bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Can Predict Lymph Node Malignancy from Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Images for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Patel Yogita S. , Gatti Anthony A. , Farrokhyar Forough , Xie Feng , Hanna Waël C.
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for lung cancer staging is operator dependent, resulting in high rates of non-diagnostic lymph node (LN) samples. We hypothesized that an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm can consistently and reliably predict nodal metastases from the ultrasound images of LNs when compared to pathology. Methods: In this analysis of prospectively recorded B-mode images of mediastinal LNs during EBUS-TBNA, we used transfer learning to build an end-to-end ensemble of three deep neural networks (ResNet152V2, InceptionV3, and DenseNet201). Model hyperparameters were tuned, and the optimal version(s) of each model was trained using 80% of the images. A learned ensemble (multi-layer perceptron) of the optimal versions was applied to the remaining 20% of the images (Test Set). All predictions were compared to the final pathology from nodal biopsies and/or surgical specimen. Results: A total of 2,569 LN images from 773 patients were used. The Training Set included 2,048 LNs, of which 70.02% were benign and 29.98% were malignant on pathology. The Testing Set included 521 LNs, of which 70.06% were benign and 29.94% were malignant on pathology. The final ensemble model had an overall accuracy of 80.63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 76.93–83.97%), 43.23% sensitivity (95% CI: 35.30–51.41%), 96.91% specificity (95% CI: 94.54–98.45%), 85.90% positive predictive value (95% CI: 76.81–91.80%), 79.68% negative predictive value (95% CI: 77.34–81.83%), and AUC of 0.701 (95% CI: 0.646–0.755) for malignancy. Conclusion: There now exists an AI algorithm which can identify nodal metastases based only on ultrasound images with good overall accuracy, specificity, and positive predictive value. Further optimization with larger sample sizes would be beneficial prior to clinical application.
Efficacy of Modern Therapies for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Specific Population Subgroups: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lavalle Carlo , Mariani Marco Valerio , Severino Paolo , Palombi Marta , Trivigno Sara , D’Amato Andrea , Silvetti Giacomo , Pierucci Nicola , Di Lullo Luca , Chimenti Cristina , Summaria Francesco , Ronco Claudio , Badagliacca Roberto , Miraldi Fabio , Vizza Carmine Dario
Published: September 2024

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of emerging therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have never been compared in specific subgroups of patients. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Registry, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE libraries were used to extract data. We used the following keywords: (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction OR HFrEF) AND (treatment OR therapy) OR (cardiovascular death) OR (hospitalization for heart failure). We compared randomized clinical trials for HFrEF emerging therapies focusing on the elderly (patients >65 years old and >75 years old), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min), patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary heart disease (CAD), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV, women, patients on sacubitril/valsartan (S/V). The primary outcome was the efficacy composite endpoint of cardiovascular death (CVD) and HF hospitalization (HFH). Results: S/V significantly reduced the primary outcome in patients >65 years old (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68–0.94) and with CKD (RR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69–0.90); dapagliflozin in patients >65 (RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60–0.86) and >75 years old (RR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.53–0.87), in those with CKD (RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.59–0.88), DM (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63–0.89), and CAD (RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.65–0.92); empagliflozin in patients >65 years old (RR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66–0.93), those with DM (RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60–0.86), CAD (RR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68–0.99), women (RR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.44–0.79), and in patients on S/V (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.45–0.91); vericiguat in patients with CKD (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73–0.97) and NYHA class III/IV (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.98); omecamtiv mecarbil in patients with CAD (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82–0.99) and NYHA III/IV (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80–0.97). Conclusion: Emerging HFrEF therapies show a clinical benefit with the reduction of the primary composite endpoint of CVD and HFH, with each drug being more effective in specific patient population.
Comparison of Eliminating Artificial Hydronephrosis and Creating Artificial Hydronephrosis in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Oblique Supine Position
Authors: Guo Yuanshan , Qin Caipeng , Li Chao , Xu Xin , Cao Heran , Guo Lei , Zhang Jin , Li Shen , Xu Tao
Published: September 2024

Introduction: The safety and effectiveness of percutaneous nephroscopic surgery without artificial hydronephrosis remain controversial, and there are few relevant studies. This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of two different methods of eliminating and creating artificial hydronephrosis in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the oblique supine position. Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 162 patients who underwent PCNL in an oblique supine position at our hospital were divided into two groups according to the surgical method: the free artificial hydronephrosis group (group A) and the artificial hydronephrosis group (group B). Group A was directly treated with PCNL under ultrasound guidance, and group B was treated with artificial hydronephrosis before PCNL. Several outcomes were measured, including procedure time, stone clearance rate, and incidence of complications. Results: The procedure time in group A lower than that in group B, and the incidence of sepsis was significantly lower in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in stone clearance rate, success rate of primary establishment of puncture channel, unilateral change in perioperative red blood cell count, change in perioperative renal function, and perioperative complications (except sepsis) between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: For experienced physicians, PCNL without artificial hydronephrosis in an oblique supine position can be attempted to reduce the number of surgical steps without affecting the stone clearance rate and increasing the occurrence of complications.
Chronic Activation of Tubulin Tyrosination Improves Heart Function
Authors: Pietsch Niels , Chen Christina Y. , Kupsch Svenja , Bacmeister Lucas , Geertz Birgit , Herrera-Rivero Marisol , Siebels Bente , Voß Hannah , Krämer Elisabeth , Braren Ingke , Westermann Dirk , Schlüter Hartmut , Mearini Giulia , Schlossarek Saskia , van der Velden Jolanda , Caporizzo Matthew A. , Lindner Diana , Prosser Benjamin L. , Carrier Lucie
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiac genetic disorder caused by sarcomeric gene variants and associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. The role of the microtubule network has recently gained interest with the findings that microtubule detyrosination (dTyr-MT) is markedly elevated in heart failure. Acute reduction of dTyr-MT by inhibition of the detyrosinase (VASH [vasohibin]/SVBP [small VASH-binding protein] complex) or activation of the tyrosinase (TTL [tubulin tyrosine ligase]) markedly improved contractility and reduced stiffness in human failing cardiomyocytes and thus posed a new perspective for HCM treatment. In this study, we tested the impact of chronic tubulin tyrosination in an HCM mouse model (
Mybpc3
knock-in), in human HCM cardiomyocytes, and in SVBP-deficient human engineered heart tissues (EHTs).

METHODS:

Adeno-associated virus serotype 9–mediated TTL transfer was applied in neonatal wild-type rodents, in 3-week-old knock-in mice, and in HCM human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS:

We show (1) TTL for 6 weeks dose dependently reduced dTyr-MT and improved contractility without affecting cytosolic calcium transients in wild-type cardiomyocytes; (2) TTL for 12 weeks reduced the abundance of dTyr-MT in the myocardium, improved diastolic filling, compliance, cardiac output, and stroke volume in knock-in mice; (3) TTL for 10 days normalized cell area in HCM human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes; (4) TTL overexpression activated transcription of tubulins and other cytoskeleton components but did not significantly impact the proteome in knock-in mice; (5) SVBP-deficient EHTs exhibited reduced dTyr-MT levels, higher force, and faster relaxation than TTL-deficient and wild-type EHTs. RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis revealed distinct enrichment of cardiomyocyte components and pathways in SVBP-deficient versus TTL-deficient EHTs.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides the first proof of concept that chronic activation of tubulin tyrosination in HCM mice and in human EHTs improves heart function and holds promise for targeting the nonsarcomeric cytoskeleton in heart disease.
Purposal determinants as a factor integration of human with the world
Authors: Grishina Natalia V.
Published: September 2024

Background. One of the trends in the development of modern psychology is an increasing interest in the study of context within the principle of contextuality as recognition of the influence of context factors on psychological phenomenology. The focus on studying the context, once designated by G.M. Andreeva as a fundamental principle of the new paradigm of social psychology, is currently the methodological principle of all psychological science and modern personality psychology. Objectives. The goal of the study consists in theoretical and empirical substantiation of the concept of purpose as a parameter for describing a person’s relationship with the outside world. Study Participants. The total sample included 350 people (45.9% women and 53.8% men). Young people took part in the survey (84.8% aged 17 to 25 years). Method. To describe a person’s life goals and the characteristics of the purpose setting, a survey form was created. The form recorded the significance of goals in the main areas of a person’s life, satisfaction with their implementation, an assessment of the possibilities for achieving these goals in the current life situation, etc. (40 points). The “Potential for Self-Change” technique (V.R. Manukyan, I.R. Murtazina, N.V. Grishina); “Test of existential motivations” (A. Langle); “Time Perspective Questionnaire” (F. Zimbardo) were used to assess personal factors. Cluster analysis was used to process the data in this study. Results. The data obtained confirmed the contextual nature of a person’s goals, their connection with the spatiotemporal coordinates of the context, the most important role of goals as a factor in organizing a person’s relationship with the outside world, with the meaningfulness of life. Depending on the presence or absence of significant goals in a person, the expressiveness of the goal orientation, types of relationships with the outside world are identified — focus on pre-adaptive change, readiness for adaptive change, unpreparedness for change. Conclusion. The results obtained confirmed the effectiveness of describing the purpose regulation of human activity as a language for describing the relationship of an individual with the outside world. The most important prospect in the further development of this research direction is the description of the integrity of an individual as a form of a person’s relationship with the world.
Psychological Counseling and Coaching as Types of Socio-Psychological Assistance
Authors: Zubova Yuliya K. , Ivanov Mikhail A.
Published: September 2024

Background. In recent decades, practical psychology has been rapidly developing in the country. The market offers a wide variety of psychological services, while the problem of psychological security, distinguishing scientifically based practices from harmful influences, becomes especially relevant. This article is devoted to the scientific justification of counseling and coaching as types of socio-psychological assistance. Objective. The goal is to analyze and correlate the theoretical foundations and practice of psychological counseling and coaching. The article is aimed at studying the origins of these areas of practice and identifying the subject matter, goals and features of technologies of socio-psychological counseling and socio-psychological coaching. Results. Socio-psychological counseling and coaching are defined as professional activities aimed at helping a client solve his personal, interpersonal, group and organizational problems based on personal and social resources. The purpose of socio-psychological counseling is to increase the effectiveness of the client's interaction with oneself, with the environment and organizations. The purpose of socio-psychological coaching is to create effective ways to resolve subjectively significant situations of social interaction that lead to positive changes in the client's life and personality. Socio-psychological counseling and coaching allow one to help the client by developing socio-psychological competence. Conclusions. Socio-psychological counseling and socio-psychological coaching have their own subject, theoretical and methodological basis and represent types of psychological practice. Developing and borrowing methods and fields of application from each other, consulting and coaching are increasingly converging, sometimes to the point of blurring the differences completely. In the market of psychological services, counseling and coaching exist as separate professions and act as different services for clients.
3. The Minsk-Mazovyetsk pogrom
Authors: Leshchinsky Yankev
Published: September 2024

Ethnic tensions had been growing in Minsk-Mazovyetsk since 1 May 1936, when Poles killed a Jew and severely wounded several others. One of the Polish assailants was stabbed, and members of the Narodowa Demokracja party began agitating for revenge. On 1 June a deranged Jew shot and killed a Polish army sergeant, sparking one of the four major Polish pogroms in the period 1935–37. Leshchinsky describes the rampage in detail. Beginning on 4 June, hundreds of Jewish homes and businesses were vandalized, looted, and set on fire. Twenty-five Jews were severely wounded and many more lightly wounded. Attacks on Jews subsequently spread across the country. 20 June 1936.
4. The Pshitik pogrom
Authors: Leshchinsky Yankev
Published: September 2024

Phshitik was the site of one of the four major Polish pogroms in the period 1935–37. The pogrom took place on 9 March 1936. Witnessing rising tensions between Jews and Poles, and anticipating trouble, some Jews had formed an armed self-defence group three months earlier. During the pogrom, violence was visited on both Jews and Poles at an annual fair in the town square and near a bridge on the other side of the nearby Radomka River. Two Jews and one Pole were killed and dozens of people were seriously injured. At the subsequent trial, thirty-nine Poles were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to one year and eleven Jews were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to eight years, the longest prison term going to a Jew who fired a revolver from the window of his house, killing a Pole. No Poles were sentenced for beating two Jews to death. Leshchinsky recounts the worst attacks on Jews and the outrage of Polish Jewry regarding the trial’s outcome, and he praises Jewish self-defence efforts. He describes the trial proceedings in detail, concluding that the court was strongly biased against the Jewish defendants, essentially viewing the events of 9 March as a Jewish pogrom against Poles. 5 June, 19 June, 24 June, and 1 July 1936.
11. Suicides
Authors: Leshchinsky Yankev
Published: September 2024

Christian and Jewish suicides taking place in Poland are different. Christian suicides are generally a result of severe poverty. Some Jewish suicides are too. However, many Jewish suicides occur because of persistent and growing hopelessness, not severe poverty. Leshchinsky recounts several such cases in addition to “normal” suicides of Jews “saving themselves from death by starvation.” He also notes the existence of an epidemic of abandoning Jewish children up to eight years old. Some Jewish parents are unable to provide their children with food and abandon them in the faint hope that they will be taken to a Jewish orphanage or that someone will take pity on them and feed them. 18 February 1936.
12. Is emigration a solution?
Authors: Leshchinsky Yankev
Published: September 2024

Socialism and brotherly love may be in our future but they are only a program of promises and hope. The socialist messiah may be a few decades late, and the situation of the masses is so dire that it is necessary to think of a way to provide people with immediate help. Such a concrete and realistic approach applied to Jewish life in Poland must recognize emigration as at least a partial solution. The reality is that Poland’s rural population is miserably poor and rural residents are flocking to villages and towns where they compete with Jewish artisans and small merchants. The children of déclassé landowners and well-to-do peasants who receive a mid-level or higher education compete with Jewish mid-size merchants and liberal professionals. Even if the government renounced its current anti-Jewish policies, it would not relieve the plight of Polish Jewry. Polish Jews must learn from Russian Jews, who fought for revolution and, at the same time, sent 150,000 Jews to America annually. 10 June 1936.
The Small-Amplitude Dynamics of Spontaneous Tropical Cyclogenesis. Part II: Linear Stability Analysis
Authors: Fu Hao , O’Neill Morgan E.
Published: September 2024

This two-paper series studies the tropical cyclone (TC) precursor vortices spontaneously generated in an idealized setup with uniform sea surface temperature and no background wind. We focus on the small-amplitude stage, where vortices appear in an orderly pattern, and what controls the vortex size remains unclear. In Part I, Fourier analysis shows that the vortex size is constrained by a short-wavelength cutoff and a long-wavelength cutoff. The short-wavelength cutoff is explained as a convective spreading length due to cold pools and anvil clouds. In Part II, we study the long-wavelength cutoff. Diagnostic analysis shows that a TC precursor vortex has a shallow overturning cell in the lower troposphere and a deep overturning cell in the upper troposphere, driven by different convective types. A four-layer quasigeostrophic system is established to understand how the shallow and deep cells couple. Their dynamic coupling via midlevel buoyancy is negligible due to a midlevel high-speed waveguide that maintains a weak horizontal buoyancy gradient. Their thermodynamic coupling via the cooperative moistening of the air column is dominant. Linear stability analysis shows that the long-wavelength cutoff is controlled by an effective Rossby deformation radius Le, which is a mixture of the local Rossby deformation radii of the shallow and deep cells. The most unstable wavelength corresponds to the TC precursor vortex size, which is proportional to the geometric average of Le and the convective spreading length. The theoretical predictions generally agree with cloud-permitting simulations using varying Coriolis parameters and longwave radiative feedback strengths.
Did Cholera “Force” the Reform of Urban Water Infrastructure? Lessons from Nineteenth-Century Berlin
Authors: Kappner Kalle
Published: September 2024

This study of Berlin’s nineteenth-century hydrological reconfiguration challenges the popular narrative that Europe’s recurrent cholera epidemics after 1831 motivated an efficient and scientific path to safe tap water supplies and sanitary sewers. Analysis of contemporary discourse reveals that the causal link between cholera and water infrastructure reform is weak and ambiguous, with aesthetic and industrial concerns taking precedence. Far from prompting effective action, miasmatic frameworks and the limited proto-epidemiological tools of the pre-bacteriological era led to inefficient and sometimes counterproductive approaches, potentially worsening urban mortality. Understanding Western Europe’s sanitary past provides important insights into the ongoing struggle for urban sanitation in today’s developing world.
Categories of Political Contestation in Public Libraries
Authors: Sutherland Jacob
Published: September 2024

Public libraries in the United States have historically been sites of political contestation. This ranges from contestation surrounding library funding to the content of library collections. Recently, activism within and against public libraries has become more frequent. This begs the question: how does political contestation in public libraries look today? Using a media analysis of U.S. public library contestation and controversy from 2014 to 2023, this paper presents a framework to categorize library contestation. This framework situates public libraries within an ongoing context of efforts to polarize local political institutions.
The Future of Doctoral Training in Nonprofit Studies: New Students and New Challenges
Authors: Pallas Christopher L. , Wade-Berg Jennifer A. , Krawcyzk Kelly , Liu Helen
Published: September 2024

The past decade has witnessed important shifts affecting the training of doctoral students studying nonprofits. The student body has become larger and more diverse as more students gain access to graduate school, more universities introduce doctoral programs, and the increasing use of the PhD or the Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) as a professional qualification drives practitioners to seek these degrees. At the same time, academic hiring has not kept pace with the number of graduates, while non-academic employers are increasingly interested in hiring PhDs and DPAs. How should educators respond to these challenges? Combining market data with our experiences as teachers and pracademics from several different disciplines, we offer a roadmap for the evolution of doctoral training. We argue that doctoral programs must focus on meeting employer needs ahead of boosting recruitment. This includes focusing on training students for practitioner jobs and moving away from defining student success as an academic job offer. Programs must embrace the diversity of their students and attend to the needs of the whole student by developing peer support structures, encouraging faculty mentorship, adopting new teaching practices, including interdisciplinary perspectives, and creating resources that orient students to both doctoral study and post-graduation employment.
In the collective pursuit for a better future: my reflection on the writing of Building for Oil
Authors: Hou Li
Published: September 2024

Reflecting on the reviews for Building for Oil, the author responds by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the book’s holistic approach. The author acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a balance among national, local and personal levels of events. Her response concludes by addressing questions of sustainability, drawing attention to the human stories within extreme situations of industrialization and modernization, and expressing gratitude for the thought-provoking questions raised by the reviewers. The author aims to engage a broader readership and provoke thoughtful consideration of the complexities surrounding the outcomes of extreme policies.
Determining What’s Next: Visual Analytics for Evaluating Human-Automation Coordination
Authors: Post Abigail M. , Nijveldt Renske , Woods David D. , IJtsma Martijn
Published: September 2024

As advanced automated systems become more complex, there is a greater need to analyze the difficulty of human-automation coordination. We developed a novel visual analytics tool to evaluate human-automation coordination by examining the relationship between projection, explanation (retrojection), and the understanding of current events through time. The What’s Next Diagram visualizes demands on human sensemaking as operators answer Wiener’s key automation surprise question: what will automation do next. The tool can assess whether operators can answer the question directly and quickly given the design and architecture of human-automation systems. It can be used as a model of multi-agent coordination, as a tool for post-mortem analysis, or an aid for design. We illustrate how the tool can be used to identify system requirements for anomaly response in the aviation domain.
An extended generalized Pareto regression model for count data
Authors: Ahmad Touqeer , Gaetan Carlo , Naveau Philippe
Published: September 2024

The statistical modelling of discrete extremes has received less attention than their continuous counterparts in the extreme value theory (EVT) literature. One approach to the transition from continuous to discrete extremes is the modelling of threshold exceedances of integer random variables by the discrete version of the generalized Pareto distribution. However, the optimal choice of thresholds defining exceedances remains a problematic issue. Moreover, in a regression framework, the treatment of the majority of non-extreme data below the selected threshold is either ignored or separated from the extremes. To tackle these issues, we expand on the concept of employing a smooth transition between the bulk and the upper tail of the distribution. In the case of zero inflation, we also develop models with an additional parameter. To incorporate possible predictors, we relate the parameters to additive smoothed predictors via an appropriate link, as in the generalized additive model (GAM) framework. A penalized maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure is implemented. We illustrate our modelling proposal with a real dataset of avalanche activity in the French Alps. With the advantage of bypassing the threshold selection step, our results indicate that the proposed models are more flexible and robust than competing models, such as the negative binomial distribution.
Road lighting for pedestrians: Comparing full-face and 3/4 views in a facial emotion recognition task
Authors: Mao Y , Fotios S
Published: September 2024

Road lighting should support the needs of pedestrians to make interpersonal evaluations after dark, for example, whether it feels safe to walk towards the person ahead or if avoiding action should be taken. In previous studies this has been investigated using a facial emotion recognition (FER) task, but using only full-face views of the person ahead. Other views are possible and this might affect the ability to make FER judgements and thus the impact of changes in light level. Reported here are the results of an experiment investigating FER with full-face and 3/4 views. The results show that while correct expression recognition is reduced with the 3/4 view, there is no interaction between face luminance and face view.
Revisiting the womanist-feminist continuum in Sefi Atta’s Everything Good Will Come
Authors: Bailey Carol
Published: September 2024

This paper examines the tensions and intersections between feminism and womanism primarily through a consideration of Chikwenye Okonjo Ogunyemi’s theorization of one version of womanism that she bases on a selection of three female-authored Nigerian novels. The essay also includes more recent engagements with feminisms, including those put forward by The Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists. Specifically, the paper explores three core elements of Ogunyemi’s theorization of Nigerian womanism — collectivism, compromise, and non-confrontational approaches to women’s resistance — in relation to the representation of Nigerian womanhood in Sefi Atta’s Everything Good Will Come. The paper’s central argument is that while Atta’s novel suggests that Ogunyemi’s recourse to womanism remains a useful way of theorizing [the] Nigerian novel by women,” more importantly, Everything Good Will Come shows that the gap between feminism and womanism might not be as wide as some critics have suggested. The paper concludes that despite disagreements over nomenclature and emphases, Everything Good Will Come instantiates the continuum on which feminism and womanism exist.
simona: a comprehensive R package for semantic similarity analysis on bio-ontologies
Authors: Gu Zuguang
Published: September 2024

Background

Bio-ontologies are keys in structuring complex biological information for effective data integration and knowledge representation. Semantic similarity analysis on bio-ontologies quantitatively assesses the degree of similarity between biological concepts based on the semantics encoded in ontologies. It plays an important role in structured and meaningful interpretations and integration of complex data from multiple biological domains.

Results

We present simona, a novel R package for semantic similarity analysis on general bio-ontologies. Simona implements infrastructures for ontology analysis by offering efficient data structures, fast ontology traversal methods, and elegant visualizations. Moreover, it provides a robust toolbox supporting over 70 methods for semantic similarity analysis. With simona, we conducted a benchmark against current semantic similarity methods. The results demonstrate methods are clustered based on their mathematical methodologies, thus guiding researchers in the selection of appropriate methods. Additionally, we explored annotation-based versus topology-based methods, revealing that semantic similarities solely based on ontology topology can efficiently reveal semantic similarity structures, facilitating analysis on less-studied organisms and other ontologies.

Conclusions

Simona offers a versatile interface and efficient implementation for processing, visualization, and semantic similarity analysis on bio-ontologies. We believe that simona will serve as a robust tool for uncovering relationships and enhancing the interoperability of biological knowledge systems.
Explainable artificial intelligence models for predicting pregnancy termination among reproductive-aged women in six east African countries: machine learning approach
Authors: Setegn Gizachew Mulu , Dejene Belayneh Endalamaw
Published: September 2024

Pregnancy termination remains a complex and sensitive issue with approximately 45% of abortions worldwide being unsafe, and 97% of abortions occurring in developing countries. Unsafe pregnancy terminations have implications for women’s reproductive health. This research aims to compare black box models in their prediction of pregnancy termination among reproductive-aged women and identify factors associated with pregnancy termination using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods. We used comprehensive secondary data on reproductive-aged women’s demographic and socioeconomic data from the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) from six countries in East Africa in the analysis. This study implemented five black box ML models, Bagging classifier, Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) Classifier, CatBoost Classifier, and Extra Trees Classifier on a dataset with 338,904 instances and 18 features. Additionally, SHAP, Eli5, and LIME XAI techniques were used to determine features associated with pregnancy termination and Statistical analysis were employed to understand the distribution of pregnancy termination. The results demonstrated that machine learning algorithms were able to predict pregnancy termination on DHS data with an overall accuracy ranging from 79.4 to 85.6%. The ML classifier random forest achieved the highest result, with an accuracy of 85.6%. Based on the results of the XAI tool, the most contributing factors for pregnancy termination are wealth index, current working experience, and source of drinking water, sex of household, education level, and marital status. The outcomes of this study using random forest is expected to significantly contribute to the field of reproductive healthcare in East Africa and can assist healthcare providers in identifying individuals’ countries at greater risk of pregnancy termination, allowing for targeted interventions and support.
A cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of the ‘Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience’ (CPIPE) intervention in Kenya and Ghana: study protocol
Authors: Afulani Patience A. , Getahun Monica , Ongeri Linnet , Aborigo Raymond , Kinyua Joyceline , Ogolla Beryl A. , Okiring Jaffer , Moro Ali , Oluoch Iscar , Dalaba Maxwell , Odiase Osamuedeme , Ouner Jerry John , Mendes Wendy Berry , Walker Dilys , Neilands Torsten B.
Published: September 2024

Background

Poor person-centered maternal care (PCMC) contributes to high maternal mortality and morbidity, directly and indirectly, through lack of, delayed, inadequate, unnecessary, or harmful care. While evidence on poor PCMC prevalence, as well as inequities, expanded in the last decade, there is still a significant gap in evidence-based interventions to address PCMC. We describe the protocol for a trial to test the effectiveness of the “Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience” (CPIPE) intervention, which includes five strategies, targeting provider stress and bias as intermediate factors to improve PCMC and address inequities.

Methods

The trial will assess the effect of CPIPE on PCMC, as well as on intermediate and distal outcomes, using a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in 40 health facilities in Migori and Homa Bay Counties in Kenya and Upper East and Northeast Regions in Ghana. Twenty facilities in each country will be randomized to 10 intervention and 10 control sites. The primary intervention targets are all healthcare workers who provide maternal health services. The intervention impact will be assessed among healthcare workers in the study health facilities and among women who give birth in the study health facilities. The primary outcome is PCMC measured with the PCMC scale, via multiple cross-sectional surveys of mothers who gave birth in the preceding 12 weeks in study facilities at baseline (prior to the intervention), midline (6 months after intervention start), and endline (12 months post-baseline) (N = 2000 across both countries at each time point). Additionally, 400 providers in the study facilities across both countries will be followed longitudinally at baseline, midline, and endline, to assess intermediate outcomes. The trial incorporates a mixed-methods design; survey data alongside in-depth interviews (IDIs) with healthcare facility leaders, providers, and mothers to qualitatively explore factors influencing the outcomes. Finally, we will collect process and cost data to assess intervention fidelity and cost-effectiveness.

Discussion

This trial will be the first to rigorously assess an intervention to improve PCMC that addresses both provider stress and bias and will advance the evidence base for interventions to improve PCMC and contribute to equity in maternal and neonatal health.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06085105. Protocol version and date: v2-11-07-23
Transcultural adaptation and validation of Persian Version of Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC-5As) Questionnaire in Iranian older patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Maroufi Sahar , Dehghankar Leila , Alizadeh Ahad , Amerzadeh Mohammad , Motalebi Seyedeh Ameneh
Published: September 2024

Background

The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC-5As) questionnaire has been designed to evaluate the healthcare experiences of individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Older adults are at higher risk for diabetes and its associated complications. The aim of this study was transcultural adaptation and evaluation of the validity and reliability of the PACIC-5As questionnaire in older patients with diabetes residing in Qazvin City, Iran.

Method

In this validation study, we recruited 306 older patients with diabetes from Comprehensive Health Centers in Qazvin, Iran. The multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to choose a representative sample. The PACIC-5As questionnaire was translated into Persian using the World Health Organization (WHO) standardized method. The validity (face, content, and construct) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) of the PACIC-5As were assessed. Data analysis was conducted using R software and the Lavaan package.

Results

The mean age of the older patients was 69.99 ± 6.94 years old. Most older participants were female (n = 180, 58.82%) and married (n = 216, 70.59%). Regarding face validity, all items of PACIC-5As had impact scores greater than 1.5. In terms of content validity, all items had a content validity ratio > 0.49 and a content validity index > 0.79. The results of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the model exhibited satisfactory fit across the expected five factors, including assess, advise, agree, assist, and arrange, for the 25 items of the PACIC-5As questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the PACIC-5As questionnaire was 0.805.

Conclusion

This study indicates that the Persian version of the PACIC-5As questionnaire is valid and reliable for assessing healthcare experiences in older patients with diabetes. This means that the questionnaire can be effectively used in this population.
Impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on psychotropic drug use in children and adolescents in France
Authors: Couturas Jérémy , Jost Jérémy , Schadler Laurence , Bodeau Nicolas , Moysan Véronique , Lescarret Bruno , Olliac Bertrand , Calvet Benjamin
Published: September 2024

Background

In 2019, the world faced a pandemic brought about by a severe acute respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. The spread of this virus has profoundly affected societies, particularly in terms of their economic, human and social dimensions, as well as their healthcare systems. Several restrictive measures (reduced social interaction, periodic school closures,…) had to be taken to contain the spread of the virus. These measures have had an impact on the psychological well-being of both adults and children. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in psychotropic drugs prescriptions for children and adolescents living in Limousin, a French region, over the period 2018 to 2021.

Methods

The consumption of psychotropic drugs was studied using a national database of drug reimbursement. These data were extracted and supplied from the nationwide French reimbursement healthcare system database (SNDS). The following therapeutic classes were studied: N05A (antipsychotics), N05B (anxiolytics), N05C (hypnotics and sedatives), N06A (antidepressants) and N06B (psychostimulants). Data were collected for insured persons under the age of 18 who received at least one reimbursement for a psychotropic drug between 2018 and 2021.

Results

Over a 4-year period, 7949 patients under the age of 18 were included with an average age of 12.1 years and a sex ratio of 0.97 M/F. The number of patients increased from 2018 to 2021, as did the number of reimbursements. We observed a statistically significant difference of means of patients reimbursed per week for on five therapeutic classes, with the greatest difference in 2021 (p < 0.0001). An increase in the number of patients of between + 20.7% and + 689% was observed, depending on the drug classes studied. Comparisons between the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods showed a significantly higher COVID average for psychotropic drugs reimbursements in general and individually for all classes except psychostimulants.

Conclusion

The results show a significant increase in the consumption of psychotropic drugs among youth. The increase in psychotropic drug use was continuous and progressive throughout the pandemic. All five classes were increased, but particularly anxiolytics and antidepressants. The COVID-19 context may have been at the origin of a deterioration in the mental health of children and adolescents, or of a heightened awareness of psychiatric care among young people.
Myxomatous cause of multiple intracranial aneurysms and cognitive decline: a case report
Authors: Mondal Sudipta , Selvaraj Prabhu , Vijayaraghavan Asish , Kalaparti Viswanadh S. V. G. , Narasimhaiah Deepti
Published: September 2024

Background

The occurrence of cerebral aneurysm in a case of cardiac myxoma is rare with less than 60 cases reported worldwide. The course of management is still debatable given its rarity. We present a case of multiple intracranial aneurysms secondary to atrial myxoma in a young lady with a brief review of the literature.

Case presentation

A young lady in her late 30s with a history of right middle cerebral artery territory stroke eight years ago presented with gradually progressive symptoms in the form of holocranial headache, inattention and forgetfulness for the last few years. On neuroimaging, she was found to have multi-territorial lacunar infarcts and multiple intracranial artery aneurysms which was confirmed with a digital subtraction angiogram. A cardiac evaluation revealed a left atrial myxoma. The aetiology of subcortical cognitive decline and intracranial aneurysms was attributed to the myxoma with secondary myxomatous embolism. Other secondary causes were ruled out. She is being followed up medically after resection of the myxoma.

Conclusion

Intracranial aneurysms are rare complications of cardiac myxoma which may present before, concurrent or many years after diagnosis of the myxoma. Nonspecific neurological complaints occasionally are the ominous signs of intracranial aneurysms which mandate a low threshold for neuroimaging in a case of cardiac myxoma. Given the absence of definitive risk factors and unclear natural history, clinical and radiological follow-ups are critical.

Learning Points

Intracranial aneurysms are rare complications of cardiac myxoma that may present before, concurrent or many years after diagnosis of the myxoma.

Special attention must be given to nonspecific neurological complaints with a low threshold for neuroimaging in those with a prior history of cardiac myxoma.

Given the absence of definitive risk factors and unclear natural history, clinical and radiological follow-up including conventional angiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging is critical.
Role of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI in differentiation of renal cell carcinoma subtypes
Authors: Mahmoud Amira R. , Fouda Nehad , Helmy Eman Mohamed , Elsorougy Ali
Published: September 2024

Background

Renal cell carcinoma is the most fatal form of renal tumors, representing about ninety percent of all renal cancers. There are different variations in prognosis among various histological types of RCC. In recent years, there has been a greater emphasis on differentiating between RCC subtypes. Evaluation of different subtypes of renal cell carcinoma using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted MRI is the aim of this study.

Results

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCCs) showed highest f and D values, followed by chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCCs), while papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCCs) had the lowest values. CCRCCs had significantly different D and f values compared to non-clear types (PRCC and ChRCC) (P < 0.05). The D* values of CCRCC were the highest, PCRCC had intermediate values, while ChRCCs had the lowest values (P < 0.05). The D* values of ChRCCs demonstrated significant difference when compared to both CCRCCs and PRCCs (P < 0.05). The cutoff points of D, D* and f parameters for distinguishing CCRCCs from non-clear cell types (ChRCCs and PRCC) were 0.835, 0.0355 and 0.335, respectively, yielding specificities of 97.2%, 83.3% and 76.5% and sensitivities of 100%, 57.5% and 72.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) can be utilized to distinguish renal cell carcinoma subtypes.
Evaluation of the effect of hearing loss on cognitive-vestibular functions in the geriatric population
Authors: Uğur Emel , Uludag Busra , Aydın Çağla , Gilik Tugce Asena , Konukseven Bahriye Ozlem
Published: September 2024

Background

Presbycusis is known to accelerate mental decline processes and to cause secondary consequences such as social isolation and depression when not intervened. The association of presbycusis and presbyvestibulopathy disorders is likely. These changes in vestibular functions are closely related to cognitive functions. This study investigated the effect of hearing loss on cognitive and vestibular functions in a geriatric population.

Methods

This study was conducted with 200 participants over the age of 65. The study was conducted with three groups: individuals with normal hearing, moderate sensorineural hearing loss, and severe sensorineural hearing loss. The relationship between the participants’ responses to the Cognitive Vestibular Function Scale and their hearing levels was examined.

Results

Of the individuals with hearing loss in the study group, 55 had moderate SNHL, and 45 had severe SNHL. The age range of the participants was 65 to 91 years (71.06 ± 4.92). When the control (Group N) and study groups (Group M and Group S) were compared according to CVFS and subscale scores, they were found to be statistically different (p < 0.05). In pairwise comparisons, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found in all pairwise combinations except Group N and Group M (p = 0.109) for the VSM subscale.

Conclusions

It was concluded that having a healthy hearing is the most influential factor for maintaining cognitive vestibular functions in the geriatric population. It was found that the degree of hearing loss primarily affects cognitive vestibular functions and that cognitive vestibular functions deteriorate more as hearing loss increases.
Study of word-in-noise perception scores at saccular acoustic sensitivity level: randomized clinical trial
Authors: Emami Seyede Faranak , Gohari Nasrin , Eghbalian Fatemeh , Mehrabifard Mobina
Published: September 2024

Background

In humans, saccular acoustic sensitivity has been confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the scores of the word-in-noise perception test at the saccular acoustic sensitivity level.

Methodology

In this randomized clinical trial study, 101 participants in the age group of 14 to 25 years with normal hearing and middle ear function, detectable vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), normal states of mental health, and night sleep were investigated. The scores of word-in-noise perception and word-in-noise discrimination tests were evaluated for each person at two intensity levels, most comfortable level (MCL) and saccular acoustic sensitivity. Mann-Whitney was used for the multiple comparisons.

Results

There was a significant difference between the scores of the word-in-noise perception test at MCL and saccular acoustic sensitivity (U = 3971.50, Z =  − 2.10, p’ = 0.04), and also between the scores of the word-in-noise discrimination test at the MCL compared to saccular acoustic sensitivity (U = 399.89, Z =  − 2.49, p’ = 0.04). Word-in-noise discrimination scores in MCL (U = 3484.00, Z = -3.72, p’ = 0.00) and saccular acoustic sensitivity (U = 705.50, Z =  − 3.78, p’ = 0.00) were higher than word-in-noise perception.

Conclusions

Word-in-noise perception and word-in-noise discrimination scores are higher in saccular acoustic sensitivity level than MCL, suggesting that the vestibular system participates in loud speech perception. Also, in people with normal hearing thresholds, word-in-noise perception scores will be lower than word-in-noise discrimination scores for both loud and common intensity levels.