bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cannibalism in Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra)
Authors: Calvo‐Fernandez Cristina , Sorribes Elisa L. , Garrido‐Moreno Jesús , Martín‐Maldonado Bárbara
Published: May 2024

The Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, faced adversity in Europe in the 1950s and 1960s due to hunting, declining fish populations and the American mink invasion. Slow recovery since the 1970s led to a ‘Near Threatened’ in the IUCN Red List status, but recent pollution, fishing pressure and habitat loss caused slight population declines. Otters, known for aquatic habits, are mainly piscivorous and exhibit solitaire or social behaviours. Infanticide with parent‐offspring cannibalism has been previously reported in otter species, but although cannibalism has been suggested, it has not been documented before. This study presents the first documented case of cannibalism among free‐living Eurasian otters observed in northern Norway. Some authors described cannibalism as an opportunistic resource‐efficient behaviour in several mammal species, offering benefits like weight gain and reduced competition, challenging the view of adverse health effects. Factors leading to otter cannibalism include ecological changes, resource competition with other species and global warming and overfishing practices contributing to increased otter competition. Further studies will be vital to answering intriguing questions about the implications of cannibalism for otter conservation.
Walruses from space: walrus counts in simultaneous remotely piloted aircraft system versus very high‐resolution satellite imagery
Authors: Cubaynes Hannah C. , Forcada Jaume , Kovacs Kit M. , Lydersen Christian , Downie Rod , Fretwell Peter T.
Published: May 2024

Regular counts of walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) across their pan‐Arctic range are necessary to determine accurate population trends and in turn understand how current rapid changes in their habitat, such as sea ice loss, are impacting them. However, surveying a region as vast and remote as the Arctic with vessels or aircraft is a formidable logistical challenge, limiting the frequency and spatial coverage of field surveys. An alternative methodology involving very high‐resolution (VHR) satellite imagery has proven to be a useful tool to detect walruses, but the feasibility of accurately counting individuals has not been addressed. Here, we compare walrus counts obtained from a VHR WorldView‐3 satellite image, with a simultaneous ground count obtained using a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). We estimated the accuracy of the walrus counts depending on (1) the spatial resolution of the VHR satellite imagery, providing the same WorldView‐3 image to assessors at three different spatial resolutions (i.e., 50, 30 and 15 cm per pixel) and (2) the level of expertise of the assessors (experts vs. a mixed level of experience – representative of citizen scientists). This latter aspect of the study is important to the efficiency and outcomes of the global assessment programme because there are citizen science campaigns inviting the public to count walruses in VHR satellite imagery. There were 73 walruses in our RPAS ‘control’ image. Our results show that walruses were under‐counted in VHR satellite imagery at all spatial resolutions and across all levels of assessor expertise. Counts from the VHR satellite imagery with 30 cm spatial resolution were the most accurate and least variable across levels of expertise. This was a successful first attempt at validating VHR counts with near‐simultaneous, in situ, data but further assessments are required for walrus aggregations with different densities and configurations, on different substrates.
Sodium Niobate Nanowires Embedded PVA‐Hydrogel‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Versatile Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered CO Gas Sensor
Authors: Jaiswal Monica , Singh Shivam , Sharma Bharat , Choudhary Sumit , Kumar Robin , Sharma Satinder K.
Published: May 2024

The surging demand for sustainable energy solutions and adaptable electronic devices has led to the exploration of alternative and advanced power sources. Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) stand out as a promising technology for efficient energy harvesting, but research on fully flexible and environmental friendly TENGs still remain limited. In this study, an innovative approach is introduced utilizing an ionic‐solution modified conductive hydrogel embedded with piezoelectric sodium niobate nanowires‐based Triboelectric Nanogenerator (NW‐TENG), offering intrinsic advantages to healthcare and wearable devices. The synthesized NW‐TENG, with a 12.5 cm2 surface area, achieves peak output performance, producing ≈840 V of voltage and 2.3 µC of charge transfer, respectively. The rectified energy powers up 30 LEDs and a stopwatch; while the NW‐TENG efficiently charges capacitors from 1µF to 100 µF, reaching 1 V within 4 to 65 s at 6 Hz. Integration with prototype carbon monoxide (CO) gas sensor transform the device into a self‐powered gas sensory technology. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of nanowire effects on TENG performance, offering insights for designing highly flexible and environmentally friendly TENGs, and extending applications to portable self‐powered gas sensors and wearable devices.
B‐mode brain ultrasound in neurocritical patients
Authors: Carruega María Carla , Feijóo José Alberto , Cheong Issac , Tamagnone Francisco Marcelo
Published: May 2024

The ultrasonographic evaluation of the brain is widely disseminated, focusing on the transcranial Doppler technique, which allows the evaluation of the flows of the different arteries of the circle of Willis in neurocritical patients. In this context, for a long time the brightness mode (B‐mode) has not been taken into account for the study of the pathology of the central nervous system. However, it has been shown that it can also provide valuable information in neurocritical patients by being able to identify hemorrhagic, tumoral, ischemic, traumatic and inflammatory lesions to mention some of its applications. Due to this, the B‐mode should also be considered as an indispensable tool in the management of neurocritical patients.
Threat models over space and time: A case study of end‐to‐end‐encrypted messaging applications
Authors: Das Chowdhury Partha , Sameen Maria , Blessing Jenny , Boucher Nicholas , Gardiner Joseph , Burrows Tom , Anderson Ross , Rashid Awais
Published: May 2024

Threat modeling is one of the foundations of secure systems engineering and must take heed of the context within which systems operate. In this work, we explore the extent to which real‐world systems engineering reflects a changing threat context. We examine the desktop clients of six widely used end‐to‐end‐encrypted mobile messaging applications to understand the extent to which they adjusted their threat model over space (when enabling clients on new platforms, such as desktop clients) and time (as new threats emerged). We experimented with short‐lived adversarial access against these desktop clients and analyzed the results using two popular threat elicitation frameworks, STRIDE and LINDDUN. The results demonstrate that system designers need to track threats in the evolving context within which systems operate and, more importantly, mitigate them by rescoping trust boundaries so that they remain consistent with administrative boundaries. A nuanced understanding of the relationship between trust and administration is vital for robust security, including the provision of safe defaults.
An Emerging Trend in the Synthesis of Iron Titanate Photocatalyst Toward Water Splitting
Authors: Ashie Moses D. , Kumar Dhananjay , Bastakoti Bishnu Prasad
Published: May 2024

Hydrogen gas is a prominent focus in pursuing renewable and clean alternative energy sources. The quest for maximizing hydrogen production yield involves the exploration of an ideal photocatalyst and the development of a simple, cost‐effective technique for its generation. Iron titanate has garnered attention in this context due to its photocatalytic properties, affordability, and non‐toxic nature. Over the years, different synthesis routes, different morphologies, and some modifications of iron titanate have been carried out to improve its photocatalytic performance by enhancing light absorption in the visible region, boosting charge carrier transfer, and decreasing recombination of electrons and holes. The use of iron titanate photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction has seen an upward trend in recent times, and based on available findings, more can be done to improve the performance. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of photocatalysis for hydrogen generation, encompassing the synthesis, morphology, and application of iron titanate‐based photocatalysts. The discussion delves into the limitations of current methodologies and present and future perspectives for advancing iron titanate photocatalysts. By addressing these limitations and contemplating future directions, the aim is to enhance the properties of materials fabricated for photocatalytic water splitting.
The Historical Development of the Concepts Underlying the Design and Construction of Targeted Coordination Polymers/MOFs: A Personal Account
Authors: Robson Richard
Published: May 2024

Presented here is a personal account of how the ideas and concepts underlying the design and construction of coordination polymers/MOFs developed historically ‐ from the earliest conjectures in the 1970’s about the possibility of using pre‐organized building blocks to construct targeted polymeric structures, to the initial experimental implementation of these ideas in the mid‐80’s and to the introduction of the name MOFs in the 90’s. The early exploratory work with pre‐organized building blocks described in this article paved the way for the subsequent explosion of research activity in the CP/MOF area and for the generation of an essentially unlimited range of designed coordination polymer structures promising a variety of useful properties.
Conformal Kaehler Submanifolds
Authors: Alías L. J. , Chion S. , Dajczer M.
Published: May 2024

This paper presents two results in the realm of conformal Kaehler submanifolds. These are conformal immersions of Kaehler manifolds into the standard flat Euclidean space. The proofs are obtained by making a rather strong use of several facts and techniques developed in Chion and Dajczer (Proc Edinb Math Soc 66:810–833, 2023) for the study of isometric immersions of Kaehler manifolds into the standard hyperbolic space.
Weightbearing versus non-weight bearing in geriatric distal femoral fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wardle Blaise , Lynch Joseph T. , Staniforth Thomas , Ward Thomas , Smith Paul
Published: May 2024

Background

Demographics of patients who sustain geriatric distal femoral fractures (DFF) match those of patients with neck-of-femur fractures but have limited evidence with which to support post-operative weightbearing protocols.

Purpose

This systematic review sought to identify any difference in outcomes for elderly patients with DFF who were allowed early versus delayed weightbearing postoperatively.

Methods

Data sources

PubMed, Medline, Embase and The Cochrane Library, reference lists of retrieved articles.

Study selection

English language papers published between January 2010 and February 2023 with AO-OTA type 33A, B and C femoral fractures as well as Lewis and Rorabeck Type I and II periprosthetic DFF surgically treated with either a lateral locking plate or retrograde intramedullary nail and an average patient age of ≥ 60 years.

Data extraction

Studies were assessed for inclusion by two authors and quality was assessed using the MINORS tool.

Data synthesis

Sixteen studies were included, Meta-analysis of non-union, malunion, infection, delayed union and implant complications was performed using Microsoft Excel and the MetaXL extension. The data on return to mobility were presented in narrative form. The analyses demonstrated no difference between the early and delayed weightbearing groups.

Conclusions

There are no significant differences in complication rates between early versus delayed weightbearing after surgery for DFF in an elderly population. The study results are limited by high heterogeneity and low-quality studies. High quality, prospective studies are needed to determine the ideal postoperative weightbearing protocol.

Level of evidence

Level III, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level III studies.

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration—Prospero CRD42022371460.
Stochastic quantisation of Yang–Mills–Higgs in 3D
Authors: Chandra Ajay , Chevyrev Ilya , Hairer Martin , Shen Hao
Published: May 2024

We define a state space and a Markov process associated to the stochastic quantisation equation of Yang–Mills–Higgs (YMH) theories. The state space $\mathcal{S}$
S
is a nonlinear metric space of distributions, elements of which can be used as initial conditions for the (deterministic and stochastic) YMH flow with good continuity properties. Using gauge covariance of the deterministic YMH flow, we extend gauge equivalence ∼ to $\mathcal{S}$
S
and thus define a quotient space of “gauge orbits” $\mathfrak {O}$
O
. We use the theory of regularity structures to prove local in time solutions to the renormalised stochastic YMH flow. Moreover, by leveraging symmetry arguments in the small noise limit, we show that there is a unique choice of renormalisation counterterms such that these solutions are gauge covariant in law. This allows us to define a canonical Markov process on $\mathfrak {O}$
O
(up to a potential finite time blow-up) associated to the stochastic YMH flow.
Untangling the Evolution of the Receptor-Binding Motif of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Delaye Luis , Román-Padilla Lizbeth
Published: May 2024

The spike protein determines the host-range specificity of coronaviruses. In particular, the Receptor-Binding Motif in the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 contains the amino acids involved in molecular recognition of the host Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2. Therefore, to understand how SARS-CoV-2 acquired its capacity to infect humans it is necessary to reconstruct the evolution of this important motif. Early during the pandemic, it was proposed that the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain was acquired via recombination with a pangolin infecting coronavirus. This proposal was challenged by an alternative explanation that suggested that the Receptor-Binding Domain from SARS-CoV-2 did not originated via recombination with a coronavirus from a pangolin. Instead, this alternative hypothesis proposed that the Receptor-Binding Motif from the bat coronavirus RaTG13, was acquired via recombination with an unidentified coronavirus. And as a consequence of this event, the Receptor-Binding Domain from the pangolin coronavirus appeared as phylogenetically closer to SARS-CoV-2. Recently, the genomes from coronaviruses from Cambodia (bat_RShST182/200) and Laos (BANAL-20-52/103/247) which are closely related to SARS-CoV-2 were reported. However, no detailed analysis of the evolution of the Receptor-Binding Motif from these coronaviruses was reported. Here we revisit the evolution of the Receptor-Binding Domain and Motif in the light of the novel coronavirus genome sequences. Specifically, we wanted to test whether the above coronaviruses from Cambodia and Laos were the source of the Receptor-Binding Domain from RaTG13. We found that the Receptor-Binding Motif from these coronaviruses is phylogenetically closer to SARS-CoV-2 than to RaTG13. Therefore, the source of the Receptor-Binding Domain from RaTG13 is still unidentified. In accordance with previous studies, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Receptor-Binding Motif from SARS-CoV-2 evolved by vertical inheritance from a bat-infecting population of coronaviruses.
Utility of hydroxychloroquine laboratory monitoring in dermatologic and rheumatologic patients
Authors: Green Maxwell , Williams Laura , Boh Erin , Kuraitis Drew
Published: May 2024

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an immunomodulator used in dermatology and rheumatology. Side effects may be observed on routine monitoring studies before they become clinically apparent. The goal of this retrospective chart review was to assess laboratory abnormalities in dermatologic and rheumatologic patients taking HCQ. Medical records of patients prescribed HCQ were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, reported side effects, and parameters on baseline and follow-up complete blood count (CBC) and comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) were recorded and graded. Laboratory abnormalities were considered severe if they were grade 3 or greater according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 and persistent if they continued beyond subsequent laboratory testing. Of 646 eligible charts, 289 had monitoring studies for review. There were 35 severe (grade 3 or 4, 35/289; 12%) adverse events that developed, as noted on CBC or CMP. Of these 35 severe adverse events, 25 self-corrected on subsequent testing, and 10 (10/289, 3%) across 9 patients were persistent, including glomerular filtration rate, alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, hemoglobin and lymphopenia abnormalities. Of these 10 abnormalities, 7/10 (70%) were unlikely due to hydroxychloroquine use according to the calculated Naranjo score for each patient. Severe laboratory abnormalities while taking hydroxychloroquine are rare, even in a population with a high rate of comorbidities. Among the abnormalities observed, the majority of them (70%) were likely due to disease progression or a medication other than hydroxychloroquine. CBC and CMP monitoring for the reason of observing abnormalities while on HCQ should be at the discretion of the prescribing physician.
Achalasia: laparoscopic Heller myotomy with fundoplication versus peroral endoscopic myotomy—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sobral Joana , Machado Miguel , Barbosa José Pedro , Barbosa José
Published: May 2024

There are various therapeutic options for achalasia. Nevertheless, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic Heller myotomy with fundoplication (LHM) are distinguished by their efficacy and low incidence of complications. Compare POEM and LHM regarding several outcomes in patients with achalasia. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. An exhaustive literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Studies comparing several outcomes between POEM and LHM in patients with achalasia were included. Data on clinical success, operative time, intraoperative complications, length of stay, reintervention rates, postoperative pain, overall complications, occurrence of GERD symptoms, use of proton bomb inhibitors and esophagitis were extracted. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the MINORS scale. We included 20 retrospective observational studies with a combined total of 5139 participants. The results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference in terms of intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, reintervention rate, occurrence of GERD symptoms, GERD HRQL, use of proton pump inhibitors, and esophagitis between POEM and LHM groups. Conversely, POEM was associated with higher clinical success and shorter operative time, length of stay, and postoperative pain. This meta-analysis concludes that both POEM and LHM, are effective and safe treatments for achalasia. However, POEM demonstrates better results regarding clinical success, operative time, length of stay, postoperative pain, and a tendency towards lower recurrence.
Storms facilitate airborne DNA from leaf fragments outside the main tree pollen season
Authors: Hanson Mary , Petch Geoff , Adams-Groom Beverley , Ottosen Thor-Bjørn , Skjøth Carsten A.
Published: May 2024

Bioaerosols are useful indicators of plant phenology and can demonstrate the impacts of climate change on both local and regional scales (e.g. pollen monitoring/flowering phenology). Analysing bioaerosols with eDNA approaches are becoming more popular to quantify the diversity of airborne plant environmental DNA (eDNA) and flowering season of plants and trees. Leaf abscission from broadleaved trees and other perennial species can also indicate the status of plant health in response to climate. This happens primarily during autumn in response to seasonal growth conditions and environmental factors, such as changing photoperiod and reduced temperatures. During this period biological material is released in larger quantities to the environment. Here, rural bioaerosol composition during late summer and autumn was captured by MiSEQ sequencing of the rRNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region, a common marker for taxonomic variation. Meteorological parameters were recorded from a proximal weather station. The composition of atmospheric taxa demonstrated that deciduous tree DNA forms part of the bioaerosol community during autumn and, for several common broadleaved tree species, atmospheric DNA abundance correlated to high wind events. This suggests that both flowering and autumn storms cause bioaerosols from deciduous trees that can be detected with eDNA approaches. This is an aspect that must be considered when eDNA methods are used to analyse either pollen or other fragments from trees.
Generation and characterisation of scalable and stable human pluripotent stem cell-derived microvascular-like endothelial cells for cardiac applications
Authors: Majid Qasim A. , Ghimire Bishwa R. , Merkely Bela , Randi Anna M. , Harding Sian E. , Talman Virpi , Földes Gábor
Published: May 2024

Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) and its progression towards major adverse coronary events pose a significant health challenge. Accurate in vitro investigation of CMD requires a robust cell model that faithfully represents the cells within the cardiac microvasculature. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (hPSC-ECs) offer great potential; however, they are traditionally derived via differentiation protocols that are not readily scalable and are not specified towards the microvasculature. Here, we report the development and comprehensive characterisation of a scalable 3D protocol enabling the generation of phenotypically stable cardiac hPSC-microvascular-like ECs (hPSC-CMVECs) and cardiac pericyte-like cells. These were derived by growing vascular organoids within 3D stirred tank bioreactors and subjecting the emerging 3D hPSC-ECs to high-concentration VEGF-A treatment (3DV). Not only did this promote phenotypic stability of the 3DV hPSC-ECs; single cell-RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed the pronounced expression of cardiac endothelial- and microvascular-associated genes. Further, the generated mural cells attained from the vascular organoid exhibited markers characteristic of cardiac pericytes. Thus, we present a suitable cell model for investigating the cardiac microvasculature as well as the endothelial-dependent and -independent mechanisms of CMD. Moreover, owing to their phenotypic stability, cardiac specificity, and high angiogenic potential, the cells described within would also be well suited for cardiac tissue engineering applications.
Mental Health and Well-being in Adolescent and Adult Siblings of Persons with Severe Mental Illness: A Scoping review
Authors: Lønning Ingvild S. , Fjermestad Krister , Haugland Bente Storm Mowatt
Published: May 2024

Systematic knowledge about siblings of persons with mental illness is needed. The aim of this literature review was to gain knowledge about the mental health and well-being of siblings of individuals with severe mental illness (i.e., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, psychosis) and factors associated with sibling outcomes. We reviewed quantitative studies published between 1990 and 2022 where siblings aged >12 years were compared to healthy control individuals. Eleven studies were included (combined sibling n = 1736). Seven of the 11 studies reported solely more negative outcomes for siblings than for healthy control individuals. Two studies reported both more negative and more positive sibling outcomes, with one study reported solely more positive outcomes and one no difference between siblings and healthy control individuals. The studies reporting negative outcomes had the highest methodological quality. The following factors were associated with sibling outcomes; demographic factors, i.e., age, sex, and number of siblings in the family, contextual factors, i.e., having contact with health care professionals due to own mental health problems, and characteristics of the sibling with severe mental illness, i.e., premorbid adjustment. The findings show that a family system approach with interventions addressing the entire family is indicated when a person is treated for severe mental illness. Further research on sibling outcomes should address methodological challenges such as poor representativeness and a wide age range in samples and use well-validated outcome measures. Factors associated with sibling outcomes should be examined further to increase the understanding of risk and protective factors in siblings.
LCTCS: Low-Cost and Two-Channel Sparse Network for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Sun Jie , Yang Jing , Chen Wang , Ding Sujie , li Shaobo , Hu Jianjun
Published: May 2024

Using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in classifying hyperspectral images (HSIs) has achieved quite good results in recent years. It is widely used in agricultural remote sensing, geological exploration, environmental monitoring, and marine remote sensing. Unfortunately, the complexity of network structures used for hyperspectral image classification challenges the efficient delivery of HSI data extremely, and existing methods suffer from a large amount of redundancy in the network weight parameters during training, as they either require huge computational resources or make inefficient use of storage space when designing the network structure, and many of the parameters that waste computational resources contribute less to the rich spectral and spatial information transfer in HSI. So we introduce LCTCS, a better low-memory and less-parametric network approach. LCTCS aims to improve the efficiency of computational resource utilization with advanced classification performance and lower levels of computational resources. Unlike the conventional 2D and 3D convolution used previously, we use simple and efficient 3D grouped convolution as a vehicle to convey the semantic features of HSIs. More specifically, we design a novel two-channel sparse network to classify HSIs since grouped 3D convolution conveys the properties of hyperspectral data well in the time and space domains.We have compared LCTCS with eight widely used network methods on four publicly available hyperspectral datasets for learning HSI information. A series of experiments shows that the model architecture designed has $$65.89 \%$$

65.89
%

less storage space than the DBDA method, consumes $$67.36 \%$$

67.36
%

fewer computational resources than the SSRN method on the IP dataset, and accomplishes a highly accurate classification task with the number of parameters accounting for only $$1.99 \%$$

1.99
%

that of the DBMA method.
Justifying Self-Partiality
Authors: Baehni Agnès
Published: May 2024

The role that the first-person perspective is allowed to play in moral reasoning is a major source of contemporary debate between partialists and impartialists. The discussion usually revolves around the question of partiality’s justification when it is intended to benefit our loved ones. Surprisingly, the issue of partiality to oneself is rarely addressed directly and its link with egoism is left unexplored. This is a gap that this paper attempts to fill by focusing on some of the difficulties raised by the idea of justified partiality to oneself.
Optimizing mHealth Instant Messaging-Based Smoking Cessation Support: A Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial (SMART)
Authors: Zhi Zhao Sheng , Xue Weng , Yongda Wu , Tak Cheung Derek Yee , Tsun Luk Tzu , Sau-chai Tong Henry , Wai-yin Lai Vienna , Hing Lam Tai , Ping Wang Man
Published: May 2024

Mobile health (mHealth) messaging has been used to enhance quitting. Optimal sequencing of more personalized and intensive interventions may increase abstinence for mHealth non-responders (continuing smokers). We aim to test the effectiveness and cost of an adaptive design intervention based on chat-based personalized instant messaging (PIM) versus that based on regular instant messaging (RIM; non-personalized) on validated abstinence. Sequential, multiple assignment randomized trial proactively recruited adult daily cigarette smokers in Hong Kong. At baseline, participants received brief cessation advice plus referral assistance to cessation services and were randomized to receive PIM (PIM group, n = 422) or RIM (RIM group, n = 422). At 1 month, PIM non-responders were further randomized (ratio 3:1) to receive either combined cessation interventions (CCI, including multi-media messages, nicotine replacement therapy sampling, incentive for service referral, phone counselling, family/peer group chat) or maintained PIM for 2 months. RIM non-responders were further randomized (ratio 1:3) to receive PIM or maintained RIM. Responders (quitters) in either group continued to receive the respective initial intervention. Bio-validated abstinence at 6 months by intention-to-treat. The 844 participants were mostly male (82.3%). At 1 month, 370 (87.7%) and 373 (88.4%) non-responded to PIM and RIM, respectively. Of non-responders, 273 (73.8%) received CCI and 91 (24.4%) received PIM. At 6 months, PIM group had non-significantly higher validated abstinence than RIM group (10.2% vs. 8.3%, risk ratio [RR] 1.23, 95%CI 0.80 to 1.88) at doubled cost (US$33,228.8 vs. 15,985.5). In non-responders, receiving CCI (vs. maintained PIM: 4.8% vs. 6.2%, RR 0.77, 95%CI 0.30 to 1.97) or PIM (vs. maintained RIM: 3.3% vs 5.7%, RR 0.58, 95%CI 0.17 to 1.95) did not increase validated abstinence. The PIM-based adaptive intervention did not significantly increase validated abstinence than that of non-personalized IM. Non-responders to PIM or RIM did not benefit from more intensive interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03992742
Autonomous control of an ultrasound probe for intra-operative ultrasonography using vision-based shape sensing of pneumatically attachable flexible rails
Authors: McDonald-Bowyer Aoife , Syer Tom , Retter Adam , Stoyanov Danail , Stilli Agostino
Published: May 2024

Purpose

In robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery, surgeons often use intra-operative ultrasound to visualise endophytic structures and localise resection margins. This must be performed by a highly skilled surgeon. Automating this subtask may reduce the cognitive load for the surgeon and improve patient outcomes.

Methods

We demonstrate vision-based shape sensing of the pneumatically attachable flexible (PAF) rail by using colour-dependent image segmentation. The shape-sensing framework is evaluated on known curves ranging from $$r = 30$$

r
=
30

to $$r = 110$$

r
=
110

mm, replicating curvatures in a human kidney. The shape sensing is then used to inform path planning of a collaborative robot arm paired with an intra-operative ultrasound probe. We execute 15 autonomous ultrasound scans of a tumour-embedded kidney phantom and retrieve viable ultrasound images, as well as seven freehand ultrasound scans for comparison.

Results

The vision-based sensor is shown to have comparable sensing accuracy with FBGS-based systems. We find the RMSE of the vision-based shape sensing of the PAF rail compared with ground truth to be $$0.4975 \pm 0.4169$$

0.4975
±
0.4169

mm. The ultrasound images acquired by the robot and by the human were evaluated by two independent clinicians. The median score across all criteria for both readers was ‘3—good’ for human and ‘4—very good’ for robot.

Conclusion

We have proposed a framework for autonomous intra-operative US scanning using vision-based shape sensing to inform path planning. Ultrasound images were evaluated by clinicians for sharpness of image, clarity of structures visible, and contrast of solid and fluid areas. Clinicians evaluated that robot-acquired images were superior to human-acquired images in all metrics. Future work will translate the framework to a da Vinci surgical robot.
Psychiatric Illness and Clinical Negligence: When Can “Secondary Victims” Successfully Claim for Damages? Recent Developments from the United Kingdom
Authors: Dove Edward S.
Published: May 2024

On January 11, 2024, the United Kingdom (U.K.) Supreme Court rendered its judgment in Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, restricting the circumstances in which “secondary victims” can successfully claim for damages in clinical negligence cases. This ruling has provided welcome clarity regarding the scope of negligently caused “pure” psychiatric illness claims, but the judgment may well prove controversial. In this article, I trace the facts and opinion from the majority and also discuss an important dissenting opinion. I then reflect on what the ruling means for psychiatric illness claims by secondary victims, and more broadly on the implications for clinical negligence law. I suggest that while much-needed clarity has been injected in this area of the law, it is difficult, reading the majority of the Supreme Court’s emphasis on the restricted scope of a medical practitioner’s duty, to envision a scenario in which secondary victim could ever succeed in a clinical negligence context.
Effect of spaceflight experience on human brain structure, microstructure, and function: systematic review of neuroimaging studies
Authors: Rezaei Sahar , Seyedmirzaei Homa , Gharepapagh Esmaeil , Mohagheghfard Fateme , Hasankhani Zahra , Karbasi Mahsa , Delavari Sahar , Aarabi Mohammad Hadi
Published: May 2024

Spaceflight-induced brain changes have been commonly reported in astronauts. The role of microgravity in the alteration of the brain structure, microstructure, and function can be tested with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of Spaceflight studies exploring the potential role of brain alterations identified by MRI in astronauts. We conducted a search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to find neuroimaging correlates of spaceflight experience using MRI. A total of 20 studies (structural MRI n = 8, diffusion-based MRI n = 2, functional MRI n = 1, structural MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI n = 6, structural MRI and functional MRI n = 3) met our inclusion criteria. Overall, the studies showed that regardless of the MRI techniques, mission duration significantly impacts the human brain, prompting the inclusion of various brain regions as features in the analyses. After spaceflight, notable alterations were also observed in the superior occipital gyrus and the precentral gyrus which show alterations in connectivity and activation during spaceflight. The results provided highlight the alterations in brain structure after spaceflight, the unique patterns of brain remodeling, the challenges in drawing unified conclusions, and the impact of microgravity on intracranial cerebrospinal fluid volume.
Prognostic role of serum albumin levels in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Armentaro Giuseppe , Condoleo Valentino , Pastura Carlo Alberto , Grasso Maria , Frasca Angelo , Martire Domenico , Cassano Velia , Maio Raffaele , Bonfrate Leonilde , Pastori Daniele , Montalcini Tiziana , Andreozzi Francesco , Sesti Giorgio , Violi Francesco , Sciacqua Angela
Published: May 2024

Background

Hypoalbuminemia is common in heart failure (HF) patients; however, there are no data regarding the possible long-term prognostic role of serum albumin (SA) in the younger population with chronic HF without malnutrition. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term prognostic role of SA levels in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in middle-aged outpatients with chronic HF.

Methods

In the present retrospective analysis, 378 subjects with HF were enrolled. MACE (non-fatal ischemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, cardiac revascularization or coronary bypass surgery, and cardiovascular death), total mortality, and HF hospitalizations (hHF) occurrence were evaluated during a median follow-up of 6.1 years.

Results

In all population, 152 patients had a SA value < 3.5 g/dL and 226 had a SA value ≥ 3.5 g/dL. In patients with SA ≥ 3.5 g/dL, the observed MACE were 2.1 events/100 patient-year; while in the group with a worse SA levels, there were 7.0 events/100 patient-year (p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis model confirmed that low levels of SA increase the risk of MACE by a factor of 3.1. In addition, the presence of ischemic heart disease, serum uric acid levels > 6.0 mg/dL, chronic kidney disease, and a 10-year age rise, increased the risk of MACE in study participants. Finally, patients with SA < 3.5 g/dl had a higher incidence of hHF (p < 0.001) and total mortality (p < 0.001) than patients with SA ≥ 3.5 g/dl.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic HF that exhibits low SA levels show a higher risk of MACE, hHF and total mortality.
Lung Cancer Detection Systems Applied to Medical Images: A State-of-the-Art Survey
Authors: Tan Sher Lyn , Selvachandran Ganeshsree , Paramesran Raveendran , Ding Weiping
Published: May 2024

Lung cancer represents a significant global health challenge, transcending demographic boundaries of age, gender, and ethnicity. Timely detection stands as a pivotal factor for enhancing both survival rates and post-diagnosis quality of life. Artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative force with the potential to substantially enhance the accuracy and efficiency of Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems for lung cancer. Despite the burgeoning interest, a notable gap persists in the literature concerning comprehensive reviews that delve into the intricate design and architectural facets of these systems. While existing reviews furnish valuable insights into result summaries and model attributes, a glaring absence prevails in offering a reliable roadmap to guide researchers towards optimal research directions. Addressing this gap in automated lung cancer detection within medical imaging, this survey adopts a focused approach, specifically targeting innovative models tailored solely for medical image analysis. The survey endeavors to meticulously scrutinize and merge knowledge pertaining to both the architectural components and intended functionalities of these models. In adherence to PRISMA guidelines, this survey systematically incorporates and analyzes 119 original articles spanning the years 2019–2023 sourced from Scopus and WoS-indexed repositories. The survey is underpinned by three primary areas of inquiry: the application of AI within CAD systems, the intricacies of model architectural designs, and comparative analyses of the latest advancements in lung cancer detection systems. To ensure coherence and depth in analysis, the surveyed methodologies are categorically classified into seven distinct groups based on their foundational models. Furthermore, the survey conducts a rigorous review of references and discerns trend observations concerning model designs and associated tasks. Beyond synthesizing existing knowledge, this survey serves as a guide that highlights potential avenues for further research within this critical domain. By providing comprehensive insights and facilitating informed decision-making, this survey aims to contribute to the body of knowledge in the study of automated lung cancer detection and propel advancements in the field.
Short Motivational Program for Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Pinto e Silva Teresa , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Pedrosa e Sousa Hélder Fernando , Cunha Olga , Caridade Sónia
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to determine the short-term effects of the Short Motivational Program (SMP) in increasing motivation to change on intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators and to analyse its suitability and acceptability. Ten male IPV perpetrators sentenced to prison, aged between 26 and 64 years (M = 47.8; SD = 13.2), participated in the SMP. Baseline and post-test measures of recidivism risk, attitudes supporting IPV, and psychopathy were collected. The SMP revealed positive results, with participants showing a slight decrease in supportive IPV attitudes and IPV recidivism risk. The results of this study reinforce the need to implement motivational interviewing techniques among IPV perpetrators in order to achieve positive change in perpetrators and prevent future aggressive behaviour and reoffending. Future well-powered studies using a rigorous controlled design are also warranted.
Comparative Analysis of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and TNF-Alpha Inhibitors in Mitigating Cisplatin-Induced Pancreatic Damage Through Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Pathways
Authors: Ciftel Enver , Mercantepe Filiz , Mercantepe Tolga , Akyildiz Kerimali , Yilmaz Adnan , Ciftel Serpil
Published: May 2024

Oxidative stress and inflammation caused by cisplatin, which is frequently used in the treatment of many cancers, damage healthy tissues as well as cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and infliximab (INF) administration on pancreatic endocrine cells in rats treated with systemic cisplatin (CDDP). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: group 1 (control group), group 2 (EGCG group), group 3 (CDDP group), group 4 (EGCG + CDDP group), group 5 (CDDP + INF group), and group 6 (EGCG + CDDP + INF group). The study’s findings demonstrated that EGCG and INF effectively reduced the cellular damage induced by CDDP in histopathologic investigations of the pancreas. EGCG and INF, whether used individually or in combination, demonstrated a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and an increase in glutathione (GSH) levels in the rat pancreas compared to the CDDP group. Immunohistochemically, the enhanced presence of insulin and glucagon positivity in the EGCG and INF groups, along with the absence of TUNEL immunopositivity, indicate that both treatments reduced CDDP-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the observed lack of immunopositivity in TNF-α and 8-OHdG in the groups treated with EGCG and INF, compared to those treated with CDDP, indicates that these substances can inhibit inflammation. EGCG and INF, whether provided alone or together, can potentially reduce the damage caused to pancreatic islet cells by cisplatin. This effect is achieved through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties during the early stages of the condition.
RIOT-ML: toolkit for over-the-air secure updates and performance evaluation of TinyML models
Authors: Huang Zhaolan , Zandberg Koen , Schleiser Kaspar , Baccelli Emmanuel
Published: May 2024

Practitioners in the field of TinyML lack so far a comprehensive, “batteries-included” toolkit to streamline continuous integration, continuous deployment and performance assessments of executing diverse machine learning models on various low-power IoT hardware. Addressing this gap, our paper introduces RIOT-ML, a versatile toolkit crafted to assist IoT designers and researchers in these tasks. To this end, we designed RIOT-ML based on an integration of an array of functionalities from a low-power embedded OS, a universal model transpiler and compiler, a toolkit for TinyML performance measurement, and a low-power over-the-air secure update framework—all of which usable on an open-access IoT testbed available to the community. Our open-source implementation of RIOT-ML and the initial experiments we report on showcase its utility in experimentally evaluating TinyML model performance across fleets of low-power IoT boards under test in the field, featuring a wide spectrum of heterogeneous microcontroller architectures and fleet network connectivity configurations. The existence of an open-source toolkit such as RIOT-ML is essential to expedite research combining artificial intelligence and IoT and to foster the full realization of edge computing’s potential.
The Fan Design Optimization for Totally Enclosed Type Induction Motor with Experimentally Verified CFD-Based MOGA Simulations
Authors: Özyildiz Tufan , Şentürk Lüle Senem
Published: May 2024

The energy efficient electric motors save energy thus reduce operating costs. Since there are several losses affecting the motor efficiency, fan design plays an important role to minimize these losses. This study examines the effects of the design parameters of a radial bladed fan on the motor efficiency in a 132 frame with a power of 7.5 kW. The parametric analysis was carried out with the computational fluid dynamics method, and the results were used for the multiobjective genetic algorithm (MOGA) optimization study with the highest efficiency and the lowest motor body temperature objectives. The hub height, hub radius, distance to body cover, blade rising angle, fan cover entrance distance, blade edge angle, blade center radius, blade edge radius, blade end radius, and center edge distance were selected as optimization parameters. 151 simulations were performed. The results showed that the most important parameter for fan efficiency is the hub height which is the parameter that determines the height of the fan impeller diameter. According to the results, the optimum fan design increased the efficiency by 8% compared to the original fan and reduced the winding temperature by 8 °C. The optimized fan design was manufactured and tested against imulation data. This study contributes to sustainable development goals by improving motor efficiency that reduces the cost, designing of new components, and cooling the fan effectively that reduces the amount of copper used.
Fostering Inclusive Curricula and Learning Environments: Inclusivity Reporting at a UK University
Authors: Finn Gabrielle M.
Published: May 2024

Universities are under increased scrutiny with respect to creating inclusive curricula and learning environments. Students often worry about reporting a lack of inclusivity, or they simply don't know where to go to do so. The University of Manchester created a rapid inclusivity reporting form, embedded into all programme virtual learning environments to enable accessible, and if preferred anonymous, reporting of issues. The form is triaged, and an accompany communications strategy was developed to ensure the feedback loop to students was complete. The form has been a success, with many issues, particularly related to sex and gender in the curricula being improved.
Nuclear Embeddings of Morrey Sequence Spaces and Smoothness Morrey Spaces
Authors: Haroske Dorothee D. , Skrzypczak Leszek
Published: May 2024

We study nuclear embeddings for spaces of Morrey type, both in its sequence space version and as smoothness spaces of functions defined on a bounded domain $$\Omega \subset {{\mathbb {R}}}^{{d}}$$

Ω
⊂

R

d

. This covers, in particular, the meanwhile well-known and completely answered situation for spaces of Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin type defined on bounded domains which has been considered for a long time. The complete result was obtained only recently. Compact embeddings for function spaces of Morrey type have already been studied in detail, also concerning their entropy and approximation numbers. We now prove the first and complete nuclearity result in this context. The concept of nuclearity has already been introduced by Grothendieck in 1955. Again we rely on suitable wavelet decomposition techniques and the famous Tong result (1969) which characterises nuclear diagonal operators acting between sequence spaces of $$\ell _r$$

ℓ
r

type, $$1\le r\le \infty $$

1
≤
r
≤
∞

.