bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abdominal wound dehiscence after appendectomy during pregnancy treated by negative pressure wound therapy with subsequent vaginal delivery: A case report and literature review
Authors: Zapletal Jan , Sehnal Borek , Dvorak Radim , Drienko Miroslav , Vlk Radovan , Halaska Michael J. , Rob Lukas
Published: January 2025

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a very effective method in the treatment of dehiscent, infected, and non‐healing wounds. Difficult wound healing occurs especially in late pregnancy due to the rapid enlargement of the uterus and the constantly increasing tension of the entire abdominal wall. In cases of dehiscence of the surgical wound during pregnancy, proper subsequent treatment is needed, where it is necessary to consider the safety of the mother as well as the fetus. We report the case of a 30‐week pregnant patient who was surgically treated for acute appendicitis in pregnancy with an open appendectomy approach. Postoperative complications resulted in wound dehiscence with complete defect in fascia, which was treated with negative V.A.C. ATS® Therapy System. The therapy was started in the 30th week of pregnancy and continued until delivery with regular check‐ups and regular redressing of the vacuum‐assisted closure (VAC) system. At 38 weeks of pregnancy, the patient delivered vaginally with continued VAC therapy in situ. The final suture took place 3 days after vaginal delivery. Non‐healing wounds with abdominal wall defects should be treated using a multidisciplinary approach, and NPWT can be used. This therapy can also be used during pregnancy. Vaginal delivery is preferred because it reduces the risk of further formation or deepening of the abdominal wall defect after a sufficient time interval from the start of the treatment. This complex case with a literature review of surgical complications in pregnancy treated with NPWT therapy highlights the advantage of a multidisciplinary approach.
Irrigation rates and frequency affect tall fescue color and weed encroachment
Authors: Kowalewski A. , McDonald B. , Wang R. , Schmid C. , Braithwaite E. , Stock T.
Published: January 2025

Drought tolerance in turfgrass species and optimal irrigation strategies are key to addressing the need for water conservation in our landscapes. Preliminary findings on tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinacea (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. Cons] in western Oregon have determined that this species can persist at a high‐quality level with very little evapotranspiration (ET) replacement. Research on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in western Oregon has suggested deficit ET replacement is also a viable weed management tool. Considering these preliminary findings, the objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of reference evapotranspiration (ETref) replacement levels, irrigation intervals, and a no irrigation control treatment on tall fescue appearance and weed encroachment. This research was conducted in western Oregon on a silty clay loam soil. Factors in this experiment included two irrigation frequencies (once or four times a week) and two ETref replacement rates (45% and 80%) compared to a control treatment (no irrigation). The 80% ETref replacement rate resulted in the greatest turf color, followed closely by the 45% ETref replacement treatment. The no irrigation control treatment was able to sustain acceptable turfgrass color for most of the year, with the exception during the month of August. Tall fescue will remain visually acceptable when soil volumetric water content is maintained around 15% or greater in a silty clay loam. The no irrigation control treatment also produced substantial reductions in weed populations (annual and perennial broadleaf weeds and annual grasses).
Near‐Infrared Spectroscopic Mapping of the Human Epicardium
Authors: Majumder Jonah A. , Cheng Danyang , Yang Haiqiu , Laurita Kenneth , Rollins Andrew M. , Saluja Deepak , Hendon Christine P.
Published: January 2025

Epicardial catheter ablation is necessary to address ventricular tachycardia targets located far from the endocardium, but epicardial adipose tissue and coronary blood vessels can complicate ablation. We demonstrate that catheter‐based near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can identify these obstacles to guide ablation. Eighteen human ventricles were mapped ex vivo using NIRS catheters with optical source‐detector separations (SDSs) of 0.6 and 0.9 mm. A logistic regression model trained from manually labeled spectra achieved mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.907 (0.6 mm SDS) and 0.911 (0.9 mm SDS) in binary adipose detection. Novel optical indices for adipose detection were also proposed, achieving AUROCs of 0.881 (0.6 mm SDS) and 0.873 (0.9 mm SDS), while a blood‐specific optical index achieved AUROC of 0.859 for vessel detection (0.9 mm SDS). These results suggest that catheter‐based NIRS can detect adipose tissue and coronary vessels to improve efficacy and safety of epicardial ablation.
Muscle Loss During First‐Line Chemotherapy Impairs Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Despite Adapted Physical Activity
Authors: Parent Pauline , Pigneur Frédéric , Hilmi Marc , Carnot Aurélien , Garcia Larnicol Marie‐Line , Vernerey Dewi , Luciani Alain , Hammel Pascal , Henriques Julie , Neuzillet Cindy , Turpin Anthony
Published: January 2025

Background

Advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (aPDAC) is often accompanied by significant muscle mass loss, contributing to poor prognosis. SarcAPACaP, an ancillary study of the GERCOR‐APACaP phase III trial, evaluated the role of adapted physical activity (APA) in aPDAC Western patients receiving first‐line chemotherapy. The study aimed to assess (1) the potential impact of computed tomography (CT)–quantified muscle mass before and during treatments on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and overall survival (OS) and (2) the role of APA in mitigating muscle mass loss.

Methods

In the APACaP trial, aPDAC patients with ECOG performance status (PS) 0–2 were randomized 1:1 to usual care including first‐line chemotherapy or usual care plus a 16‐week home‐based APA program. In the SarcAPACaP study, the surface muscular index (SMI) was determined from L3 CT scan slices. Two patient populations were analysed: those with CT scan available at baseline (modified[m] intent‐to‐treat [ITT]1‐W0) and those with CT scans available at both W0 and W16 (mITT2 W0–W16). Low muscle mass was defined by low SMI with SMI < 41 cm2/m2 for women and < 43 and < 53 cm2/m2 for men with body max index < 25.0 and ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, respectively. Muscle loss was defined by the relative difference of SMI between W0 and W16 (100*[SMI W16–SMI W0]/SMI W0). In mITT2 W0–W16, patients were stratified into three groups based on the severity of muscle loss: none, moderate (0%–10%) and high (≥ 10%). Associations between muscle mass loss and OS, time until definitive deterioration (TUDD) of HRQoL and the effect of APA on loss of muscle mass were assessed.

Results

Between October 2014 and May 2020, 313 patients were prospectively enrolled, with 225 in mITT1 W0 and 128 in mITT2 W0–W16, with 65 assigned to the APA arm. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics with comparable OS and TUDD. A low SMI at W0 was not associated with OS and TUDD of HRQoL in either group. Among mITT2 W0–W16 patients, high muscle mass loss (n = 27) independently predicted OS (p = 0.012) and showed a trend toward negatively affecting TUDD of HRQoL. Notably, APA did not mitigate muscle loss in our study population.

Conclusions

Longitudinal muscle mass loss emerged as a predictive factor for both OS and HRQoL in aPDAC patients undergoing chemotherapy, while a low SMI at diagnosis did not provide prognostic value. APA did not impact muscle mass loss in this population.
Effectiveness of nonsurgical re‐instrumentation of residual pockets as step 3 of periodontal therapy: A field study
Authors: Liss Anna , Abrahamsson Kajsa H. , Welander Maria , Tomasi Cristiano
Published: January 2025

Background

The study aims to analyze the effectiveness of nonsurgical re‐instrumentation of residual pockets as step 3 of periodontal therapy and the stability of treatment outcomes at 18 months.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 489 patients diagnosed and treated nonsurgically for periodontitis. After a 6‐month evaluation, residual pockets (≥5 mm) were re‐instrumented. A final examination was performed at 18 months. Participants were categorized by treatment outcome at 6 months: (A) No residual pockets ≥5 mm, (B) Residual pockets 5–6 mm, or (C) Residual pockets ≥7 mm. The primary outcome was pocket closure (≤4 mm). Logistic regression models were built to evaluate the effectiveness of re‐instrumentation and stability of initial outcomes at 18 months.

Results

Re‐instrumentation of pockets 5 to 6 mm resulted in pocket closure of around 39% in groups B and C. The corresponding result at sites with deeper residual pocketing (probing pocket depth [PPD] ≥7 mm) was 28%. Combining hand and ultrasonic instrumentation was more effective than each alone. Healed sites (6 months) were more likely to remain closed in group A (80%) than in groups B (50%) and C (40%). The logistic regression revealed that the stability of outcomes of step 1 and step 2 therapy was influenced by PPD at baseline, tobacco smoking, age, and type of tooth.

Conclusions

At step 3, nonsurgical re‐instrumentation can effectively improve periodontal health conditions. Treatment decisions after nonsurgical therapy should be based on residual probing depth, overall healing response, and patient behavior. The stability of clinical results was influenced by disease severity and the effectiveness of step 2 therapy.

Plain Language Summary

This study examined the effectiveness of nonsurgical re‐treatment of residual pockets (periodontal pockets not healed) after initial therapy and the stability of treatment outcomes to 18 months. The study involved 489 patients with periodontitis (loss of tooth‐supporting structures) treated in general dental practice. Residual pockets were re‐treated after examination at 6 months. A final examination was performed at 18 months. Treatment of residual gingival pockets was more successful in moderately diseased pockets compared with the most severely diseased pockets. Clinical results achieved in patients with a mild form of periodontitis were better in terms of stability compared with patients suffering from moderate and severe periodontitis. The success of nonsurgical periodontal treatment was influenced by the severity of periodontitis at the study start, the type of tooth affected, the age of the patient, and whether the patient was a smoker or not.
An Open‐Label, Non‐randomized, Drug‐Repurposing Study to Explore the Clinical Effects of Angiotensin II Type 1 (AT1) Receptor Antagonists on Anxiety and Depression in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Bordet Sofia , Grasso Lina , Udovin Lucas , Chevalier Guenson , Otero‐Losada Matilde , Capani Francisco , Perez‐Lloret Santiago
Published: January 2025

Background

The cerebral Renin‐Angiotensin System might have a role in anxiety and depression development.

Objective

We explored the effects of Angiotensin II Type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE‐Is) on anxiety and depression in Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Methods

Four hundred and twenty‐three newly diagnosed drug‐naïve PD patients were evaluated using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15) tests and were monitored at baseline and for up to 3 years.

Results

Twelve patients were treated with ARBs and 42 with ACE‐Is. ARB‐treated patients had lower anxiety STAI scores than those on ACE‐Is or drug‐free at baseline (17.2 ± 1.3 vs. 21.3 ± 1.3, or 23.8 ± 0.5, respectively, P = 0.021) and during the follow‐up (P < 0.01). Depression scores were unaffected by any of the drugs throughout the study.

Conclusion

This small sample of ARB‐treated PD patients displayed lower levels of anxiety. Randomized clinical trials are warranted.
Central Involvement in Pure Autonomic Failure: Insights from Neuromelanin‐Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 18F‐Fluorodopa‐Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Trujillo Paula , O'Rourke Kaitlyn R. , Roman Olivia C. , Song Alexander K. , Hett Kilian , Cooper Amy , Black Bonnie K. , Donahue Manus J. , Shibao Cyndya A. , Biaggioni Italo , Claassen Daniel O.
Published: January 2025

Background

Central synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), involve alpha‐synuclein accumulation and dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra (SN) and locus coeruleus (LC). Pure autonomic failure (PAF), a peripheral synucleinopathy, often precedes central synucleinopathies.

Objectives

To assess early brain involvement in PAF using neuromelanin‐sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM‐MRI) and fluorodopa‐positron emission tomography (FDOPA‐PET), and to determine whether PAF patients with a high likelihood ratio (LR) for conversion to a central synucleinopathy exhibit reduced NM‐MRI contrast in the LC and SN compared with controls and low‐LR patients.

Methods

Participants with PAF (n = 23) were categorized as high‐LR (n = 13) or low‐LR (n = 10) for conversion to central synucleinopathy. Additional participants included PD (n = 22), DLB (n = 8), and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (n = 23). NM‐MRI at 3 T was used to quantify contrast ratios in the LC and SN, while FDOPA‐PET measured presynaptic dopamine synthesis. Linear regression analyses, adjusted for age and sex, were used to compare NM‐MRI contrast across groups.

Results

High‐LR PAF patients showed reduced contrast in the LC and SN compared with controls and low‐LR PAF patients, with values similar to PD and DLB. The NM‐MRI contrast in the SN correlated with dopamine uptake in the striatum. Longitudinal imaging in PAF patients (n = 6) demonstrated reduced NM‐MRI and PET values in individuals who developed central synucleinopathies.

Conclusions

NM‐MRI and FDOPA‐PET may serve as potential biomarkers for early brain involvement and predicting progression to central synucleinopathies in PAF and could help identify patients for early intervention. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Balancing Cost and Quality Goals with Full‐Array Local Dimming Displays
Authors: Phillips John , Tarabay Nizar , Okon Alexandre , Yoo Hyunjin , Lorchat Jean
Published: January 2025

New method drives down power consumption in FALD displays while simultaneously increasing contrast ratios and compensating for ambient lighting conditions.
Nonprofit Entry, Exit, and Implications for Sector Growth
Authors: Harrison Teresa D. , Oxley Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Patterns of nonprofit sector growth, organizational birth, and organizational dissolution continue to be at the forefront of the nonprofit management literature. We contribute to this line of research by examining entry, exit, and growth simultaneously, employing the longest panel of US nonprofits of which we are aware. We find estimates of entry ranging between four and 5%, while exit ranges between 1% and 2% per year. The combined rates result in positive sector growth every year, despite variations in regulatory and economic conditions. Our results indicate that lack of exit—not excess entry—is an important, and often overlooked, factor for continued growth of the nonprofit sector. Furthermore, we document the importance of including 990‐N filers and addressing missed filings, demonstrating the bias introduced in metrics of sector growth and exit if we do not account for these issues. We conclude by providing guidance on best practices for scholars and practitioners when measuring nonprofit entry, exit, density, and growth metrics, along with suggested reframing of the mindset around sector growth to consider a lack of exit driving growth rather than exclusively focusing on the creation of new nonprofits.
Impacts of Ethical Dilemmas and Moral Distress in Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses
Authors: Madni Arshia , Levine Deena R. , Sawyer Kimberly E. , Azzi Yasmine , Mandrell Belinda N. , Li Yimei , Ashcraft Emily , Boggs Jacklyn , Acharya Rushil , Caples Mary , Gattuso Jami S. , Shoulders Laurie A. , Johnson Liza‐Marie
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To assess the level of moral distress (MD) and perceptions of ethical climate among pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) nurses and to identify bioethics topics where increased education was desired.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, we administered the 26‐item Swedish Moral Distress Scale‐Revised (sMDS‐R), specifically revised and validated for pediatric oncology, in conjunction with the Clinical Ethics Needs Assessment Survey (CENAS). Electronic surveys were sent to inpatient and outpatient PHO nurses. Analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Of 123 nurse respondents, the overall mean MDS‐R score was 2.75 (range: 0–16). Distressing encounters occurred infrequently (frequency mean 0.96, range: 0–4), resulting in relatively low distress (mean 2.24, range: 0–4). The scenarios resulting in the highest overall MD included performing painful procedures on children (2.46), lack of meaningful conversations due to time constraints (2.41), and poor team communication (2.68). Inpatient nurses reported higher levels of MD compared to outpatient nurses (p = 0.0002). The overall CENAS score was greater than 3 (range: 1–4), suggesting a positive ethical climate. There was a moderate negative relationship between sMDS‐R combined scores and CENAS scores (p < 0.0001). Inpatient nurses reported a less positive ethical climate compared to outpatient nurses (p = 0.01). Nurses expressed a need for additional ethics education around withholding/withdrawing of life‐sustaining treatments, providing end‐of‐life care, and working with challenging patients/families.

Conclusions

Although the ethical climate was overall positive, several clinical situations appear to result in higher moral distress despite their infrequency, especially on inpatient units. Additional resources and education in navigating ethical dilemmas were requested by the nurses.
Holistic Analysis for Mismatch Losses in Photovoltaic Modules: Assessing the Impact of Inhomogeneity from Operational Conditions and Degradation Mechanisms on Power and Yield
Authors: Tummalieh Ammar , Mittag Max , Reichel Christian , Protti Alexander , Neuhaus Holger
Published: January 2025

This study investigates mismatch losses in PV modules, analyzing the impact of operational conditions and degradation mechanisms on power generation across different module designs: full‐cell, half‐cell, string‐shingled, and matrix‐shingled. A bottom‐up multi‐physics model assesses inhomogeneities like partial shading, temperature inhomogeneity, soiling, encapsulation aging, and bypass diode failure. Module design related analysis reveals that parallel connections within modules minimize current mismatch losses, enhancing power under partial shading. Furthermore, modules exhibit a temperature profile with maximum temperatures at the center and minimum at the corners, impacting power differently based on the module's internal geometry, cell size, and electrical layout. Degradation analysis reveals significant power reduction due to soiling width and orientation, with encapsulation aging causing a 2% power loss after 3000 h. Findings indicate that partial shading and bypass diode failure can reduce full‐cell module power to zero under vertical shading; half‐cell and shingled modules retain varying power under horizontal and diagonal shading. Matrix‐shingled modules perform best under partial shading due to additional lateral current paths. Yield analysis shows a 1.7‐kWh annual yield increase for the matrix‐shingled module, attributed to changes in cell‐specific irradiance and temperature from its unique design, compared to a 0.5‐kWh increase for the full‐cell module. It was observed that shingled modules have a 1.6% higher specific yield under accumulating soiling along the long edge, which drops to 0.4% when considering module cleaning. For soiling along the short edge, results show that full‐cell modules exhibit the highest specific yield. Furthermore, findings indicate that portrait mounting reduces annual yield by about 5% for shingled modules, compared to 3% for full‐cell and half‐cell modules, with landscape mounting having a lower negative impact on yield. Overall, this research identifies the strengths and weaknesses of various PV module designs under different degradation and inhomogeneity scenarios, advancing the development of more efficient modules and enhancing accurate energy yield predictions, thus significantly contributing to the sustainability of solar energy.
Investigation of the thermal structure in the atmospheric boundary layer during evening transition and the impact of aerosols on radiative cooling
Authors: Singh Suryadev Pratap , Rafiuddin Mohammad , Banerjee Subham , Sreenivas K. R.
Published: January 2025

The evening transition is crucial in various phenomena, including boundary‐layer stability, temperature inversion, radiation fog, vertical mixing, and pollution dispersion. We have explored this transition using data from 80 days of observations across two fog seasons at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB). Through field experiments and simulations integrating aerosol interaction in a radiation–conduction model, we elucidate the impact of aerosols on longwave cooling of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). Field observations indicate that, under calm and clear‐sky conditions, the evening transition typically results in a distinct vertical thermal structure called the lifted temperature minimum (LTM). We observe that the prevailing profile near the surface, post‐sunset is the LTM profile. Additionally, the occurrence of LTM is observed to increase with decreases in downward and upward longwave flux, soil sensible heat flux, wind speed, and turbulent kinetic energy measured at 2 m above ground level (AGL). In such scenarios, the intensity of LTM profiles is governed primarily by the aerosol‐induced longwave heating rate (LHR) within the surface layer. Furthermore, the presence of dense clouds leads to increased downward flux, causing the disappearance of LTM, whereas shallow fog can enhance LTM intensity, as observed in both field observations and simulations. Usually, prevailing radiation models underestimate aerosol‐induced LHR by an order of magnitude compared with actual field observations. We attribute this difference to aerosol‐induced radiation divergence. We show that the impact of aerosol‐induced LHR extends hundreds of meters into the inversion layer, affecting temperature profiles and potentially influencing processes such as fog formation. As the fog layer develops, LHR strengthens at its upper boundary. However, we highlight the difficulty in detecting this cooling using remote instruments such as microwave radiometers.
Multiple casualty poisoning event in dogs after exposure to synthetic drugs of abuse in a public park
Authors: Karadima Vasiliki , Sharpley Poppy , Brenn Andre , Ward Shannon , Bates Nicola
Published: January 2025

Poisoning with drugs of abuse is rarely reported in dogs, but there is risk of severe toxicosis and death. We describe an event involving seven dogs exposed to synthetic drugs of abuse in a park. The dogs presented to two veterinary practices over a few hours after exposure to a white powder, either through ingestion and/or inhalation. The signs included ataxia, muscle twitching, hypothermia, coma and seizures. At the time, the police reported that the substance was a mix of synthetic opioids and the dogs were treated supportively with naloxone. Four dogs survived and three were euthanased. It was later confirmed that the powder contained benzyl‐methylpiperazine, a stimulant, and 1‐(cyclohexylmethyl)‐1H‐indole‐3‐carboxylic acid 8‐quinolinyl ester (BB‐22; Quchic), a synthetic cannabinoid. No biological samples were available for analysis. Multiple casualty events in dogs are rare but may act as public health sentinels. In this incident, signs were rapid in onset and the information available was limited and misleading.
Dioctophyme renale (giant kidney worm) in a dog: A review of a parasitic disease requiring surgical treatment
Authors: Zadeh Abedin Shaban , Carr Anthony P. , Jenkins Emily J.
Published: January 2025

Infection with the nematode Dioctophyme renale (giant kidney worm) in dogs and other mammals occurs following the ingestion of an aquatic host containing the infective larvae. This parasitic disease has no known effective pharmaceutical treatment. This case report describes a 7‐month‐old, entire, female Husky with a 2‐month history of haematuria and intermittent vomiting. An abdominal ultrasound examination and microscopic finding of eggs of D. renale in urine sediment helped to establish the diagnosis. The affected right kidney and retroperitoneal worms were removed by exploratory celiotomy. The sonographic features of the worms and a comprehensive review of the latest literature, suggesting future research topics on early serological diagnosis, medical treatment options and the most recent nephron‐sparing nephrotomy techniques (via nephroscopy or laparoscopy), are discussed.
Loss of O6‐Methylguanine‐DNA Methyltransferase Protein Expression by Immunohistochemistry Is Associated With Response to Capecitabine and Temozolomide in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Evans Mark G. , Xiu Joanne , Darabi Sourat , Crymes Anthony , Bedeir Adam , Bryant David A. , Oberley Matthew J. , Demeure Michael J.
Published: January 2025

Background

A recent prospective phase II study (ECOG‐ACRIN E2211) demonstrated that MGMT deficiency was associated with a significant response to capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM) in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs); however, routine MGMT analysis in NENs was not recommended. Our study sought to demonstrate whether loss of MGMT protein expression is associated with improved overall survival (OS) in patients receiving CAPTEM for NENs from various tumor sites.

Materials and Methods

Paraffin‐embedded tumor samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using an MGMT monoclonal antibody. Intact MGMT protein expression (i.e., IHC positivity) was defined as any staining intensity (> 1+) in ≥ 36% of neoplastic cells according to an internal validation study. IHC and pyrosequencing for MGMT promotor methylation was performed in an independent cohort of 58 NENs. Real‐world OS was extrapolated from insurance claims data with Kaplan–Meier estimates from the date of first CAPTEM administration to the last date of contact.

Results

The study cohort included 80 patients (42 men and 38 women) with a median age of 57 years (range: 19–89). They had various NENs (33 pancreatic, 17 intestinal, 7 pulmonary, 8 other, and 15 of unknown origin) treated with CAPTEM. The median OS for the 48 patients with MGMT negative tumors was 31 months compared to 17.5 months for the 32 patients whose tumors were MGMT positive by IHC (HR: 1.75 [95% CI: 1.066–2.87] and p = 0.025). IHC results from the independent cohort of 58 NENs showed only 57% concordance with pyrosequencing results.

Conclusions

MGMT promotor status by IHC may be a clinically useful indicator that predicts improved OS for NENs treated with CAPTEM, but IHC does not reliably correlate with the findings of MGMT promoter methylation by pyrosequencing.
Introduction
Authors: Spallazzo Davide , Sciannamè Martina , Ceconello Mauro
Published: January 2025

This chapter introduces the essay, by explaining its purpose and significance, and clarifying its background. It further presents the overall methodology, specifying the aims of the essay, the target audience and the expected impacts.
Making Sense of AI-Infused Systems. Framing Current Design Challenges
Authors: Spallazzo Davide , Sciannamè Martina , Ceconello Mauro
Published: January 2025

The chapter portrays the state of the art of AI-infused products, that while offering exciting novelties in terms of user experience, offer present difficulties to exploit their full potential. The core and peculiar qualities of AI-infused products are primarily explored. The chapter further frames the current and unique challenges they present to their design and new interaction paradigms they introduce in the user experience. The chapter finally questions the necessity of a rethinking of traditional UX evaluation methods to accommodate these emerging design challenges.
UX Dimensions for AI. Past and Future Perspectives
Authors: Spallazzo Davide , Sciannamè Martina , Ceconello Mauro
Published: January 2025

This chapter offers a comprehensive overview and systematic analysis of current UX evaluation methods with the objective to identify relevant dimensions to describe the qualities of AI-infused products and possible gaps. The state of the art is grounded on an umbrella review of previous consistent studies, a scoping review of about 130 UX evaluation methods, and a systematic literature review on the assessment of AI-based systems. This preliminary investigation substantiated the need of new, specific qualities to properly assess the UX of AI-infused products, and eight primary UX dimensions have been identified as a starting point for more experimental studies.
Decoherence is an Echo of Anderson Localization in Open Quantum Systems
Authors: Klausen Frederik Ravn , Warzel Simone
Published: January 2025

We study the time evolution of single-particle quantum states described by a Lindblad master equation with local terms. By means of a geometric resolvent equation derived for Lindblad generators, we establish a finite-volume-type criterion for the decay of the off-diagonal matrix elements in the position basis of the time-evolved or steady states. This criterion is shown to yield exponential decay for systems where the non-hermitian evolution is either gapped or strongly disordered. The gap exists, for example, whenever any level of local dephasing is present in the system. The result in the disordered case can be viewed as an extension of Anderson localization to open quantum systems.
First real-world clinical experience with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer beyond VISION and TheraP criteria
Authors: Ling Sui wai , de Lussanet de la Sablonière Quido , Ananta Michael , de Blois Erik , Koolen Stijn L. W. , Drexhage Roosmarijn C. , Hofland Johannes , Robbrecht Debbie G. J. , van der Veldt Astrid A M , Verburg Frederik A , Brabander Tessa
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To report real-world clinical experience with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in a single tertiary referral university hospital.

Methods

Patients with mCRPC who were treated with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T TRT as standard of care between February 2022 and August 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were treated with a maximum of six cycles with a fixed activity of 7.4 GBq/100µg [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T per cycle.

Results

50 patients with mCRPC were included, of them 84% had prior therapy with two lines of taxane-based chemotherapy treated and at least one line of androgen receptor signaling inhibitor. A total of 126 cycles with a median of 2 cycles (IQR 1–6) [ 177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T were administered per patient. PSA declines of ≥ 50% and ≥ 70% were achieved in 16% and 10% of the patients, respectively. Radiological response was achieved in 11% of the patients. In total, 68 treatment-related Adverse Events (TRAEs) were observed, mainly grade 1–2 in 88% of cases. Grade 3/4 TRAEs were observed in 12% of cases. No grade 3 or higher xerostomia was reported. Median progression-free survival was 7.7 months (95% CI 4.0-11.3) and median overall survival was 8.1 months (95% CI 5.0-11.3).

Conclusion

In heavily pretreated patients with mCRPC, treatment of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T TRT is well tolerated and safe, but real-world efficacy of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA appears lower compared to data from recent phase-3 clinical trials using a different radioligand [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617. Further studies may show whether patients with mCRPC benefit more from [177Lu]Lu-PSMA when initiated at an earlier stage of treatment.
Cerebrovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients: insights from carotid artery atherosclerosis in the Paracelsus 10,000 study
Authors: Ausserwinkler Mathias , Gensluckner Sophie , Frey Vanessa , Gostner Isabella , Paulweber Bernhard , Trinka Eugen , Langthaler Patrick , Datz Christian , Iglseder Bernhard , Thiel Jens , Neumann Hans-Joerg , Flamm Maria , Aigner Elmar , Wernly Bernhard
Published: January 2025

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation. While RA primarily affects the joints, its systemic effects may lead to an increased cerebro- and cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries is a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular events and serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk. This study explores the link between RA and carotid artery atherosclerosis with data from the Paracelsus 10,000 Study. Baseline assessments were conducted on individuals randomly selected from Salzburg and its surrounding regions. Participants diagnosed with RA based on ACR-EULAR classification criteria and who underwent carotid artery ultrasound were included. Data were gathered from a total of 9729 participants, among whom 299 were diagnosed with RA. Carotid arteries were examined using ultrasound imaging. The primary endpoint was the difference in the prevalence of plaque presence between the RA and non-RA groups. One univariate (Model I) and three multivariate analyses were conducted, with adjustments in Model II incorporating SCORE 2, while Model III accounted for metabolic syndrome, age and sex. Additionally, Model IV included further adjustments for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Plaque presence was defined as the ultrasound detection of plaque formation larger than 0 mm2, regardless of whether it was unilateral or bilateral. Additional assessments included carotid stenosis, intima-media thickness (IMT) and total plaque area (TPA). RA patients had a higher prevalence of plaque (50%) compared to non-RA individuals (38%). The odds ratio (OR) for plaque presence in RA patients versus non-RA individuals was 1.64 (95% CI 1.30–2.06). This association persisted after adjusting for SCORE2, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.65 (95% CI 1.26–2.15). The association remained significant when adjusting for metabolic syndrome, age and sex (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.02–1.72) and also in Model IV, which included further adjustment for hs-CRP (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.02–1.74). The findings underscore an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease associated with RA. This study highlights the importance of thorough cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk assessments, along with proactive management, for RA patients to reduce this risk. Recognizing the substantial impact of RA on stroke and cerebrovascular disease is important for enhancing patient care strategies. Carotid ultrasound appears to be an effective method for atherosclerosis screening in RA patients.
The rhizosphere bacteriome is modified by wheat genotype and growth stage under increased imidazolinone herbicide residues
Authors: Dzoma Bernard B. , Zhou Yi , Wilhelm Nigel , Denton Matthew
Published: January 2025

When imidazolinone herbicides persist longer than intended and remain active in the soil, they can have unknown impacts on soil health. This study investigated the impact of simulated soil residues of an imidazolinone herbicide on shoot dry matter and bacterial communities in the bulk and rhizosphere soil in tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes, at two different crop growth stages. Four levels of gradient increased herbicide residues were applied, and rhizosphere bacterial diversity and community composition were analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our results highlight that the shift in wheat rhizosphere bacteriome is driven more by the crop growth stage and wheat genotype than the presence and level of imidazolinone residues. Results showed a linear trend of increasing alpha diversity with increasing herbicide residues during the early crop growth stage, and a decrease in alpha diversity with increasing herbicide residues during the late crop growth stage, only for the tolerant genotype. The order Betaproteobacteriales in the rhizosphere was increased by herbicide residues to a greater extent than the other taxonomic groups. During the early growth stage, there were more ASV (amplicon sequence variant) enriched by imidazolinone herbicide residues in the rhizosphere of the tolerant genotype compared with the susceptible genotype. Future research work should consider studies with soils that have different physicochemical properties, and focus on other soil microbes of known significance to nutrient cycling and crop growth.
The global, regional, and national disease burden of colorectal cancer attributable to low physical activity from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Lian Yanxue , Alruwaili Alwaleed M. , Luo Pincheng
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aims to estimate the spatiotemporal variation in the burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) attributable to low physical activity (LPA) at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021.

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Annual data on deaths of CRC related to LPA, age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and the age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021 was extracted from the Global Health Data Exchange website. They were retrieved by age (5-year age groups from 25 to 94 years, and 95+ years), gender (male and female), and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). The association between age-standardized rates and SDI values was assessed by Spearman’s correlation.

Results

Between 1990 and 2021, there was nearly a twofold increase in DALYs and mortality globally for CRC related to LPA, despite decreases in ASMR and ASDR (EAPC: −0.82% and −0.83%, respectively). However, on a national scale, ASMR and ASDR increased in more than half of the world’s countries and territories. Moreover, a greater burden of CRC related to LPA was observed in older populations, females, and those residing in regions with an SDI near 0.77.

Conclusion

These findings indicate the critical need to raise awareness about the preventive role of physical activity in CRC. Policymakers should prioritize developing and implementing strategies that ensure equitable access to sports resources, enabling more people to meet the World Health Organization guidelines.
Automatic pruning rate adjustment for dynamic token reduction in vision transformer
Authors: Ishibashi Ryuto , Meng Lin
Published: January 2025

Vision Transformer (ViT) has demonstrated excellent accuracy in image recognition and has been actively studied in various fields. However, ViT requires a large matrix multiplication called Attention, which is computationally expensive. Since the computational cost of Self-Attention used in ViT increases quadratically with the number of tokens, research to reduce the computational cost by pruning the number of tokens has been active in recent years. To prune tokens, it is necessary to set the pruning rate, and in many studies, the pruning rate is set manually. However, it is difficult to manually determine the optimal pruning rate because the appropriate pruning rate varies from task to task. In this study, we propose a method to solve this problem. The proposed pruning rate adjustment adjusts the pruning rate so that the training loss is converged by Gradient-Aware Scaling (GAS). In addition, we propose Variable Proportional Attention (VPA) for Top-K, a general-purpose token pruning method, to mitigate the performance loss due to pruning. For the CIFAR-10 dataset, several competitive pruning methods improve recognition accuracy over manually setting the pruning rate; eTPS+Adjust on Hybrid ViT-S achieves 99.01% Accuracy with -31.68% FLOPs. Furthermore, Top-K+VPA outperforms token merging when the pruning rate is large for trained ViT-L inference on ImageNet-1k and has superior scalability in the Accuracy-Latency relation. In particular, when Top-K+VPA is applied to ViT-L on a GPU environment with a pruning rate of 6%, it achieves 80.62% Accuracy on the ImageNet-1k dataset with -50.44% FLOPs and -46.8% Latency.
View: visual imitation learning with waypoints
Authors: Jonnavittula Ananth , Parekh Sagar , P. Losey Dylan
Published: January 2025

Robots can use visual imitation learning (VIL) to learn manipulation tasks from video demonstrations. However, translating visual observations into actionable robot policies is challenging due to the high-dimensional nature of video data. This challenge is further exacerbated by the morphological differences between humans and robots, especially when the video demonstrations feature humans performing tasks. To address these problems we introduce Visual Imitation lEarning with Waypoints (VIEW), an algorithm that significantly enhances the sample efficiency of human-to-robot VIL. VIEW achieves this efficiency using a multi-pronged approach: extracting a condensed prior trajectory that captures the demonstrator’s intent, employing an agent-agnostic reward function for feedback on the robot’s actions, and utilizing an exploration algorithm that efficiently samples around waypoints in the extracted trajectory. VIEW also segments the human trajectory into grasp and task phases to further accelerate learning efficiency. Through comprehensive simulations and real-world experiments, VIEW demonstrates improved performance compared to current state-of-the-art VIL methods. VIEW enables robots to learn manipulation tasks involving multiple objects from arbitrarily long video demonstrations. Additionally, it can learn standard manipulation tasks such as pushing or moving objects from a single video demonstration in under 30 min, with fewer than 20 real-world rollouts. Code and videos here: https://collab.me.vt.edu/view/
Lagrangian Stochastic Modeling of Unstable Atmospheric Surface Layer
Authors: Shin Jihoon , Baik Jong-Jin
Published: January 2025

This study evaluates the performance of a recently developed Lagrangian stochastic model (LSM), which solves the transport equations for turbulence probability density functions (PDFs), for simulating the unstable atmospheric surface layer (ASL). The simulated statistics are compared with the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) predictions for mean gradients, standard deviations, turbulent Prandtl number, turbulence kinetic energy budgets, and turbulence PDFs. The LSM successfully captures many aspects of ASL structure and turbulence characteristics, particularly the mean gradients and standard deviations of potential temperature, specific humidity, and vertical velocity, which align closely with MOST predictions. However, the model shows limitations in reproducing the stability dependency of mean gradients of horizontal wind speed. Additionally, the model underestimates the probability of high vertical velocity fluctuations, leading to underprediction of turbulent transport and thermal convection initiation. The simulated turbulent Prandtl number shows dependency on stability but is generally weaker than MOST predictions. The study identifies that the parameterizations of dissipation, pressure redistribution, and pressure transport need to be enhanced to ensure that they have correct stability dependency, in order to improve the model’s accuracy in simulating the ASL.
Hidden Bias, Overt Impact: A Systematic Review of the Empirical Literature on Racial Microaggressions at Work
Authors: Newman Alexander , Chrispal Snehanjali , Dunwoodie Karen , Macaulay Luke
Published: January 2025

This article presents a systematic review of literature on workplace racial microaggressions. Increasingly, workplaces around the world have made concerted efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workforces. However, racial discrimination is a social issue that continues to be endemic to the workplace—including, yet not limited to, the prevalence of racial microaggressions. These microaggressions can, at times, be covert, and undertaken sometimes without the explicit awareness or intention of the perpetrator. Yet, the consequences of these can be very real for the person impacted (the target), which include diminished wellbeing, job satisfaction, and career progression. To capture the overall trends and themes that empirical research has examined related to workplace racial microaggressions, a systematic review of 48 scholarly peer-reviewed articles on the topic was conducted. The review highlights how racial microaggressions have been conceptualized and measured in previous work, and critically examines empirical findings to date. The systematic review reveals that more work needs to be done to advance our understanding of this field of inquiry. To address this, a future research agenda based on identified gaps in the literature is articulated which highlights opportunities for advancement of the literature. Addressing these gaps will provide actionable insights for organizations in addressing the insidious social issue of racial microaggressions in the workplace, and support scholars in the development of future work.
Far Transfer of Metacognitive Regulation: From Cognitive Learning Strategy Use to Mental Effort Regulation
Authors: Wirth Joachim , Weber-Reuter Xenia-Lea , Schuster Corinna , Fleischer Jens , Leutner Detlev , Stebner Ferdinand
Published: January 2025

Training of self-regulated learning is most effective if it supports learning strategies in combination with metacognitive regulation, and learners can transfer their acquired metacognitive regulation skills to different tasks that require the use of the same learning strategy (near transfer). However, whether learners can transfer metacognitive regulation skills acquired in combination with a specific learning strategy to the regulation of a different learning strategy (far transfer) is still under debate. While there is empirical evidence that learners can transfer metacognitive regulation between different learning strategies of the same type (e.g., from one cognitive learning strategy to another), whether transfer also occurs between learning strategies of different types is an open question. Here, we conducted an experimental field study with 5th and 6th grade students (N = 777). Students were cluster-randomized and assigned to one of three groups: two experimental groups receiving different training on the metacognitive regulation of a cognitive learning strategy and one control group receiving no training. After training, students worked on two different tasks; after each task, we measured their metacognitive regulation of a resource management strategy, that is, investing mental effort. Results (based on data from 368 students due to pandemic conditions) indicated far metacognitive regulation transfer: After training, students in the training groups were better able to metacognitively regulate their mental effort than students in the control group. Although effect sizes were small, our results support the hypothesis of far transfer of metacognitive regulation.