bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in the role of high-salt diet in anti- and pro-cancer progression
Authors: Tang Shiwei , Xu Juan , Wan Ping , Jin Shumen , Zhang Ying , Xun Linting , Wang Jinli , Luo Mei , Chen Wenjie , Zuo Zan , Tang Hui , Qi Jialong
Published: January 2025

Dietary behaviors significantly influence tumor progression, with increasing focus on high-salt diets (HSD) in recent years. Traditionally, HSD has been regarded as a major risk factor for multiple health issues, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. However, recent studies have uncovered a novel aspect of HSD, suggesting that HSD may inhibit tumor growth in specific pathological conditions by modulating the activity of immune cells that infiltrate tumors and enhancing the effectiveness of PD-1 immunotherapy. This review focused on the duel molecular mechanisms of HSD in cancer development, which are based on the tumor microenvironment, the gut microbiota, and the involvement of sodium transporter channels. The objective of this review is to explore whether HSD could be a potential future oncological therapeutic strategy under specific situation.
Research on the stress concentration effects and fracture mechanisms of DC04 sheet steel with holes
Authors: Lin Xu , Zhang Limei , Xie Yi
Published: January 2025

DC04 sheet steel is widely used in automotive engineering because of its light weight and high ductility. The sheet steel with holes will emerge stress concentration under loading, then the peripore crack appeared around holes until the fracture occurred. The conventional analysis started around the macroscopic experiment and theoretical analysis, but the study on the evolution law and fracture mechanism of peripore cracks caused by stress concentration effect was not systematic. So, the hole stress of DC04 sheet steel with circular, oval, rectangular and diamond holes were firstly analyzed in this paper. At the same time, 15 groups of tensile tests were verified the influence of cavity shape on stress concentration. Then, taking the sheet steel with circular hole and oval hole as the research object, the evolution of aperture and stress change law were analyzed, and the corresponding empirical formula of stress concentration coefficient about net section was obtained. Finally, the microscopic crack development was observed by electron microscopy, and the crack evolution law and the fracture mechanism caused by stress concentration around the hole were analyzed. These studies will provide theoretical support for the practical engineering design.
Epitaxial growth of transition metal nitrides by reactive sputtering
Authors: Hörich Florian , Lüttich Christopher , Grümbel Jona , Bläsing Jürgen , Feneberg Martin , Dadgar Armin , Goldhahn Rüdiger , Strittmatter André
Published: January 2025

Implementing transition metal nitride (TM-nitride) layers by epitaxy into group-III nitride semiconductor layer structures may solve substantial persisting problems for electronic and optoelectronic device configurations and subsequently enable new device classes in the favorable nitride semiconductor family. As a prominent example, the integration of the group-III-transition metal nitride AlScN enabled an improved performance of GaN based transistor structures due to stronger polarization fields as has been recently demonstrated. For other transition metal nitrides (TMNs) and their alloys with group-III nitrides a range of other interesting properties is expected to enable novel devices and applications. We investigated the compatibility of TM-nitride layers with the growth of GaN-based structures on silicon substrates. As we show TiN layers are compatible and particularly suited as highly conducting, metallic-like buffer layer enabling true vertical conduction without elaborate backside processing. Also, we demonstrate epitaxial growth of alloys based on ScN and AlN as well as of HfN layers on Si(111) substrates by reactive sputtering using high purity gases and targets. Particularly, we analyzed the crystal structure and the quality of Sc-rich AlxSc1-xN. For HfN layers, we find a unique impact on the growth polarity of MOVPE-grown GaN layers on Si(111) which changes to N-polar growth. This represents a simple and technologically scalable approach for N-polar GaN-based layers on Si substrates.
Recalibrating the kidney failure risk equation for a Mediterranean European population: reducing age and sex inequality
Authors: Bundó-Luque Daniel , Cunillera-Puértolas Oriol , Cobo-Guerrero Sílvia , Romano José , Arbiol-Roca Ariadna , Domínguez-Alonso José Alberto , Cruzado Josep Maria , Salvador-González Betlem
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients may develop kidney failure (KF), receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) in some cases. The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE-4), predicting RRT risk, is widely validated but not in a primary care Mediterranean European population. We aim to recalibrate KFRE-4 accordingly, considering death as a competing risk, to improve performance. Additionally, we recalibrate KFRE-4 for predicting KF, including all patients reaching CKD stage 5, not just those on RRT.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study including individuals aged ≥50 years with confirmed glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m2 and measured albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Dataset was split into training and test sets. New KFRE-4 models were developed in the training set and performance was evaluated in the test set: Base hazard adapted-KFRE (Basic-RRT), Cox reestimation (Cox- RRT), Fine and Gray RRT reestimation (FG-RRT), and Fine and Gray KF reestimation (FG-KF).

Results

Among 165,371 primary care patients (58.1% female; mean age 78.1 years; mean eGFR 47.3 mL/min/1.73m2, median ACR 10.1 mg/g), original KFRE-4 showed good discrimination but poor calibration, overestimating RRT risk. Basic-RRT showed poorer performance. Cox-RRT and FG-RRT, enhancing the influence of old age and female sex, diminished overprediction. FG-RRT, considering death as a competing risk, resulted the best RRT model. Age and sex had less impact on KF prediction.

Conclusion

A fully tailored recalibration model diminished RRT overprediction. Considering death as a competing event optimizes performance. Recalibrating for KF prediction offers a more inclusive approach in primary care, addressing the needs of women and elderly.
Development of a prognostic nomogram for ocular melanoma: a SEER population-based study (2000–2021)
Authors: Zheng Miyun , Xu Maodong , You Mengxing , Huang Zhiqing
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Ocular melanoma (OM) is a rare but lethal subtype of melanoma. This study develops a prognostic nomogram for OM using machine learning and internal validation techniques, aiming to improve prognosis prediction and clinical decision-making.

Methods

Independent prognostic variables were identified using univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazard regression models. Significant variables were then incorporated into the nomogram. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and 10-fold cross-validation. The performance of the nomogram was compared with that of a machine learning model.

Results

Thirteen variables, including age, sex, tumor site, histologic subtype, stage, basal diameter size, tumor thickness, liver metastasis, first malignant primary indicator, marital status, and treatment modalities (surgery/radiotherapy/chemotherapy) were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and were included in the nomogram (all P < 0.05). The nomogram showed a concordance index of 0.712. The areas under the curve (AUC) for predicting 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 0.749, 0.734, and 0.730, respectively. Calibration plots for 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival were in close agreement with the ideal predictions, and DCA indicated a superior net benefit. The average AUC from 10-fold cross-validation was 0.725. The machine-learning model identified liver metastasis as the most significant predictor of survival, followed by age, radiotherapy, stage, and other factors that were incorporated into the nomogram. The machine-learning model achieved a predictive AUC score of 0.750.

Conclusions

A robust nomogram incorporating 13 significant clinicopathological variables was developed. The combined use of ROC curve analysis, calibration plots, DCA, 10-fold cross-validation, and machine learning confirmed the strong predictive performance of the nomogram for survival outcomes in patients with OM.
Low hydrostatic pressure promotes functional homeostasis of nucleus pulposus cells through the TRPV4/CRT/FA complex axis
Authors: Hu Junxian , Zhu Yibo , Pang Zeyu , Li Xiaoxiao , Zhang Huilin , Li Xiangwei , Gao Yongjian , Wang Yiyang , Li Pei , Zhou Qiang
Published: January 2025

The low hydrostatic pressure in the intervertebral disc plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the disc environment, particularly in supporting the physiological functions of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. TRPV4, a baroreceptor in the intervertebral disc, is primarily responsible for converting extracellular pressure signals into intracellular chemical signals. Upon activation, TRPV4 facilitates the influx of calcium ions, thereby regulating the physiological behavior of NP cells. Calreticulin (CRT), an endoplasmic reticulum retention protein, performs various physiological functions, including the regulation of intracellular calcium levels. CRT also exhibits distinct roles depending on its subcellular localization. In this study, we observed that under low hydrostatic pressure, TRPV4 activation and subsequent calcium influx led to an increase in CRT synthesis and a significant rise in its cytosolic expression. This was followed by the depolymerization of focal adhesion (FA) complexes, primarily consisting of FAK and integrin β1, which resulted in an increase in collagen type II (Col II) and a decrease in collagen type I (Col I). These changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition helped maintain the physiological function of NP cells. Furthermore, overexpression of CRT enhanced the ability of NP cells to resist partial functional damage caused by high hydrostatic pressure. Taken together, our findings suggested that low hydrostatic pressure enhanced NP cell function by regulating the TRPV4/CRT/FA complex signaling axis.
Recent advances in the biosynthesis of polysaccharide-based antimicrobial glycoconjugate vaccines
Authors: Wang Yuhui , Liu Haodi , Wang Baoying , Gheyret Gülzire , Qin Jingliang , Wang Hanlin , Di Yuhan , Wang Yanling , Wang Juan , Tan Haining
Published: January 2025

Glycoconjugate vaccines are a vital category of effective and safe commercial vaccines that have significantly reduced the global prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial infections. These vaccines are synthesized by covalently linking bacterial polysaccharide antigens to a carrier protein. Given that they produce a stronger and longer-lasting immune response than pure polysaccharides that activate only B cells, glycoconjugate vaccines have become one of the most promising vaccine types. However, the chemical synthesis of glycoconjugate vaccines is complex, costly, and labor-intensive. Therefore, the efficient preparation of biosynthetic glycoconjugates using microbial cell factories has emerged as a highly desirable manufacturing alternative. This review focuses on advancements in the recombinant microbial biosynthesis of glycoconjugate vaccines and summarizes various strategies to optimize their production. It is based on three key aspects: the selection of oligosaccharyltransferase (OST), the use of different vaccine carrier proteins, and the enhancement of key concentrations in the uridine diphosphate (UDP)-sugar supply. Finally, the review highlights technical challenges and discusses future directions for the recombinant synthesis of glycoconjugate vaccines.
The trend of phylogenetic and epitope variations of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages in Iran
Authors: Shabani Mehdi , Nejati Ahmad , Yavarian Jila , Sadeghi Kaveh , Zadheidar Sevrin , Ahmadi Akram Sadat , Ghadirali Monire , Zebardast Arghavan , Abedi Adel , Najmi Mohammad Hossein , Shafiei-Jandaghi Nazanin-Zahra , Mokhtari-Azad Talat
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a significant public health issue worldwide in recent years. The most recently circulating variant of SARS-CoV-2, Omicron, and its rapid evolution into various sub-lineages have raised concerns regarding the effects of the immunity on the virus epitopes, in the human population. The present study evaluated and compared these important variations among different Omicron sub-lineages in Iran.

Methodology

From October 2023 to August 2024, high coverage whole genome sequences of 49 SARS-CoV-2 strains were subjected to phylogenetic analysis and evaluation of B cell, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell epitopes in Iran National Influenza Centre.

Results

The phylogenetic tree exhibited eight Nextstrain clades (21L, 22F, 23B, 23H, 23D, 24A, 24B, and 24C) in 48 studied strains, and one recombinant strain (XDK.1). The evaluation of B cell, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell epitopes in all studied strains revealed 31, 65, and 78%, of conservation, respectively. The low B cell epitopes conservation rate among Omicron sub-lineages underscored the escaping from neutralizing humoral immunity. T cell epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 were considerably preserved across major Omicron sub-lineages. Conservation levels varied based on the epitope class (higher for CD8+ vs. CD4+), protein (higher for non-spike vs. spike), and clades (higher for 21L, 22F, 23B, 23H, 23D, and 24B vs. 24A and 24C).

Conclusion

Herein, the increased conservation of CD8+ epitopes compared to CD4+ and B cell epitopes is probably attributable to the shorter length of the peptides associated with CD8+ epitopes. The high rate of T-cell epitopes conservation in non-spike proteins among different sub-lineages of the Omicron in this study highlighted the importance of cell-mediated immunity and suggested that non-spike proteins might be more attractive targets for future SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Variations in rumen microbiota and host genome impacted feed efficiency in goat breeds
Authors: Rabee Alaa Emara , Abou-souliman Ibrahim , Yousif Ahmed I. , Lamara Mebarek , El-Sherbieny Mohamed A. , Elwakeel Eman Ali , Sallam Ahmed M.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Improving feed efficiency (FE) is a significant goal in animal breeding programs. Variations in FE and its relationship with rumen microbiota remain poorly understood across different goat breeds.

Methods

This study assessed the influence of the rumen microbiome and host genome on FE in 10 Shami (SH) goats and 10 Zaraibi (ZA) goats, all of which were fed the same diet. The animals were genotyped using the Illumina 65KSNP chip arrays v2, and their rumen bacteria and archaea were investigated using PCR-amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Results

The results showed that the ZA goats exhibited higher FE than the SH goats (p < 0.05) and a greater relative abundance (p < 0.05) of rumen bacterial groups that are involved in the degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses, such as Bacteroidota and Fibrobacterota, along with genera such as Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, and Succiniclasticum, which are linked to carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism pathways. In addition, breed differences were found to affect the proportions of milk fatty acids. The association analysis identified 26 genome windows containing several putative candidate genes, such as TMEM241, AP4S1, FTO, HYAL2, BBS2, CD52, CRYBG2, PIGV, WDTC1, EEF1A2, GBA2, FNIP1, ACSL6, STARD10, VPS26B, ACAD8, GLB1L3, NRN1L, LCAT, and SLC7A6. These genes contributed to FE traits in Egyptian goats, as they are involved in obesity, metabolism, and the transport of energy, vitamins, fatty acids, proteins, and lipids through diverse biological pathways.

Discussion

This study suggests that specific genetic markers and rumen microbial traits could be used to identify high-efficient individuals in Egyptian goat breeds, and improving breeding strategies for FE.
In vitro modeling of feline gut fermentation: a comprehensive analysis of fecal microbiota and metabolic activity
Authors: Ren Qianle , Li Yuling , Duan Mingmei , Li Jinjun , Shi Fangshu , Zhou Yun , Hu Wanjing , Mao Junfu , Li Xiaoqiong
Published: January 2025

The gut microbiota (GM) is a large and diverse microbial community that plays essential roles in host health. The in vitro fermentation model of the fecal GM serves as a valuable complement to food and health research in both humans and animals. Despite advancements in standardized protocols for culturing human GM, research concerning animals—particularly companion animals—remains limited. This study aims to identify the optimal in vitro fermentation method for cat gut microbiota by comprehensively analyzing fecal microbiota and fermentation characteristics. We evaluated seven culture media previously used to simulate the gut microenvironment in humans, dogs, and cats: anaerobic medium base (AMB), Minimum medium (MM), Pet medium (PM), VI medium (VI), VL medium (VL), Yeast culture medium (JM), and yeast casitone fatty acid agar medium (YCFA). Fresh fecal samples were fermented in these media for 48 h, followed by 16S rRNA sequencing to assess bacterial community composition and targeted metabolite monitoring during fermentation. The results revealed that the substrate composition in the medium differentially impacts bacterial community structure and fermentation characteristics. High levels of carbon and nitrogen sources can substantially increase gas production, particularly CO2, while also significantly enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Additionally, substrates with a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio promote the production of more SCFAs and biogenic amines, and enrich the Bacteroidaceae family, even when the total substrate amount is lower. Comprehensive analysis of gut microbiota and metabolites reveals that PM medium effectively simulates a nutrient-deficient microenvironment in the cat gut during in vitro fermentation. This simulation maintains bacterial community stability and results in lower metabolite levels. Therefore, using PM medium to culture cat gut microbiota for 48 h, without focusing on specific bacterial genera, represents the most suitable in vitro model. This finding contributes to understanding the optimal conditions for simulate cat gut microbiota and may provide a new approach for investigating the food pharmaceuticals on the cat gut microbiota and related health.
The impact of bariatric surgery on gut microbiota: a bibliometric analysis of research trends and scientific contributions
Authors: Gong Shuaichang , Zhang Xiabiao , Chen Xiaoliang , Wan Ping , Zhou Longfei , Zhang Jun
Published: January 2025

Background

Obesity is a prevalent global disease closely linked to various chronic conditions. Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently recognized as the most effective treatment. Increasing evidence suggests that BS alters the gut microbiota (GM), which plays a crucial role in postoperative weight loss. However, there has been no systematic bibliometric analysis exploring the relationship between BS and GM to date.

Methods

We conducted a literature search on BS and GM from January 1, 1981, to May 25, 2024, within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We utilized Excel 2021, VOSviewer 1.6.19, CiteSpace 6.2.R3, and the R package “bibliometrix” 4.3.0, along with the online bibliometric analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/app), to visualize publishing trends and research hotspots in this field.

Results

A total of 2,542 articles meeting the criteria were included. Since 2015, the rate of publication has significantly accelerated. The United States leads in both the number of publications and average citations per article. The University of São Paulo is the most active institution, whereas the University of Copenhagen has the highest average citation count. Obesity Surgery is the journal with the highest number of publications, and the most prolific author is Karine Clement. Keyword and thematic analyses indicate that “gut microbiota” and “bariatric surgery” are the primary research hotspots for future studies.

Conclusion

In summary, this field is garnering increasing attention. Our findings suggest that future research will likely focus on the effects of bariatric surgery on gut microbiota and its biological mechanisms, the role of gut microbiota in the weight loss process, and the development of combined treatments based on gut microbiota.
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TG11 ameliorates loperamide-induced constipation in mice by modulating gut microbiota
Authors: Ma Weiwei , Zhao Yiyang , Liu Yuyang , Wang Yanyan , Yu Shuang , Huang Lili
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder that can affect quality of life. Probiotics have garnered substantial attention for their potential to alleviate constipation. This study investigates the preventive effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TG11 on loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Methods

Mice were randomly assigned to normal control (NC), constipation model (CM), and low, medium, and high-dose TG11 treatment groups (LG, MG, HG). From days 1–14, LG, MG, and HG groups received 106, 107, and 108 CFU/mouse of TG11, respectively, while NC and CM groups received saline. On day 14, all groups except NC were administered loperamide (4 mg/kg) orally to induce constipation. Fecal samples were collected for short-chain fatty acid and gut microbiota analyses. Following a 16-hour fasting period, various parameters were assessed on day 15, including intestinal motility, fecal water content, defecation status, gut peptide levels in blood, and mRNA expression levels of SCF and c-kit in colonic tissue.

Results

TG11 significantly enhanced intestinal motility and maintained fecal water content. It normalized blood levels of MTL, SP, SS, ET-1, Gas, and VIP in constipated mice, promoted short-chain fatty acid production, and improved microbial metabolism. TG11 markedly upregulated mRNA expression of SCF and c-kit in colonic tissue. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that TG11 modulated gut microbiota composition, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, particularly Muribaculum_sp. and uncultured_Duncaniella.

Discussion

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis TG11 demonstrates efficacy in ameliorating constipation, potentially through modulation of the gut microbiota composition.
Development and internal validation of a nomogram for predicting cognitive impairment after mild ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack based on cognitive trajectories: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhao Panpan , Shi Lin , Zhang Guimei , Wei Chunxiao , Zhai Weijie , Shen Yanxin , Wang Yongchun , Wang Zicheng , Sun Li
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Many predictive models for cognitive impairment after mild stroke and transient ischemic attack are based on cognitive scales at a certain timepoint. We aimed to develop two easy-to-use predictive models based on longitudinal cognitive trajectories to facilitate early identification and treatment.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of 556 patients, followed up every 3 months. Patients with at least two cognitive scales within 2.5 years were included in the latent class growth analysis (LCGA). The patients were categorized into two groups based on the LCGA. First, a difference analysis was performed, and further univariate and stepwise backward multifactorial logistic regression was performed. The results were presented as nomograms, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration, decision curve analysis, and cross-validation were performed to assess model performance.

Results

The LCGA eventually included 255 patients, and the “22” group was selected for further subgroup analysis. Among them, 29.8% were included in the cognitive impairment trajectory. Model 1, which incorporated baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment, ferritin, age, and previous stroke, achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.973, and model 2, which incorporated age, previous stroke, education, and ferritin, with an AUC of 0.771. Decision curve analysis and cross-validation showed excellent clinical applicability.

Discussion

Here, we developed two simple and easy-to-use predictive models of post-stroke cognitive trajectories based on a LCGA, which are presented in the form of nomograms suitable for clinical application. These models provide a basis for early detection and prompt treatment.
Differences in category information processing between areas TEO and TE of the macaque
Authors: Shimizu Masaumi , Katakami Shun , Okada Masato , Sugase-Miyamoto Yasuko , Hayashi Kazuko , Matsuda Keiji , Miura Kenichiro , Eldridge Mark A. G. , Saunders Richard C. , Richmond Barry J. , Matsumoto Narihisa
Published: January 2025

Object categorization is a fundamental visual function, via which primates group items based on perceptual similarity. Neurons that respond to a class of complex objects, such as faces, can be found in inferior temporal cortex of macaque monkeys, comprising areas TEO and TE. The ability of monkeys to categorize cat/dog images is greatly impaired when both TE and TEO are removed, but is only modestly impaired if either region is left intact. This suggests that both TE and TEO can support object categorization. We investigated what differences exist in category information processing between areas TEO and TE. For cat and dog stimulus images, we found that category decoding performance increased during the initial phase of a stimulus presentation, then remained stable in area TEO for the duration of the presentation in a passive fixation task. In area TE, category decoding performance continued to improve into later in the time window than in TEO. Furthermore, we found that, after cat/dog category training, area TE neuronal populations encode cat and dog category information more strongly than do TEO neurons even in a fixation task (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.05). Together, our results suggest that area TEO processes category information without changing its representation, whereas the category information representation in area TE evolves over time (both within a trial and across category training sessions), indicating that responses in TE may be influenced by top-down feedback.
LoCS-Net: Localizing convolutional spiking neural network for fast visual place recognition
Authors: Akcal Ugur , Raikov Ivan Georgiev , Gribkova Ekaterina Dmitrievna , Choudhuri Anwesa , Kim Seung Hyun , Gazzola Mattia , Gillette Rhanor , Soltesz Ivan , Chowdhary Girish
Published: January 2025

Visual place recognition (VPR) is the ability to recognize locations in a physical environment based only on visual inputs. It is a challenging task due to perceptual aliasing, viewpoint and appearance variations and complexity of dynamic scenes. Despite promising demonstrations, many state-of-the-art (SOTA) VPR approaches based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) suffer from computational inefficiency. However, spiking neural networks (SNNs) implemented on neuromorphic hardware are reported to have remarkable potential for more efficient solutions computationally. Still, training SOTA SNNs for VPR is often intractable on large and diverse datasets, and they typically demonstrate poor real-time operation performance. To address these shortcomings, we developed an end-to-end convolutional SNN model for VPR that leverages backpropagation for tractable training. Rate-based approximations of leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neurons are employed during training, which are then replaced with spiking LIF neurons during inference. The proposed method significantly outperforms existing SOTA SNNs on challenging datasets like Nordland and Oxford RobotCar, achieving 78.6% precision at 100% recall on the Nordland dataset (compared to 73.0% from the current SOTA) and 45.7% on the Oxford RobotCar dataset (compared to 20.2% from the current SOTA). Our approach offers a simpler training pipeline while yielding significant improvements in both training and inference times compared to SOTA SNNs for VPR. Hardware-in-the-loop tests using Intel's neuromorphic USB form factor, Kapoho Bay, show that our on-chip spiking models for VPR trained via the ANN-to-SNN conversion strategy continue to outperform their SNN counterparts, despite a slight but noticeable decrease in performance when transitioning from off-chip to on-chip, while offering significant energy efficiency. The results highlight the outstanding rapid prototyping and real-world deployment capabilities of this approach, showing it to be a substantial step toward more prevalent SNN-based real-world robotics solutions.
The spatial buildup of nonlinear compression in the cochlea
Authors: Kondylidis Kostas , Vavakou Anna , van der Heijden Marcel
Published: January 2025

In the mammalian cochlea, the transduction from vibrations to inner hair cell receptor currents is preceded by a stage of mechanical pre-processing that involves a rapid, strongly nonlinear compression. The mechanisms by which the cochlea realizes this dynamic compression are still poorly understood. Previous work by our group suggested that compression does not occur locally, but is realized by a cascade of weakly nonlinear elements along the cochlear partition. The resulting progressive accumulation of nonlinearity was termed the spatial buildup of compression. Here we studied mechanical compression in the basal turn of the sensitive gerbil cochlea using optical coherence tomography. We recorded vibrations at multiple positions along the length of the cochlear partition. Such longitudinal studies were virtually impossible with previous techniques. Using a tailored two-tone stimulus we quantified the spatial profile of compression. We found that the amount of compression grew gradually in an intensity-dependent fashion along our measurement stretch, as we moved apically toward the place of maximum vibration. This gradual buildup of compression was not mirrored by a gradual reduction beyond the peak. In fact the amount of compression accumulated even beyond the peak. This asymmetric pattern supports the view that mechanical compression is realized in a cascaded, distributed fashion which hinges on the traveling wave nature of cochlear vibrations.
MUNet: a novel framework for accurate brain tumor segmentation combining UNet and mamba networks
Authors: Yang Lijuan , Dong Qiumei , Lin Da , Tian Chunfang , Lü Xinliang
Published: January 2025

Brain tumors are one of the major health threats to humans, and their complex pathological features and anatomical structures make accurate segmentation and detection crucial. However, existing models based on Transformers and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) still have limitations in medical image processing. While Transformers are proficient in capturing global features, they suffer from high computational complexity and require large amounts of data for training. On the other hand, CNNs perform well in extracting local features but have limited performance when handling global information. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel network framework, MUNet, which combines the advantages of UNet and Mamba, specifically designed for brain tumor segmentation. MUNet introduces the SD-SSM module, which effectively captures both global and local features of the image through selective scanning and state-space modeling, significantly improving segmentation accuracy. Additionally, we design the SD-Conv structure, which reduces feature redundancy without increasing model parameters, further enhancing computational efficiency. Finally, we propose a new loss function that combines mIoU loss, Dice loss, and Boundary loss, which improves segmentation overlap, similarity, and boundary accuracy from multiple perspectives. Experimental results show that, on the BraTS2020 dataset, MUNet achieves DSC values of 0.835, 0.915, and 0.823 for enhancing tumor (ET), whole tumor (WT), and tumor core (TC), respectively, and Hausdorff95 scores of 2.421, 3.755, and 6.437. On the BraTS2018 dataset, MUNet achieves DSC values of 0.815, 0.901, and 0.815, with Hausdorff95 scores of 4.389, 6.243, and 6.152, all outperforming existing methods and achieving significant performance improvements. Furthermore, when validated on the independent LGG dataset, MUNet demonstrated excellent generalization ability, proving its effectiveness in various medical imaging scenarios. The code is available at https://github.com/Dalin1977331/MUNet.
Lifetime history of concussion among children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: examining differences stratified by age, medication status, and parent-reported severity
Authors: Maietta Julia E. , Iverson Grant L. , Cook Nathan E.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to report a lifetime history of concussion compared to those without ADHD. Prior studies have predominantly relied on surveys of youth who self-reported their ADHD status (as opposed to parent report), examined samples with relatively narrow age ranges, and focused on youth athletes. It is unclear if ADHD severity or ADHD medication influences the association between ADHD and greater lifetime history of concussion. We investigated the association between parent-reported ADHD, ADHD severity, and medication status with parent-reported lifetime concussion history in children and adolescents ranging in age from 5 to 17, sampled from the United States general population.

Methods

Parent reported health data from 33,914 children and adolescents were selected from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health. Lifetime history of concussion, current ADHD diagnosed by a healthcare provider, and, for those with current ADHD, ADHD severity (mild or moderate/severe), and current ADHD medication status (yes/no) were reported by parents. A Mantel–Haenszel analysis was used to assess the associations between ADHD and lifetime concussion history across five age groups (ages 5–7, 8–10, 11–13, 14–15, and 16–17). Additional Mantel–Haenszel analyses were used to assess the associations between lifetime history of concussion and ADHD severity as well as medication status across five age groups.

Results

Overall, 6.2% of youth had a parent-reported history of concussion and 12.3% had parent-reported current ADHD. Twice as many youth with ADHD (10.6%) had a parent-reported history of concussion compared to youth without ADHD (5.6%). There were no differences in lifetime concussion history for those with mild (10.9%) versus moderate/severe ADHD (10.3%). Similarly, among those with ADHD, there were no differences in lifetime concussion history for those taking medication (9.9%) versus those not taking medication (11.6%).

Discussion

Consistent with previous literature, youth with ADHD had greater lifetime concussion history than youth without ADHD (approximately twice the prevalence in those with ADHD). Contrary to our hypotheses among youth with ADHD, parent-reported ADHD severity and current medication status were not associated with lifetime concussion history.
Radiomics prediction of MGMT promoter methylation in adult diffuse gliomas: a combination of structural MRI, DCE, and DTI
Authors: Liu Yuying , Zhu Zhengyang , Zhou Jianan , Wang Han , Yang Huiquan , Yin Jinfeng , Wang Yitong , Li Xin , Chen Futao , Li Qian , Jiang Zhuoru , Wu Xi , Ge Danni , Zhang Yi , Zhang Xin , Zhang Bing
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To assess the predictive value of radiomics features extracted from structural MRI, dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in detecting O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation in patients with diffuse gliomas.

Methods

Retrospective MRI data of 110 patients were enrolled in this study. The training dataset included 88 patients (mean age 52.84 ± 14.71, 47 females). The test dataset included 22 patients (mean age 50.64 ± 12.58, 12 females). A total of 2,782 radiomic features were extracted from structural MRI, DCE, and DTI within two region of interests (ROIs). Feature section was conducted using Pearson correlation and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Principal component analysis was utilized for dimensionality reduction. Support vector machine was employed for model construction. Two radiologists with 1 year and 5 years of experience evaluated the MGMT status in the test dataset as a comparison with the models. The chi-square test and independent samples t-test were used for assessing the statistical differences in patients’ clinical characteristics.

Results

On the training dataset, the model structural MRI + DCE achieved the highest AUC of 0.906. On the test dataset, the model structural MRI + DCE + DTI achieved the highest AUC of 0.868, outperforming two radiologists.

Conclusion

The radiomics models have obtained promising performance in predicting MGMT promoter methylation status. Adding DCE and DTI features can provide extra information to structural MRI in detecting MGMT promoter methylation.
Evaluation of compliance and accuracy in Parkinson’s disease motor symptom tracking: a comparative study of digital and traditional paper diaries using a smartphone application (MyParkinson’s)
Authors: Durmaz Celik Nazli , Yaman Kula Asli , Murat Naci , Kuzu Kumcu Müge , Topal Aydan , Özkan Serhat
Published: January 2025

Background/objectives

This study aimed to evaluate compliance and accuracy in comparison with traditional PD diaries for tracking motor symptoms using a new smartphone application (MyParkinson’s) and paper diary strategies. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor symptoms. Treatment becomes more challenging as PD progresses, motor complications in the form of wearing-off phenomenon and levodopa-induced dyskinesia develop. Traditional paper diaries and clinical scales used to evaluate patients may be inadequate in assessing whether the patient is “on” or “off,” resulting in less-than-ideal treatment changes.

Methods

A randomized crossover design was utilized to examine 22 advanced PD patients who underwent symptomatic assessment with both diaries during two separate 24-h periods seven days apart. The compliance and accuracy of data were assessed by comparing diary entries with the clinical examination notes and WhatsApp queries. LaOerly, patients’ diary preferences were also evaluated.

Results

The digital diary had significantly beOer compliance and accuracy than the paper diaries, with substantial/almost perfect levels of agreement (κ = 0.615 to 0.818) between logged symptoms and clinical examination notes. 65% of patients preferred the digital diary for follow-ups, and there was no significant difference in ease of use compared to paper diaries.

Conclusion

Digital diaries are helpful in the clinical management of PD patients as they minimize recall bias and reduce data errors in appropriately selected patients. Our study suggests a broader adoption of digital health technologies in PD management. Still, additional research is necessary to improve the tools and assess long-term patient outcomes.
Instrumental balance assessment in Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. A systematic review with critical appraisal of clinical applications and quality of reporting
Authors: Merlo Andrea , Cavazzuti Lorenzo , Bò Maria Chiara , Cavallieri Francesco , Bassi Maria Chiara , Damiano Benedetta , Scaltriti Sara , Fioravanti Valentina , Di Rauso Giulia , Portaro Giacomo , Valzania Franco , Lusuardi Mirco , Campanini Isabella
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Patients with Parkinson's disease (pwPD) and atypical parkinsonism usually complain of impaired balance. Instrumental posturography is widely used to quantitatively assess static balance in pwPD but many posturographic parameters and protocols have been suggested. We aimed to appraise the use of static posturography in pwPD and atypical parkinsonism, and identify gaps hindering its translation into clinical routine.

Methods

A systematic review on four databases. Study methodology, clinical aspects, assessment protocol, technical aspects, and transferability to clinical practice were critically appraised by a set of quality questions, scored on three levels (0, 0.5, 1). Total scores were used to assess overall studies' quality.

Results

132 studies were included. The majority (105/132) was rated medium-quality. The domains “transferability to clinical practice” and “assessment protocol” received the lowest scores. The main flaw hindering portability to clinical settings was the lack of a stated rationale behind the choice of a specific protocol and the selection of the posturographic parameters. Missing reporting about the technical aspects employed to manage posturographic data and comprehensive instructions given to the patients further contributed to lower quality.

Discussion

We provided recommendations for enhancing the clinical transferability of studies on static posturography to assess pwPD, including (1) discussing the rationale for choosing the assessment protocols and posturographic parameters, (2) detailing the inclusion criteria and select appropriate samples, and (3) reporting all the technical information to replicate the procedures and computations.

Systematic review registration

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 6th February 2024 (ID CRD42024500777), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024500777.
Optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with focal epilepsy
Authors: Rider Flora , Guekht Alla , Shpak Alexander
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) data in individuals with focal epilepsy and healthy individuals and to investigate the effect of antiseizure medications (ASM) on OCTA data.

Methods

We examined 48 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy and 46 healthy controls. Area and skeleton density of superficial and deep capillary plexuses in the macular area and peripapillary radial capillary plexus were measured.

Results

In general, no differences in OCTA parameters were found between groups of individuals with epilepsy and healthy individuals. A comparison of individuals with epilepsy with and without comorbid major depressive disorder revealed no differences in OCTA data. However, the area and skeleton densities of the perfused capillary retinal vascular bed in the macular region showed a negative association with the use of valproates and modifiers of the presynaptic release machinery, whereas only the skeleton density of the deep capillary plexus showed a positive association with the use of modulators of voltage-gated sodium channels.

Conclusion

OCTA revealed different effects of various ASM groups on the perfused macular capillary bed. These findings suggest that OCTA parameters could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing ASM effects on small vessels and capillaries in the brain.
From pixels to prognosis: radiomics and AI in Alzheimer’s disease management
Authors: Peng Danting , Huang Weiju , Liu Ren , Zhong Wenlong
Published: January 2025

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, poses a growing global health challenge due to an aging population. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for optimizing treatment and management, yet traditional diagnostic methods often fall short in addressing the complexity of AD pathology. Recent advancements in radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) offer novel solutions by integrating quantitative imaging features and machine learning algorithms to enhance diagnostic and prognostic precision. This review explores the application of radiomics and AI in AD, focusing on key imaging modalities such as PET and MRI, as well as multimodal approaches combining structural and functional data. We discuss the potential of these technologies to identify disease-specific biomarkers, predict disease progression, and guide personalized interventions. Additionally, the review addresses critical challenges, including data standardization, model interpretability, and the integration of AI into clinical workflows. By highlighting current achievements and identifying future directions, this article underscores the transformative potential of AI-driven radiomics in reshaping AD diagnostics and care.
Harmonization of the fastest and densest responses reflects humanlike reaction time in mice
Authors: Kim Chan Hee
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Reaction time (RT) is important for evaluating delayed latency in behavior. Unlike humans, whose RT usually reflects a one-to-one stimulus–response relationship, the RT of animals can show two peaks representing the fastest and densest responses in the response distribution due to multiple responses per trial and can be further delayed depending on stimulus duration.

Methods

Stimulus duration was controlled to investigate whether these two peak latencies align to form a single RT. Sound cues lasting 10, 5, and 2 s, each associated with a food reward of condensed milk, were tested in three groups of 24 mice using delay conditioning paradigm. The frequency and latency of responses, along with basic indices such as accuracy, were analyzed.

Results

In delay conditioning experiments using sound cues of 10, 5, and 2 s, the 2 s group exhibited the strongest positive correlations between the two peaks, as well as between the number of responses and accuracy rate, suggesting a coupling of the fastest and densest responses and a one-to-one relationship between stimulus and response.

Discussion

Based on these findings, I propose harmonizing the two peaks, elicited by stimuli that induce prompt and minimal responses, as a criterion for designing animal experiments to better mimic humanlike RT.