either supported or hindered their development and, drawing on this information, determined key lessons for future programmes with similar objectives.

Methods

A longitudinal qualitative study encompassing focus group discussions and semistructured interviews conducted with the cohort of African postdoctoral fellows, programme leadership, supervisory and research support staff (N=28). Data analysis was informed by a general inductive approach.

Results

Numerous supportive and hindering factors were identified. Supportive factors were primarily structural or attitudinal in nature, whereas hindering factors were primarily operational or contextual. None of the supporting or hindering factors were specific to vectorborne disease research. Four key lessons for future programme implementation emerged, including: the value in exposing postdoctoral fellows to a diverse work-mix and training-mix to improve understanding of the broad skillset needed for scientific career advancement; recognising and managing the potentially competing interests of different partnership members to ensure everyone benefits from participation; ensuring equity of opportunity and rewarding engagement; and ensuring flexibility in support provision.

Conclusion

Our study highlights numerous factors that may be readily incorporated into early career researcher capacity strengthening initiatives based on a learn-by-doing approach. Many of these factors are supported by a growing weight of evidence and would be appropriate to research capacity strengthening programmes both within and outside of a vectorborne disease context.
Interventions to reduce wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services: a scoping review protocol
Authors: McLaughlin Stella , Staniland Lexy , Egan Sarah J , Wheadon Jessica , Munro Caitlin , Preece David , Furlong Yulia , Mavaddat Nahal , Thompson Alexander , Robinson Suzanne , Chen Wai , Myers Bronwyn
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The demand for adolescent mental health services has increased significantly in recent years, leading to excessive wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services and poor mental health outcomes. Timely access to mental health services is critical to reducing the risk of symptom chronicity and progression to mental disorder. A better understanding of whether and how interventions to reduce wait times impact mental health outcomes is needed to guide mental health policymakers and service planners in their approach to reducing wait times.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will use Arksey and O'Malley’s six-stage framework for scoping reviews and Rayyan to support screening, data extraction and evidence synthesis. The review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We will search the Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycArticles (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Web of Science, ProQuest and Scopus databases for peer-reviewed texts published in English between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2023. We will also search Google Scholar for additional grey literature. To be eligible for inclusion, studies must focus on adolescent populations aged 13–18 years and report on interventions to reduce wait times for any mental health service except crisis and emergency services. Title, abstract and full-text screening will be done by two reviewers. We will extract data describing the interventions and their effects on wait times and adolescent mental health outcomes, and we will identify strengths and limitations in the evidence base to inform recommendations for future research. A youth advisory group with lived experience of mental health difficulties will be consulted throughout the review process.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presented at conferences.

Study registration

The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework on 20 February 2023 (https://osf.io/qt4zy).
Assessment of women’s sexual quality of life after benign adnexal surgery using vNOTES approach in comparison to conventional laparoscopy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Krull Eloïse , Lambat Emery Shahzia , Viviano Manuela , Aerts Leen , Petignat Patrick , Dubuisson Jean
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has already proven its non-inferiority to conventional abdominal laparoscopy (CAL) for hysterectomy without conversion. The results in terms of efficacy and safety are promising. However, we note a lack of medical literature and no specific randomised controlled trial assessing women’s sexual function after vNOTES for benign adnexal surgery. The aim of this RCT is to confirm the non-inferiority of the vNOTES approach for benign adnexal pathology compared with CAL on women’s sexual function. Secondary outcomes will evaluate vNOTES’s efficiency, morbidity and postoperative complications compared with CAL for benign adnexal surgery. The relationship between adnexal mass morcellation and the quality of the histological analysis will also be evaluated as secondary outcome.

Methods and analysis

Women aged 18–70 years undergoing a benign adnexal surgery at the Geneva University Hospitals will be eligible and randomised with a 1:1 ratio to the CAL arm or the vNOTES arm, if inclusion criteria are met. Participants will complete the Female Sexual Function Index, the Couple Satisfaction Index-16 and a self-reported questionnaire on dyspareunia within 4 weeks prior to randomisation and at 3+6 months after surgery. General and clinical data will be collected when the patient is enrolled in the study, during hospitalisation and at 1 month postoperative to assess secondary outcomes.

An absence of impairment on sexual function will be confirmed with a stability or an improvement of the evaluated scores in each group at 3 and 6 months postoperative compared with the preoperative scores. We expect to have no statistically significant difference in sexuality questionnaires scores between the two groups.

Ethics and dissemination

Protocol of this study was validated by the Cantonal Research Ethics Commission of Geneva, Switzerland, on 9 August 2022. We aim to publish the study’s results in peer-reviewed journals within 3 years.

Trial registration number

NCT05761275.
Adverse childhood experiences from family and society contribute to increased risk of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ren Ziyang , Luo Yanan , Zheng Xiaoying , Liu Jufen
Published: September 2023

Background

Family environments can shape children’s personalities and social networks, rendering distinguishing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) from family and society essential, but related evidence remains limited.

Aims

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the correlations between intrafamilial and social ACEs, their associations with depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and the (education-moderated) mediating role of social ACEs.

Methods

Data for this cross-sectional study were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Nine intrafamilial (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more) and three social (0, 1, and 2 or more) ACEs were identified. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Global cognition, including episodic memory and mental intactness, was calculated as z scores. Binary and ordered logistic regressions, generalised linear models with Gaussian family and identity link, and mediation analysis were used.

Results

13 435 participants aged 59.0 (51.0–66.0) were included. Compared with participants with no intrafamilial ACEs, those with 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more intrafamilial ACEs tended to develop more social ACEs, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36 to 1.76), 2.36 (95% CI: 2.08 to 2.68), 3.46 (95% CI: 3.02 to 3.96) and 6.10 (95% CI: 5.30 to 7.02), respectively. Both intrafamilial and social ACEs were associated with depressive symptoms (OR >3 for four or more intrafamilial ACEs and two or more social ACEs) and global cognition (β=−0.26 for four or more intrafamilial ACEs and β=−0.29 for two or more social ACEs). Social ACEs mediated the associations of intrafamilial ACEs with depressive symptoms and global cognition by 12.3% and 13.1%, respectively. Furthermore, as education levels increased, the impact of intrafamilial ACEs on depressive symptoms was increasingly mediated through social ACEs, while the mediating role of social ACEs between intrafamilial ACEs and cognitive impairment gradually diminished.

Conclusions

Improving children’s social environments and elevating general education can prevent later-life depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment attributed to ACEs in China.
Risk factors and clinical outcomes of basilar artery occlusion presenting with paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity as the initial manifestation: a prospective study
Authors: Yin Juntao , Wang Wan , Wang Yu , Huo Yichao , Jia Yanan , Zhao Peng , Xu Yingdong , Li Xiaoqiang , Li Guofeng , Kong Yongmei , Wei Yuqing , Guo Lixin
Published: September 2023

Background

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) has been linked to a worse clinical prognosis in patients with traumatic brain injury. We aimed to identify the risk factors and clinical features associated with basilar artery occlusion (BAO) presenting with PSH as the first clinical presentation.

Methods

This study recruited patients with acute BAO who received endovascular therapy (EVT) at two stroke centers in China. PSH Assessment Measure ≥8 was included in the PSH+ group, while those with a score below 8 were classified as the PSH− group. Clinical data and radiological findings were compared between the two groups. A binary logistic regression model was employed to identify independent risk factors for PSH.

Results

101 participants were enrolled, of whom 19 (18.8%) presented with PSH as the initial manifestation of BAO. Worse prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score of 4–6) at day 90 occurred in 14 (73.7%) of the PSH+ patients and 42 (51.2%) of the PSH− patients (P=0.076). The 90-day mortality rate was higher in the PSH+ group with 12 (63.2%) participants, compared with 31 (37.8%) participants in the PSH− group (P=0.044). A significantly increased risk of PSH was found in patients with midbrain involvement (OR 6.53, 95% CI 1.56 to 27.30, P=0.01) and a high baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.31, P=0.037).

Conclusions

Patients with BAO presenting with PSH as the initial clinical manifestation experience a higher risk of 90-day mortality, despite undergoing EVT. Midbrain infarction and baseline NIHSS score may be significant risk factors for PSH following BAO.
COmbination of Targeted temperature management and Thrombectomy after acute Ischemic Stroke (COTTIS): a pilot study
Authors: Bardutzky Jürgen , Kollmar Rainer , Al-Rawi Forat , Lambeck Johann , Fazel Mohammad , Taschner Christian , Niesen Wolf-Dirk
Published: September 2023

Background

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a fast initiation of cooling to a target temperature of 35°C by means of transnasal cooling in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods

Patients with an LVO onset of <24 hour who had an indication for EVT were included in the study. Transnasal cooling (RhinoChill) was initiated immediately after the patient was intubated for EVT and continued until an oesophageal target temperature of 35°C was reached. Hypothermia was maintained with surface cooling for 6-hour postrecanalisation, followed by active rewarming (+0.2°C/hour). The primary outcome was defined as the time required to reach 35°C, while secondary outcomes comprised clinical, radiological and safety parameters.

Results

Twenty-two patients (median age, 77 years) were included in the study (14 received additional thrombolysis, 4 additional stenting of the proximal internal carotid artery). The median time intervals were 309 min for last-seen-normal-to-groin, 58 min for door-to-cooling-initiation, 65 min for door-to-groin and 123 min for door-to-recanalisation. The target temperature of 35°C was reached within 30 min (range 13–78 min), corresponding to a cooling rate of 2.6 °C/hour. On recanalisation, 86% of the patients had a body temperature of ≤35°C. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission was 15 and improved to 2 by day 7, and 68% of patients had a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) at 3 months. Postprocedure complications included asymptomatic bradycardia (32%), pneumonia (18%) and asymptomatic haemorrhagic transformation (18%).

Conclusion

The combined application of hypothermia and thrombectomy was found to be feasible in sedated and ventilated patents. Adverse events were comparable to those previously described for EVT in the absence of hypothermia. The effect of this procedure will next be evaluated in the randomised COmbination of Targeted temperature management and Thrombectomy after acute Ischemic Stroke-2 trial.
Exact solutions and invariant subspaces to the nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equation
Authors: Zhang Lixiang , Li Chuanzhong
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we performed Lie symmetry analysis and applied [Formula: see text] expansion method on the nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equation. The purpose of this research is to find the vector fields and transform the nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equation into simpler forms. The Maple software was used to obtain the vector field and similarity reductions for nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equations. In addition, we obtained exact solutions based on the [Formula: see text] expansion method and power series method, including the hyperbolic functions, the trigonometric functions and the rational functions. The method we used is direct, concise, elementary and effective, and can be used for many other nonlinear evolution equations. Furthermore, the invariant subspaces of the nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equation were identified using the refined invariant subspaces method. The invariant subspaces of solutions to linear ordinary differential equations were used to prove that nonlinear dissipative–dispersive equation admits subspaces. The exact solutions were obtained by using generalized separated variables.
Thermoelectric, optoelectronic properties and dynamical stability of Lithium Carbogallium LiGaC half-Heusler semiconductor under pressures
Authors: Toual Y. , Mouchou S. , Azouaoui A. , Harbi A. , Moutaabbid M. , Hourmatallah A. , Benzakour N. , Bouslykhane K.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we report the optoelectronic, thermoelectric properties and dynamic stability under the pressure of LiGaC half-Heusler within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and semi-classical Boltzmann Transport Theory (BTT). The obtained results of the ground state show that the compound is structural, chemical, mechanical and dynamically stable in type I structure and maintains its stability under pressure. The obtained electronic properties reveal that the compound has a semiconducting nature with an indirect bandgap and the bandgap values slightly increase with pressure increase. The optical properties such as real and imaginary parts of dielectric function, refractive index and extinction coefficient, reflectivity and absorption coefficient and optical conductivity are calculated and discussed. The highest peaks of reflectivity and absorption coefficient are found in the ultra-violet (UV) region, suggesting that the compound LiGaC has a high potential for use in UV optoelectronic applications. The thermoelectric properties are also calculated in the temperature range from 300[Formula: see text]K to 900[Formula: see text]K and pressure range from 0[Formula: see text]GPa to 40[Formula: see text]GPa. At 300[Formula: see text]K and for all pressures selected, the maximum value of figure of merit is close to unity. Finally, we could make our conclusion that LiGaC is well suitable for multiple optical and thermoelectric applications.
Discovering Interesting Patterns from Hypergraphs
Authors: Alam Md. Tanvir , Ahmed Chowdhury Farhan , Samiullah Md. , Leung Carson Kai-Sang
Published: September 2023

A hypergraph is a complex data structure capable of expressing associations among any number of data entities. Overcoming the limitations of traditional graphs, hypergraphs are useful to model real-life problems. Frequent pattern mining is one of the most popular problems in data mining with a lot of applications. To the best of our knowledge, there exists no flexible pattern mining framework for hypergraph databases decomposing associations among data entities. In this article, we propose a flexible and complete framework for mining frequent patterns from a collection of hypergraphs. To discover more interesting patterns beyond the traditional frequent patterns, we propose frameworks for weighted and uncertain hypergraph mining also. We develop three algorithms for mining frequent, weighted, and uncertain hypergraph patterns efficiently by introducing a canonical labeling technique for isomorphic hypergraphs. Extensive experiments have been conducted on real-life hypergraph databases to show both the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed frameworks and algorithms.
Structural and functional impairments of skeletal muscle in patients with postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Colosio Marta , Brocca Lorenza , Gatti Marco F. , Neri Marianna , Crea Emanuela , Cadile Francesca , Canepari Monica , Pellegrino Maria Antonietta , Polla Biagio , Porcelli Simone , Bottinelli Roberto
Published: September 2023

Several months after mild acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, a substantial proportion of patients present persisting, and often debilitating, symptoms and sequelae. These patients show reduced quality of life due to exercise intolerance, muscle weakness, and fatigue. The present study supports the hypothesis that “peripheral” impairments at skeletal muscle level, namely, reduced mitochondrial function and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, are major determinants of exercise intolerance and fatigue, “central” phenomena at respiratory, and cardiac level being less relevant.
IPCADP‐Equalizer: An Improved Multibalance Privacy Preservation Scheme against Backdoor Attacks in Federated Learning
Authors: Lian Wenjuan , Zhang Yichi , Chen Xin , Jia Bin , Zhang Xiaosong
Published: September 2023

Although there are some protection mechanisms in federated learning, its training process is still vulnerable to some powerful attacks, such as invisible backdoor attacks. Existing research work focuses more on how to prevent attacks in distributed training scenarios and improve the security of the FL training process, but it lacks consideration of utility and robustness, especially when the learning model of FL suffers from stealth backdoor attacks. This paper proposes an improved FL defense scheme IPCADP based on user‐level differential privacy and variational autoencoders technology. The scheme can control and protect the privacy attribute of the image and can also eliminate the triggers that exist in the poisoned image. The experimental results show that compared with some existing defense schemes, IPCADP can defend against invisible backdoor attacks and improve the classification accuracy of the main task, while mitigating the impact of attacks on model robustness and stability. To a certain extent, the balance and unity of security, utility, and robustness are realized.
Supplementary Figure S2 from A Druggable FOXA1-Glucocorticoid Receptor Transcriptional Axis Drives Tumor Growth in a Subset of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Dorso M. , Patel Payal T. , Pankov Aleksandr , Boyer Jacob A. , Soni Rajesh K. , Del Priore Isabella S. , Hayatt Omar , Kulick Amanda , Hagen Connor J. , de Stanchina Elisa , Junttila Melissa R. , Daemen Anneleen , Friedman Lori S. , Hendrickson Ronald C. , Chandarlapaty Sarat
Published: September 2023

Supplemental figure S2 data panels and legend accompanying main body figure 3. Supplementary figure S2 shows that dexamethasone treatment does not enhance proliferation of FOXA1/GR -dependent NSCLC, and FOXA1/GR target gene expression is not driven by ligand activation of GR.
TABLE 4 from Blood Leukocyte AHRR Methylation and Risk of Non–smoking-associated Cancer: A Case-cohort Study of Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Dahl Christina , Hvidtfeldt Ulla A. , Tjønneland Anne , Guldberg Per , Raaschou-Nielsen Ole
Published: September 2023

IRRs for NHL and 95% CI in association with LINE-1 methylation
TABLE 2 from Blood Leukocyte AHRR Methylation and Risk of Non–smoking-associated Cancer: A Case-cohort Study of Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Dahl Christina , Hvidtfeldt Ulla A. , Tjønneland Anne , Guldberg Per , Raaschou-Nielsen Ole
Published: September 2023

Median methylation levels in NHL cases and subcohort, by baseline sociodemographics and lifestyle characteristics
Idiopathic Extensive Abdominal Aortic Thrombosis with Extension to the Celiac Trunk and Mesenteric Arteries in a Previously Healthy Female
Authors: Mustafa Abdi Naima , Shieb Mohamad , Shafiei Masoud
Published: September 2023

Idiopathic arterial thrombosis is frequently encountered in clinical practice after all investigations and imaging have been exhausted and yet no underlying etiology could be found. This article discusses the case of a 32-year-old healthy female who presented with symptoms of acute-onset abdominal pain and vomiting, which, after conducting an extensive series of investigations, were attributed to an extensive abdominal aortic thrombosis of unknown etiology. Prompt diagnosis of acute aortic thrombosis is of high importance due to the unpreferable prognosis in case of delay in treatment. Despite the high mortality and morbidity rates associated with this condition, better clinical outcome correlates with earlier identification and management. This mandates having individualized treatment for each patient depending on the presentation, age, etiology of the thrombosis, and patient’s comorbidities.
A Rare Case of Sinonasal Cavernous Hemangioma
Authors: Siddig Khulood Abashar , Nazhat Omar , Hamadi Iyad Said , Ragab Abdelgalil Ali , AlBudoor Fatma
Published: September 2023

Cavernous hemangiomas arising in the paranasal sinuses are very rare. Even though the lesion is benign in nature, its imaging features are nonspecific, leading to an incorrect preoperative diagnosis in most patients. We present a case of a maxillary sinus cavernous hemangioma in a young male. The clinical presentation and imaging characteristics of this entity were reviewed.
Incidence of Major Limb Arterial Thrombosis in Positive versus Negative COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study
Authors: Nwilati Alaa Eddin , Shafiei Masoud , Mehanna Rawda , Kokash Diana , Syed Iqbaluddin Juwairiya , Hallak Fatima , Abdalla Shamsa Farah
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The main goal of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to analyze the incidence and outcomes of acute limb ischemia (ALI) in patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in comparison to non-COVID-19 patients. Method: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study across two centers under the Dubai Health Authority in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Our study included 43 patients who were hospitalized for ALI between 2017 and 2021. They were divided into two groups according to our exclusion and inclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Proportions were compared by χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests. Results: A group of consecutive patients were hospitalized with ALI between 2017 and 2021. This study showed the amputation rate in COVID-19-infected patients (2/11 [18.2%]) was found to be higher than that in patients with non-COVID-19 infections (1/32 [3.1%]). Moreover, the percentage of failed limb salvage procedures also proved to be higher (4/11 [36.36%]) in the COVID-19-positive group versus (3/32 [9.37%]) in the non-COVID-19 group. Conclusions: ALI is a life-threatening condition that is caused by multiple predisposing factors in the general population and by a clot-forming process in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 group as a result of hypercoagulable mechanisms. The management of ALI is not standardized and should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Due to the multiple complications of COVID-19, the mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 associated with ALI is significantly higher than in patients with isolated ALI. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the underlying mechanisms and clinical presentations of this condition to develop effective management strategies and minimize mortality.
Mediastinal Desmoid Tumor Presents as Lymphadenopathy in Patient with Lymphoma: A Case Report
Authors: Ballouz Tara L. , Margolis Jeffrey H.
Published: September 2023

Desmoid tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that are rapidly growing but do not metastasize. We present a case of a 75-year-old man with a history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in remission incidentally found to have an enlarging internal mammary lymph node on screening CT, subsequently diagnosed as a desmoid tumor via biopsy. The patient was deemed unfit for surgical resection and instead underwent urgent radiation and immunotherapy. This report highlights a unique case of desmoid tumor presenting as mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Cognitive and perceptual load have opposing effects on brain network efficiency and behavioral variability in ADHD
Authors: Fisher Jacob T. , Hopp Frederic R. , Weber René
Published: September 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder associated with suboptimal outcomes throughout the life-span. Extant work suggests that ADHD-related deficits in task performance may be magnified under high cognitive load and minimized under high perceptual load, but these effects have yet to be systematically examined, and the neural mechanisms that undergird these effects are as yet unknown. Herein, we report results from three experiments investigating how performance in ADHD is modulated by cognitive load and perceptual load during a naturalistic task. Results indicate that cognitive load and perceptual load influence task performance, reaction time variability (RTV), and brain network topology in an ADHD-specific fashion. Increasing cognitive load resulted in reduced performance, greater RTV, and reduced brain network efficiency in individuals with ADHD relative to those without. In contrast, increased perceptual load led to relatively greater performance, reduced RTV, and greater brain network efficiency in ADHD. These results provide converging evidence that brain network efficiency and intraindividual variability in ADHD are modulated by both cognitive and perceptual load during naturalistic task performance.
Structurally Similar Formats Are Not Functionally Equivalent across Languages: Requests for Reconfirmation in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Gipper Sonja , König Katharina , Weber Kathrin
Published: September 2023

This study is concerned with a cross-linguistic comparison of requests for reconfirmation (RfRCs) in Yurakaré, German, and Low German mundane spoken conversations. We focus on two different RfRC formats, namely token RfRCs (such as German echt? ‘really’) and RfRCs that repeat (part of) another speaker’s prior turn. We show that these RfRC formats are used to accomplish different social actions in the three languages under study, ranging from registering news to challenging prior information. Token RfRCs serve as versatile resources for responding to news in all three languages. Repeat RfRCs, in contrast, are used in divergent ways: In German, they are mainly treated as challenges, while showing only a weak contextualisation of challenges in Low German and virtually no potential for being understood as challenges in Yurakaré. Our study thus demonstrates that structurally similar RfRC formats can be put to use for different actions and sequence trajectories across languages.
A review of exotic Kalanchoe taxa (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) naturalised and cultivated in Africa and the Gulf of Guinea islands, with their nomenclature updated
Authors: SMITH GIDEON F.
Published: September 2023

Data and information on exotic Kalanchoe taxa (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) provided in a range of floristic catalogues of regions and countries in Africa were collated and analysed to facilitate an improved understanding of the cultivation and invasion status of these taxa on the continent and the Gulf of Guinea islands. Overall, the inventory is expanded and brought up to date taxonomically and nomenclaturally. Results of the analysis are presented here as a series of tabulated inventories of the exotic Kalanchoe flora recorded for Africa. The exotic kalanchoes generally fall into two groups: (1) naturalised kalanchoes, and (2) cultivated kalanchoes. A total of 13 Kalanchoe taxa are recorded here as having become naturalised in Africa, with three, i.e., K. pinnata, K. prolifera, and K. tubiflora, especially widely, and with all three being invasive. Forty Kalanchoe taxa are recorded as being in cultivation, of which the potential spread of at least three, i.e., K. ×houghtonii, K. laetivirens, and K. scandens, apart from the three already naturalised, should be monitored and material eradicated. These three species all belong in K. [subg. Bryophyllum] sect. Invasores. The correct identification, early detection, and rapid eradication of established and emerging invasives are essential to facilitate the management of such species and to prevent their further spread.
“Free-Floating Anus”: A Flap-Free Approach for Definitive Excision of Circumferential Giant Condyloma Acuminata
Authors: Luo William Y. , Hoang Van , Varvoglis Dimitrios N. , Comer Lydia H. , Guillem José G.
Published: September 2023

Giant condyloma acuminata (GCA), or Buschke-Löwenstein tumor, is a rare exophytic cauliflower-like growth in the anogenital region. The spectrum of treatment options is wide, ranging from the application of topical ointments to the performance of an abdominoperineal resection. Currently, wide local excision is the most common approach and may entail the creation of a protective loop ileostomy or implementation of flaps or grafts that facilitate closure. We describe a unique surgical approach for the management of circumferential GCA void of the use a protective loop ileostomy, flaps, or grafts. Our report highlights that the implementation of a radical, circumferential, wide excision resulting in “free-floating anus” and healing via secondary intention can ultimately lead to excellent functional and cosmetic results and therefore may be considered a minimally invasive surgical option for patients afflicted with a large, circumferential GCA.
Paediatric reference ranges for plasma chromogranin A
Authors: Lieberoth Sofie , Friis-Hansen Frederik , Friis-Hansen Lennart
Published: September 2023

Background

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases with varied aggressiveness originating from endocrine cells belonging to the diffuse endocrine system and most often produce and secrete chromogranin A (CgA). CgA in plasma is therefore used to screen, diagnose, and monitor for NENs in both adults and children with sporadic or familial NENs.

Methods

Plasma CgA was measured using the Brahms Kryptor assay in 268 healthy children/adolescents; 85 children were tested as part of a familial cancer screening program and 183 additional children younger than 20 years of age underwent screening for allergies. Repeated measurements (month – years) was used to calculate the intra-individual variation. The dataset was analysed in R using the referenceInterval package.

Results

The plasma CgA concentration decreased with age and was 32–118 µg/L for children aged 0–3 years, 18–85 µg/L for children aged 4–13 years, and 6–79 µg/L for adolescents aged 14–19 years. Earlier reported CgA reference intervals for adults have upper limits from 88 to 102 µg/L while no lower limits have been reported. The median for the three groups were 78, 51, and 39 µg/L, respectively. The median intra-individual variation was 14% (25%-centile 9.4%/75%-centile 21%).

Conclusions

The reference interval will be useful when screening, diagnosing, and monitoring children for NENs respecting the limitations plasma CgA has.
A Relative Normed Effect-Size Difference Index for Determining the Number of Common Factors in Exploratory Solutions
Authors: Ferrando Pere J. , Navarro-González David , Lorenzo-Seva Urbano
Published: September 2023

Descriptive fit indices that do not require a formal statistical basis and do not specifically depend on a given estimation criterion are useful as auxiliary devices for judging the appropriateness of unrestricted or exploratory factor analytical (UFA) solutions, when the problem is to decide the most appropriate number of common factors. While overall indices of this type are well known in UFA applications, especially those intended for item analysis, difference indices are much more scarce. Recently, Raykov and collaborators proposed a family of effect-size-type descriptive difference indices that are promising for UFA applications. As a starting point, we considered the simplest measure of this family, which (a) can be viewed as absolute and (b) from which only tentative cutoffs and reference values have been provided so far. In this situation, this article has three aims. The first is to propose a relative version of Raykov’s effect-size measure, intended to be used as a complement of the original measure, in which the increase in explained common variance is related to the overall prior estimated amount of common factor variance. The second is to establish reference values for both indices in item-analysis scenarios using simulation. And the third aim (instrumental) is to implement the proposal in both R language and a well-known non-commercial factor analysis program. The functioning and usefulness of the proposal is illustrated using an existing empirical dataset.
Does public service motivation truly predict dishonesty? Behavioural evidence from the private and public sectors
Authors: Schott Carina , Bouwman Robin
Published: September 2023

The number of studies on the relationship between public service motivation and ethics is increasing. Although research consistently finds evidence for a positive public service motivation–ethical intentions relationship, research on public service motivation and unethical behaviour remains scarce and showcases mixed findings. Based on insights from person–environment fit theory, we argue that the sector in which an individual is employed may help explain these mixed findings. We test this assumption by employing an incentivized dice game among private and public sector workers ( n  =  576). Using a well-powered research design we find neither support for the public service motivation–ethical behaviour relationship, nor for the sector as an intervening variable. We discuss the implications of these interesting null findings, which challenge the common assumption that public servants are morally superior to private sector workers.

Points for practitioners

(Human resource) managers of both private and public sector organizations need to be aware of the fact that employees engage in behavioural dishonesty (i.e. cheating). Contrary to the often-heard assumption, we find no evidence that public service motivation serves as a buffer for this specific type of unethical behaviour. This means that stimulating public service motivation or recruiting public-service motivated individuals does not help to reduce the risk of behavioural dishonesty. Rather, (human resource) managers can invest in other measures to limit this type of unethical behaviour such as ethical leadership and an ethical climate.
A Cross-Disciplinary Examination of the Instructional Uses of ChatGPT in Higher Education
Authors: Onal Sinan , Kulavuz-Onal Derya
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the potential uses of ChatGPT in generating assessment tasks that can be used across different disciplines in higher education. To illustrate this, we provide examples from three courses in the disciplines of industrial engineering and applied linguistics: Project Analysis and Control, Manufacturing Processes, and Introduction to Linguistics. Our examination of ChatGPT focuses on how some of the common, but time-consuming, tasks can be generated by using ChatGPT as a supportive instructional tool. We observed in our analysis that ChatGPT demonstrates a high level of performance in generating assessment questions and tasks that are accurate and on-topic, and a level of creativity and flexibility in its question generation capabilities. However, it is important to note that ChatGPT is not designed to replace human expertise or judgment. It is crucial that instructors carefully evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the assessments or information generated by ChatGPT.
Interviewing older men at an interdisciplinary pain clinic: the journey to chronic pain and treatment experience
Authors: Blackbeard David , Aldous Colleen
Published: September 2023

The relationship between sources of acute pain and its persistence as chronic pain is complex, involving multiple systems that include emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal functioning. This study explored the lived experiences of male patients ( N = 14) at an interdisciplinary chronic pain clinic and is based on two major themes: (1) the journey to chronic pain; and (2) experiences within treatment settings. The purpose of the study was to investigate the lived experiences of men living with chronic pain conditions in relation to masculine identity in their everyday contexts. Interview material was collected in 2019 from 14 male patients at a chronic pain clinic using a life-world interviewing approach. Participant validation interviews took place to verify the findings. Team data analysis, thematic network diagrams, and tabulations were used for a thematic analysis of transcripts and interview data. The narratives included distress, losses, adjustment, and other psychosocial sequelae linked to the meaning of living with chronic pain in relation to masculine identity and ageing. The men experienced the chronic pain clinic to be supportive and helpful, although with significant challenges of access and treatment, which they associated with having to adjust and adapt. The affective, cognitive, and social components were highly relevant in the participants’ accounts and therefore crucial considerations for the effective, contextualized, and responsive management of chronic pain among persons living with chronic pain.
The connected workplace: Characteristics and social consequences of work surveillance in the age of datification, sensorization, and artificial intelligence
Authors: Mettler Tobias
Published: September 2023

Because of COVID-19 lockdowns, managers and administrators have begun to look for new ways to monitor and control their stranded-at-home workforce. Yet long before the pandemic already, advancements in datification, sensorization, and artificial intelligence have given rise to what we call connected workplace surveillance. At the heart of this new mode of employee monitoring and control is the extension of the scope of data collection beyond what is necessary and reasonable for performance appraisals or managerial oversight. This includes treating an employee’s body as a data source, disrespecting the boundaries between business and private life, or using gathered surveillance information for subtle persuasion, manipulation, and coercion. This article provides a new perspective on control theory, examining the characteristics of connected surveillance and comparing it to visual or computerized surveillance. Taking an employee-centric position, it also proposes a research agenda for critical, behavioral, and design-oriented scholars who wish to explore the identified issues.
Iterative residual policy: For goal-conditioned dynamic manipulation of deformable objects
Authors: Chi Cheng , Burchfiel Benjamin , Cousineau Eric , Feng Siyuan , Song Shuran
Published: September 2023

This paper tackles the task of goal-conditioned dynamic manipulation of deformable objects. This task is highly challenging due to its complex dynamics (introduced by object deformation and high-speed action) and strict task requirements (defined by a precise goal specification). To address these challenges, we present Iterative Residual Policy (IRP), a general learning framework applicable to repeatable tasks with complex dynamics. IRP learns an implicit policy via delta dynamics—instead of modeling the entire dynamical system and inferring actions from that model, IRP learns delta dynamics that predict the effects of delta action on the previously observed trajectory. When combined with adaptive action sampling, the system can quickly optimize its actions online to reach a specified goal. We demonstrate the effectiveness of IRP on two tasks: whipping a rope to hit a target point and swinging a cloth to reach a target pose. Despite being trained only in simulation on a fixed robot setup, IRP is able to efficiently generalize to noisy real-world dynamics, new objects with unseen physical properties, and even different robot hardware embodiments, demonstrating its excellent generalization capability relative to alternative approaches.
Curbside Parking Monitoring With Roadside LiDAR
Authors: Chen Zhihui , Xu Hao , Zhao Junxuan , Liu Hongchao
Published: September 2023

Cities worldwide are striving to find more efficient approaches to address the prevalent parking challenges in urban areas. A key aspect of achieving an optimal parking environment is the collection of curbside parking data, which enables informed decision-making and effective management of on-street parking spaces. This study proposes a solution for curbside parking monitoring and data collection using roadside LiDAR systems. By leveraging laser beam variation detection, this solution can extract essential information about parking usage. Unlike existing solutions, such as imagery or embedded sensor-based monitoring, our solution offers portability and ease of deployment for short-term or long-term curbside parking data collection. Additionally, the LiDAR sensor captures only three-dimensional data and is independent of illumination conditions, ensuring stable operation throughout the day while safeguarding privacy by not capturing imagery. These features align with the requirements of city agencies for parking data collection. The workflow follows a simple trend without the need for complex training, as typically seen in machine learning-based methods, and instead relies on parameter tuning based on real-world environmental factors. To validate the effectiveness of our method, we collected curbside parking data for five days at a midtown traffic junction with eight parking spaces. Manual validation confirmed a 95% match between identified parking events and observed data across different time periods. The study further presents parking statistics based on the identified events, revealing crucial insights about parking usage in the study area.
Take the High (Volume) Road: Analyzing the Safety and Speed Effects of High-Traffic-Volume Road Diets
Authors: Venegas Kimberly , Taylor Brian D. , Martinez Severin , Hwang Yu Hong
Published: September 2023

Cities nationwide have adopted so-called road diets to improve traffic safety, though they are sometimes met with intense opposition from motorists who fear that road diets will increase traffic delays. Road diets typically convert four-lane roadways with no left-turn lanes into streets with a center left-turn lane, two through-traffic lanes, and (often) bicycle lanes and right turn pockets at intersections. The resulting safety improvements are often dramatic. The Federal Highway Administration currently recommends that road diets should be applied to roadways with fewer than 20,000 average daily trips, but that cities should carefully consider whether to apply road diets above 20,000 average daily traffic (ADT). However, study of higher-traffic-volume road diets to inform decisions about them has been limited. In particular, there is scant evidence that safety benefits erode and traffic delays increase meaningfully above this threshold, though this is implied by the 20,000-ADT threshold. To address this literature gap, we examined the safety and traffic outcomes of high-traffic-volume road diets in Los Angeles, CA. To do this, we compared collisions on five high-traffic-volume road diet corridors with 16 similar multilane, untreated street segments. We found that collisions, injuries, and deaths were lower by 31.2% to 100%, depending on the measure, whereas traffic speeds were lower by about 6.7% (peak) to 7.9% (off-peak). We concluded that in Los Angeles higher-traffic-volume road diets appeared to significantly increase safety with only minor effects on traffic speeds.