bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodality deep learning radiomics predicts pathological response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yunsong , Wang Yi , Hu Xinyang , Wang Xin , Xue Liyan , Pang Qingsong , Zhang Huan , Ma Zeliang , Deng Heping , Yang Zhaoyang , Sun Xujie , Men Yu , Ye Feng , Men Kuo , Qin Jianjun , Bi Nan , Zhang Jing , Wang Qifeng , Hui Zhouguang
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to develop and validate a deep-learning radiomics model using CT, T2, and DWI images for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Materials and methods

Patients with ESCC undergoing nCRT followed by surgery were retrospectively enrolled from three institutions and divided into training and testing cohorts. Both traditional and deep-learning radiomics features were extracted from pre-treatment CT, T2, and DWI. Multiple radiomics models were developed, both single modality and integrated, using machine learning algorithms. The models’ performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with the area under the curve (AUC) as a primary metric, alongside sensitivity and specificity from the cut-off analysis.

Results

The study involved 151 patients, among whom 63 achieved pCR. The training cohort consisted of 89 patients from Institution 1 (median age 62, 73 males) and the testing cohort included 52 patients from Institution 2 (median age 62, 41 males), and 10 in a clinical trial from Institution 3 (median age 69, 9 males). The integrated model, combining traditional and deep learning radiomics features from CT, T2, and DWI, demonstrated the best performance with an AUC of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.766–0.959), sensitivity of 88% (95% CI: 73.9–100), and specificity of 78.4% (95% CI: 63.6–90.2) in the testing cohort. This model outperformed single-modality models and the clinical model.

Conclusion

A multimodality deep learning radiomics model, utilizing CT, T2, and DWI images, was developed and validated for accurately predicting pCR of ESCC following nCRT.

Critical relevance statement

Our research demonstrates the satisfactory predictive value of multimodality deep learning radiomics for the response of nCRT in ESCC and provides a potentially helpful tool for personalized treatment including organ preservation strategy.

Key Points

After neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, patients with ESCC have pCR rates of about 40%.

The multimodality deep learning radiomics model, could predict pCR after nCRT with high accuracy.

The multimodality radiomics can be helpful in personalized treatment of esophageal cancer.

Graphical Abstract
Unveiling the role of Pleckstrin-2 in tumor progression and immune modulation: insights from a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis with focus on lung cancer
Authors: Yin Enzhi , Liu Chengming , Yao Yuxin , Luo Yuejun , Yang Yaning , Tang Xiaoya , Zheng Sufei , Tian Linyan , He Jie
Published: November 2024

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality globally, highlighting the need for novel biomarkers to enhance prognosis and therapeutic strategies. Pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2), a member of the pleckstrin family, has been implicated in processes critical to tumor progression, but its role across cancers remains underexplored. This study systematically examined the expression patterns, prognostic relevance, and functional impact of PLEK2 across multiple cancer types. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), and the Human Protein Atlas, we analyzed PLEK2 expression in both cancerous and normal tissues, revealing significant overexpression of PLEK2 in various cancers at the mRNA and protein levels. Single-cell RNA sequencing further indicated predominant expression of PLEK2 in tumor cells and macrophages within the tumor microenvironment. Survival analysis demonstrated that elevated PLEK2 expression correlated with poor prognosis in specific cancers, though its impact varied across cancer types. Functional assays showed that PLEK2 knockdown inhibited proliferation and migration in human cancer cell lines. In vivo studies using a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model confirmed that PLEK2 knockdown suppressed tumor growth and enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 immunotherapy. Mechanistically, PLEK2 knockdown was associated with reduced AKT pathway activation, diminished tumor-associated macrophage infiltration, and increased CD8 T cell presence. Compounds like Navitoclax were also identified as potential PLEK2 inhibitors. In conclusion, PLEK2 played a multifaceted role in cancer progression and immune response modulation. Targeting PLEK2 might suppress tumor growth and overcome immunotherapy resistance, offering a promising biomarker and therapeutic target to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Predictors for improvement in personality functioning during outpatient psychotherapy: A machine learning approach within a psychodynamic psychotherapy sample
Authors: Dönnhoff I. , Kindermann D. , Stahl-Toyota S. , Nowak J. , Orth M. , Friederich H.-C. , Nikendei C.
Published: November 2024

Background

Since its introduction in the diagnostic manuals DSM-5 and ICD-11, the construct of personality functioning has gained increasing attention. However, it remains unclear which factors might predict improvement in personality functioning.

Methods

We examined a sample of 648 completed psychodynamic psychotherapies conducted by 172 therapists at the Heidelberg Institute for Psychotherapy. A machine learning approach was used to filter for variables that are relevant for the prediction of the improvement of personality functioning from a broad data set of variables collected at the beginning of each psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Results

On average, we found an improvement of 0.24 (SD = 0.48) in the OPD-SQ. This corresponds to a medium effect in the improvement of personality functioning. Patients with initially high impairment experienced particularly large improvements. Overall, we found a large number of variables that proved to be predictive for the improvement of personality functioning. Limitations in social activity due to physical and emotional problems proved to be one of the most important predictors of improvement. Most of the effect sizes were small.

Conclusions

Overall, the improvement in personality functioning during psychotherapy is determined more by the sum of a large number of small effects than by individual variables. In particular, variables that capture social areas of life proved to be robust predictors.
Despair and Voter Turnout in the United States
Authors: Franko William , Pacheco Julianna
Published: November 2024

Context: Deaths of despair, a term used to capture rising mortality rates among Americans who appear to be suffering from growing mental and physical distress, have received added attention from those seeking to understand this disturbing trend. Yet it is unclear how, if at all, despair influences the political behavior of the people and communities where it is most prominent. The authors contribute to the health and politics literature by examining whether personal and community-level despair shapes political participation.

Methods: The authors examine the relationship between despair and voter turnout using novel data at both the aggregate and individual levels. First, a custom survey is used to test whether despair is associated with individual-level voter participation in several recent elections. Second, a new measure of community despair is developed at the county level that spans nearly 20 years to assess whether there is a relationship between despair and voter turnout in U.S counties.

Findings: The results suggest that higher levels of despair lead to lower turnout rates at both the individual and community levels.

Conclusions: This study suggests that the effects of experiencing despair are far reaching and shape political behavior among individuals and within communities.
Embracing Controversy: A Second Look at CDC Reform Efforts in the Wake of COVID-19
Authors: Keller Ann C.
Published: November 2024

Addressing criticism that the agency's Covid-19 response was lacking, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has proposed internal agency reforms intended to improve its performance during the next pandemic. They are aimed at improving surveillance and analytic capacity and agency communications. This essay, via a counterfactual analysis of the CDC's proposed reforms, asks how, if completed in advance of Covid-19, they might have changed outcomes in four cases of guidance controversy during the pandemic. CDC planned reforms, though they have merit, are predicated on the ability to come to “scientific closure” in a highly charged political environment. To improve outcomes in a future pandemic, the agency should consider how it plans to communicate with the public when recovering from error and when addressing controversy spurred by criticism from credible experts. However, the ability of future presidents to limit CDC performance and communications in the next pandemic and the lack of political consensus around the value of independent public health expertise threaten the agency's reform goals.
Reduced Lower Body Muscular Strength and Endurance among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: SLÁMA TOMÁŠ , NIGG CARINA , KURMANN RETO D. , KUSTER GABRIELA M. , POKU NANA K. , SCHELER EVA , KUEHNI CLAUDIA E. , VON DER WEID NICOLAS X. , SCHINDERA CHRISTINA
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Impaired physical fitness is a possible late effect among adult survivors of childhood cancer (ASCC). Our study describes lower body muscular strength and endurance among ASCC using the 1-min sit-to-stand (1-min STS) test, compares them with the general population, identifies risk factors, and describes changes over time.

Methods

In a prospective multicenter cohort study, we invited ASCC ≥18 yr of age at study who were diagnosed between ages 0 and 20 yr, treated in five pediatric oncology centers across Switzerland from 1976 to 2017, and survived ≥5 yr for a 1-min STS test. We collected information about lifestyle, medical history, and previous cancer treatment. Using population-based Swiss reference values, we calculated age- and sex-adjusted z-scores for 1-min STS performance and assessed the association between risk factors and 1-min STS test using multivariable linear regression. We fitted a multilevel linear model to describe the longitudinal course of 1-min STS performance.

Results

We included 338 CCS of 1048 invited ASCC (participation rate 32%) with a median age at study of 34 yr (interquartile range, 26–41 yr). Compared with the general population, mean 1-min STS z-score was half a standard deviation lower (−0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.64 to −0.40). Obesity (B = −0.56; 95% CI, −0.97 to −0.16), cumulative cisplatin dose (B = −0.12; 95% CI, −0.21 to −0.02), and cumulative cranial radiotherapy dose (B = −0.10; 95% CI, −0.19 to −0.01) were associated with reduced 1-min STS performance. There was no change in 1-min STS z-scores over time (B = 0.02; 95% CI, −0.05 to 0.09).

Conclusions

We found evidence for reduced lower body strength and endurance among ASCC, suggesting the need for counseling and effective training and rehabilitation programs for maintaining daily functioning, improving cardiovascular health, and reducing morbidity for ASCC.
Μηχανισμοί αυτοματοποίησης διαδικασιών σχεδίασης, υλοποίησης και ανάπτυξης λογισμικού κυβερνοφυσικών συστημάτων με τεχνικές μηχανικής λογισμικού οδηγούμενης από μοντέλα
Authors: Παναγιώτου Κωνσταντίνος
Published: November 2024

Ως γνωστόν, οι επιστήμες της ρομποτικής και των Κυβερνοφυσικών Συστημάτων (ΚΦΣ) καλύπτουν/απαιτούν ένα ευρύ φάσμα γνώσεων στα πεδία του υλικού, του λογισμικού, των συστημάτων, των αλγορίθμων μηχανικής μάθησης κ.α., καθιστώντας τον έλεγχο ενός ρομπότ, ή μίας συσκευής, μία χρονοβόρα και δύσκολη διαδικασία, ακόμη και για κάποιον εξοικειωμένο με τους συγκεκριμένους τομείς. Από την άλλη, η ραγδαία εξέλιξη στους κλάδους της ρομποτικής, του διαδικτύου των πραγμάτων (IoT) και των σύγχρονων ΚΦΣ, έχει ως αποτέλεσμα την ανάπτυξη διάφορων τεχνολογιών και εργαλείων υποστήριξης της ανάπτυξης συστημάτων και εφαρμογών τα τελευταία χρόνια. Η υψηλή ετερογένεια που συναντάμε στα συστήματα αυτά, βασίζεται κυρίως στην διασύνδεση του φυσικού και του ψηφιακού κόσμου, αλλά και στην πληθώρα των διαθέσιμων τεχνολογιών και εργαλείων σχεδίασης, ανάπτυξης και εγκατάστασης. Παραδείγματα σύγχρονων ΚΦΣ είναι τα έξυπνα σπίτια και οι έξυπνες υποδομές γενικότερα, καθώς και τα ψηφιακά δίδυμα. Τα συστήματα αυτά αποτελούνται από φυσικές συσκευές, οι οποίες αλληλεπιδρούν με το φυσικό περιβάλλον μέσω των αισθητήρων και ενεργοποιητών που διαχειρίζονται, καθώς και από ψηφιακές οντότητες, οι οποίες είναι υπεύθυνες για την διασύνδεση, την επεξεργασία, την παρακολούθηση, τον έλεγχο και την ενορχήστρωση σε επίπεδο συστήματος και εφαρμογής. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στο πρόβλημα της μέτα-μοντε-λοποίησης των φάσεων σχεδίασης (design), υλοποίησης (implementation) και ανάπτυξης (deployment) Κυβερνοφυσικών Συστημάτων (ΚΦΣ). Συγκεκριμένα, στα πλαίσια της διατριβής μελετήθηκαν και εφαρμόστηκαν τεχνικές μηχανικής λογισμικού οδηγούμενης από μοντέλα για την ανάπτυξη μιας μεθοδολογίας και αντίστοιχων Γλωσσών Ειδικού Πεδίου (Domain Specific Languages - DSLs) για την αυτοματοποίηση των προαναφερθεισών φάσεων. Βασικός στόχος της διατριβής είναι η συστηματοποίηση των διαδικασιών ανάπτυξης σύγχρονων συστημάτων και εφαρμογών ΚΦΣ, με χρήση υψηλού επιπέδου εργαλείων, μεσολογισμικού και γλωσσών ειδικού πεδίου. Η διατριβή εστιάζει σε συσκευές ανοικτού υλικού και λογισμικού (open hardware/open software), ενώ στοχεύει να διευκολύνει την ανάπτυξη εφαρμογών από μη ειδικούς του πεδίου (citizen developers) μέσω της χρήσης των μέτα-μοντέλων και των γλωσσών που αναπτύχθηκαν στα πλαίσια της διατριβής.
X-ray lithographic fabrication of blazed diffraction gratings
Authors: Χάγουελ Πωλισαάκ
Published: November 2024

Σκοπός της διατριβής ήταν η κατάδειξη ότι είναι δυνατή η κατασκευή γωνιακών φραγμάτων παράθλασης με Λιθογραφία Ακτίνων X. Mε την προτεινόμενη μέθοδο επιζητείται η επίτευξη αυτού του ελέγχου σε συνδυασμό με τα υπόλοιπα πλεονεκτήματα των ολογραφικών φραγμάτων παράθλασης. H ανάπτυξη της Λιθογραφίας Ακτίνων X μαζί με άλλες μεθόδους κατασκευής Ολοκληρωμένων Κυκλωμάτων, οι οποίες δεν χρησιμοποιούν ως εκθέτουσα ακτινοβολία το φάσμα του ορατού φωτός και της υπεριώδους ακτινοβολίας, είναι αναγκαία λόγω των απαιτήσεων για Oλοκληρωμένα Kυκλώματα στη Μικροηλεκτρονική με όλο και μικρότερες γεωμετρικές διαστάσεις. H Oλοκλήρωση Πολύ Mεγάλης Κλίμακας (VLSI) υπαγορεύει την ανάπτυξη νέων τεχνικών για την κατασκευαστική διαδικασία της αποτύπωσης των κυκλωματικών λεπτομερειών πάνω στις πλακέτες (wafers) Πυριτίου (Si), Γαλλίου ‐ Αρσενικού (GaAs) κα. Κατασκευάζονται φράγματα με Ολογραφία Λέιζερ, Μάσκες Λιθογραφίας Ακτίνων Χ λεπτού υμενίου πυριτίου, Διάταξη Ακτίνων Χ. Επιπρόσθετα αναπτύσσεται o αλγόριθμος Ray Tracing για την προσομοίωση της διαδικασίας εμφάνισης του Resist. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσομοίωσης ταυτίζονται πλήρως με τα πειραματικά.
ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' OPINIONS ON TEAMWORK AND TEAM INTERACTION
Authors: Belyaeva Anna V. , Yanova Marina G. , Senchenko Aleksey Yu. , Senchenko Galina V.
Published: November 2024

Background. The need to develop team skills in medical students is due to their importance for the successful performance of professional duties. However, despite the high importance of teamwork, modern students are not sufficiently prepared for team interaction.
Purpose: to analyze the ideas of medical students about teamwork and to propose methods that contribute to the development of team skills.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted in three stages. A total of three focus groups were interviewed, each consisting of 14 fourth-year students majoring in General Medicine at KrasSMU. The discussions were recorded on audio and then transcribed for subsequent analysis. The method of thematic analysis was used to process the data. Based on the discussions in the focus groups, we compiled test tasks. The survey involved 102 fourth-year students majoring in General Medicine, of which 42 were focus group participants and 60 were students from medical universities in Russia. The practical part of the study used the focus group method, analysis of psychological and pedagogical materials, and the method of processing experimental data.
Results. A contradiction was found between the requirements for medical university graduates in terms of knowledge, skills and abilities in teamwork and the level of focus of future doctors on team interaction. 21.43% of medical university students correctly understand the content of teamwork and only 7% know all the principles of team interaction; 90% of students confuse teamwork with group work. At the same time, medical university students have a correct understanding of the main characteristics of teamwork in various interaction situations. The need to introduce teamwork principles into the learning process at a medical university led to the development of practice-oriented training sessions with elements of training work. Criteria for the focus of medical university students on interaction when performing team learning tasks have been developed: emotional intelligence, the ability to unite, effective communication in a team, and the manifestation of collective creativity.
APPLICATION OF PEER QUESTIONING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES AT UNIVERSITIES
Authors: Kurchenkova Elena A.
Published: November 2024

Background. There is a problem of the time lack used to control students' oral acquisition of professional terms in foreign language classes at universities. The use of the methodological technique of peer questioning can contribute to more effective and quick control of vocabulary acquisition.
Purpose. Analyze the effectiveness of the methodological technique of peer questioning in foreign language classes with university students.
Materials and methods. The methods of study, theoretically analysis and summarizing literature and documents devoted to active methods and techniques for developing students' professional competencies was used. The methods of scientific observation and comparison of the quantitative results of the experiment were used. The quantitative indicators obtained during the experiment and the questionnaire were collected, synthesized and analyzed. Quantitative data obtained by calculating the arithmetic mean values ​​of the assessment on a five-point scale and the questionnaire were used to confirm the effectiveness of using the mutual questioning technique in foreign language classes at the university.
Results. Active teaching methods and techniques play vital role in increasing the efficiency of the learning process, improving the psychological climate in the classroom, and increasing motivation to learn a foreign language. It was confirmed that the use of the peer questioning technique in foreign language classes at universities reduces the time allocated for lexical material revision and is more effective than using a general questioning. According to the results obtained, the peer questioning technique is positively accepted by the students and promotes the creation of a friendly psychological atmosphere in the group, positive motivation to learn a foreign language, and the development of cooperation skills of the students.
Pytania o życie
Authors: Kopcewicz Jan
Published: November 2024

The phenomenon of life, being a fascinating cosmic phenomenon, arouses interest in various ways. Although we know a lot about various aspects of life, there are still large areas of ignorance, uncertainty and doubt. An entire series of important "questions about life" have been formulated, regarding both its origin, functioning, and role as well as its occurrence in the Universe. The book offers a certain outline of answers to some of these questions. However, the current state of knowledge about life does not allow them to be unambiguous and exhaustive. Nonetheless, they may help readers develop their own views on these basic existential dilemmas.
Francuzi, Algierczycy? Relacje między identyfikacjami Francuzów algierskiego pochodzenia
Authors: Kubera Jacek
Published: November 2024

Kiedy czuję się Francuzem? Dlaczego jestem Algierką? Czy zależy to od dzielnicy, w której mieszkam, i zawodu, który wykonuję? Jakie znaczenie ma przeszłość francusko-algierska i percepcja islamu we Francji? Jakie są codzienne relacje między francuskością a algierskością? Na te i podobne pytania poszukują odpowiedzi Francuzi, których rodzice wychowali się w Algierii i imigrowali do Francji w okresie powojennego boomu gospodarczego. Mówią biegle w języku Moliera, są doskonale osadzeni we francuskiej codzienności i funkcjonują w różnych warstwach społeczeństwa francuskiego. Dzięki rodzicom poznali elementy kultury algierskiej, arabskiej lub berberyjskiej, założenia religii muzułmańskiej oraz wydarzenia z historii rodzinnej i społecznej. Jako potomkowie imigrantów konfrontują swe wyobrażenia o francuskości i algierskości z ocenami i reakcjami innych osób – rodziny żyjącej po obu stronach Morza Śródziemnego, rówieśników, nauczycieli, pracodawców i polityków. Książka zawiera teoretyczne i metodologiczne propozycje badań nad identyfikacjami. W pojedynczej czynności identyfikacji autor odróżnia argument identyfikacyjny (cechę) od nazwy kategorialnej, a użyteczność zaproponowanych pojęć testuje w badaniu identyfikacji Francuzów algierskiego pochodzenia (FPA). Napisane przez potomków imigrantów algierskich teksty literackie, w różnym stopniu nacechowane autobiograficznością, są podane w książce analizie jakościowej i ilościowej. W efekcie wskazano na istnienie w świadomości zbiorowej FPA kilkudziesięciu możliwych, osadzonych w konkretnych kontekstach, relacji między wybranymi identyfikacjami narodowymi – francuską i algierską.
Fabry Disease - literature review
Authors: Wdowiak Krystian , Maciocha Agnieszka , Wąż Julia , Witas Aleksandra , Muzyka Adrian , Rydzek Julia , Gardocka Ewa
Published: November 2024

Introduction and objective: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder that can manifest in classical and atypical forms, with the latter being more common. It results from deficient alpha-galactosidase activity, leading to the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), causing inflammation, cellular damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The aim of this publication is to discuss various aspects of Fabry disease based on the latest literature.
Review Methods: The PubMed database was searched for scientific articles where the terms "Fabry disease" or "FD" appear in the title, abstract, or keywords. The focus was on articles published between 2017 and 2024, although in some cases, older sources were consulted when more recent data was lacking.Brief Description of the State of Knowledge:  The Fabry disease occurs with a frequency between 1:40,000 and 1:117,000 live male births. Symptoms include proteinuria, kidney failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valve defects, peripheral neuropathy, and gastrointestinal issues. The disease affects life expectancy, primarily due to cardiovascular complications. Early diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific symptoms, and prognosis tends to be worse in males. Current treatments include enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), chaperone therapy with migalastat, and second-generation ERT.Summary: Given the rarity of Fabry disease, research is limited, and there is a need for more studies to explore novel therapeutic options that could improve patient quality of life and mitigate the disease's complications.
Avoiding Fields on Fire: Information Dissemination Policies for Environmentally Safe Crop-Residue Management
Authors: Farahani Mehdi H. , Dawande Milind , Janakiraman Ganesh , Wang Shouqiang
Published: November 2024

Agricultural open burning, that is, the practice of burning crop residue in harvested fields to prepare land for sowing a new crop, is well recognized as a significant contributor to CO2 and black-carbon emissions, and long-term climate change. Low-soil-tillage practices using an agricultural machine called the Happy Seeder, which can sow the new seed without removing the previous crop residue, have emerged as the most effective alternative to open burning. However, given the limited supply of Happy Seeders from the government, and the fact that farmers incur a significant yield loss if they delay sowing the new crop, farmers are often unwilling to wait to be processed by the Happy Seeder and, instead, burn their crop residue. We study how the government can use effective information-disclosure policies in the operation of Happy Seeders to minimize open burning. A Happy Seeder is assigned to process a group of farms. The government knows, but does not necessarily disclose, the Happy Seeder’s schedule at the start of the sowing season. We propose a class of information-disclosure policies, called dilatory policies, that provide no information to the farmers about the schedule until a prespecified switch period and then reveal the entire schedule afterward. We show that an optimal dilatory policy can significantly lower the number of farms burnt compared with that under the full-disclosure and the no-disclosure policies. Using data from the rice-wheat crop system in northwestern India, we demonstrate that the optimal dilatory policy can reduce CO2 and black-carbon emissions by 17% on average. We also examine the impact of the government’s policy on the trade-off between environmental damage and farmers’ welfare.

This paper was accepted by Jayashankar Swaminathan, operations management.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.03030 .
Journal scan
Authors: Welyczko Nikki
Published: November 2024

A brief overview of recently published articles on gastroenterology, hepatology and stoma care
The Comparison of The Quality of Life Between Conventional Orthognathic Surgery and Surgery-first Orthognathic Surgery in Skeletal Class III Deformity Patients
Authors:   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, Wongmaneerung Chalalai , Aschaitrakool Yuthakran ,   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Published: November 2024

Objectives: This prospective cohort study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) of patients with skeletal Class III deformities undergoing either conventional orthognathic surgery (CS) or surgery-first orthognathic surgery (SF) using the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and the Oral health Impact (OHIP-14) tools. Methods: The OQLQ was translated into Thai. Thirty-four patients were enrolled, with 17 in each group according to their orthodontic treatment plans. Patients completed the OQLQ and OHIP-14 assessments on the day before surgery (T1) and at 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4) post-surgery. Data collection occurred from October 2021 to April 2022. Independent sample T-tests and one-way repeated measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results: At T1, the QoL was significantly lower in the CS group compared to the SF group. The CS group exhibited significant QoL improvements at T2 (OQLQ) and T3 (OHIP-14) compared to T1. The SF group had a lower QoL at T2 but showed significant improvement at T4 (OQLQ and OHIP-14). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in QoL between the two groups after surgery. Both surgical approaches led to improvements in patients' QoL. Thus, the choice of surgical method should be based on appropriate indications and patient-doctor agreement.
Connective Tissue Graft May Compensate for Residual Bone Defect of the Implant in the Esthetic Zone: A Case Report with 7-year Follow-up
Authors:   Department of Periodontology, Kyung Hee University, College of Dentistry, Periodontal-Implant Clinical Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Korea, Lim Hyun-Chang , Janaphan Kitichai ,   Center for Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry and Research Unit in Innovations in Periodontics, Oral Surgery and Advanced Technology in Implant Dentistry, Thammasat University, Thailand, Sathitthammaphon Thipphayaphan ,   Center for Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry and Research Unit in Innovations in Periodontics, Oral Surgery and Advanced Technology in Implant Dentistry, Thammasat University, Thailand, Hansakul Phurin ,   Center for Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry and Research Unit in Innovations in Periodontics, Oral Surgery and Advanced Technology in Implant Dentistry, Thammasat University, Thailand, Buranawat Borvornwut ,   Center for Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry and Research Unit in Innovations in Periodontics, Oral Surgery and Advanced Technology in Implant Dentistry, Thammasat University, Thailand
Published: November 2024

The present case report aimed to demonstrate the case using a connective tissue graft (CTG) to compensate for a residual defect after guided bone regeneration (GBR) in the anterior maxillary area. An extensive number of studies have reported successful outcomes of horizontal bone augmentation, but it was also demonstrated that a complete resolution of the defect may not be achieved in all cases. In the present case report, the patient underwent implant placement simultaneously with GBR at the anterior maxillary area. After 4 months, partial regeneration of the initial defect was observed. To compensate for such residual defect, a CTG was applied. Other expectations by the CTG were to enhance tissue volume and phenotype. The final prosthesis was delivered after 3 months. Up to 7 years, favorable radiographic and clinical situations were observed. In conclusion, a CTG may compensate for residual bone defect of the implant in the esthetic zone.
Recent progress in plant-derived antiviral compounds against African swine fever virus
Authors:   Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Program, Industrial Technology Development Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City 1634 Philippines, orosco Fredmoore L. ,   Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila 1000 Philippines
Published: November 2024

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) poses a significant threat to the global swine industry, necessitating the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Through a detailed exploration of ASFV biology, pathogenesis, and replication cycle, critical targets for intervention were identified. The aim of this review was to evaluate the antiviral activity of different plant-derived compounds against ASFV, discuss research gaps, and highlight future perspectives. Key findings from the literature highlight the diverse mechanisms by which plant-derived compounds exert their antiviral effects on ASFV. Notably, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids exhibit promising antiviral potential via distinct modes of action. However, research gaps persist in the understanding of the precise mechanisms of action, strain-specific effects, and potential toxicity. With a growing understanding of ASFV biology and its intricate replication cycle, these compounds offer a promising avenue for intervention. Addressing research gaps and optimizing formulations are vital for translating these findings into effective therapeutic solutions. Interdisciplinary collaborations in virology, pharmacology, and plant science present an opportunity to combat ASFV, ensuring the security of the food supply and animal health on a global scale.
Rethinking the diagnosis and treatment of renal anastomotic hemangioma after partial nephrectomy
Authors: Guo Yun-Peng , Pokhrel Gaurab , Wang Yu-Yang , Wen Quan , Hang Gai , Chen Bo
Published: November 2024

Renal anastomotic hemangioma (AH) is a rare, benign vascular tumor with unique histopathological features, a disease that is clinically rare, and existing clinical cases offer different treatment options. As reported in the text, this is a very unusual case of renal AH with AH secondary to residual renal tissue after renal clear cell carcinoma, describing a rare renal AH and a history of renal clear cell carcinoma, including ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, the available imaging data and the literature do not provide an effective basis for the diagnosis of the disease, raising the lack of understanding and misdiagnosis, where the patient eventually underwent nephrectomy, but the author is not the most appropriate surgical treatment. The postoperative pathological results of the patient are benign lesions, and it is undeniable that nephrectomy is suspected to be overtreated. By reading the literature, we provide different insights into the treatment of the patient, and we hope that this paper can provide some help for the future clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Binary vertex labelings of graphs and digraphs
Authors: Beasley LeRoy
Published: November 2024

A (0; 1)-labeling of a set is said to be friendly if the number of elements of the set labeled 0 and the number labeled 1 differ by at most 1. Let g be a labeling of the edge set of a graph that is induced by a labeling f of the vertex set. If both g and f are friendly then f is said to be a cordial labeling of the graph. This concept extended to directed graphs is called (2; 3)-cordiality of digraphs. We investigate the labelings that are both cordial for a graph and (2; 3)-cordial for an orientation of it. We also consider the same problem for other known binary vertex labelings of graphs.
From Debutante to Dominican Economist and Public Intellectual: Sister Thomasine Cusack and the Genealogy of U.S. Catholic Social-Liberalism
Authors: Mulderry Darra D.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Sister Thomasine (Jane Evelyn) Cusack (1905–1978) forsook her life of economic privilege to enter the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Trained as an economist, she was among the few women religious in the pre-Vatican II era who became prodigious scholars and public intellectuals. This research traces her chief influences, including her father, Thomas Cusack, members of her Dominican community, especially Sister Vincent Ferrer Bradford, and her priest mentors at the Catholic University of America. Their collective influence and her explication of their ideas and ideals suggest a genealogy of Catholic social-liberalism from the 1930s to the 1970s and indicate how Sister Thomasine and other like-minded educators and activists modeled a pathway for later social justice advocates.
Cleveland Makes Old Things New: Changes to Priestly Formation and Ministry Preparation, 1953–2020
Authors: Gutowski James A.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: In 1953, Archbishop Edward F. Hoban established Borromeo Seminary, which allowed the Diocese of Cleveland to control all facets of its priestly formation program. Students would move from Borromeo to Saint Mary Seminary and on to ordination. At the height of their enrollment, the seminaries were educating more students than there were priests ministering in the diocese. However, declining numbers through the 1970s and 1980s forced the diocese to reconsider the costs and benefit of maintaining two campuses. When Bishop Anthony Pilla contracted a consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study, the firm recommended closure of both facilities and moving the entire priestly formation program to Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. Although this proposal was rejected, it forced the Presbyteral Council of the diocese to determine how to keep both programs at home. The result was a new model for ministry training that was more resilient and responsive to the needs of the local church.
Near-field-driven thermal phonon lasing
Authors: Karwat P. , Bello F. D. , Clarke D. D. A. , Pasławski G. , Hess O.
Published: November 2024

The extreme electromagnetic near-field environment of nanoplasmonic resonators and metamaterials can give rise to unprecedented electromagnetic heating effects, enabling large and manipulable temperature gradients on the order of 101–102 K/nm. In this Letter, by interfacing traditional semiconductor quantum dots with industry-grade plasmonic transducer technology, we demonstrate that the near-field-induced thermal gradient can facilitate the requisite population inversion for coherent phonon amplification and lasing at the nanoscale. Our detailed analysis uncovers both the characteristics and parameter sensitivity of inversion and relaxation oscillations in the system, thereby unveiling hitherto unexplored opportunities for leveraging plasmonic near-field effects in the context of quantum thermodynamics and phononics.
How are Indian cities adapting to extreme heat? Insights on heat risk governance and incremental adaptation from ten urban Heat Action Plans
Authors: Singh Chandni , Vyas Divyanshi , Patil Sheetal , Ranjit Nihal , Poonacha Prathijna , Surampally Swati
Published: November 2024

Cities are exposed to and concentrate heat. Indian cities are particularly at risk with terrifying projections of extreme heat, especially for vulnerable populations. Recognising this growing heat risk, Indian cities have been frontrunners in heat action planning, experimenting with a range of actions, typically through city-level ‘Heat Action Plans’ (HAPs). These plans articulate a range of imaginations about which sectors or population groups are considered vulnerable, what actions are deemed effective and feasible, and what capacities cities are investing in. Reports of the efficacy of these HAPs from recent heatwaves in 2022 and 2023 demonstrate the uneven and inadequate nature of these plans. This study begins with the hypothesis that urban heat action planning in India has made significant strides but remains incremental in nature. This hypothesis is explored through a review of ten HAPs and 25 in-depth interviews with HAP designers, funders, and implementers. We find that current heat management governance structures, institutional capacities, and financial mechanisms, carry with them the ‘institutional thinness’ of Indian climate governance and a hangover of relief-oriented approaches in disaster management. This overlooks lessons from adaptive governance, which highlights the importance of flexible, forward-looking decision-making. Further, incremental actions such as water kiosks in public spaces and public awareness campaigns on heat impacts, while essential, often preserve the status quo, and need to be complemented with transformational, system-wide agendas such as targeted implementation of heat-resilient building codes or a better articulation of how cities can balance grey-green-blue infrastructure solutions. Currently, the highly evolving HAP governance arena is infused with new actors, technologies, and metrics of defining effective urban heat management and this dynamism is promising. However, not tasked with or equipped with a transformational agenda, heat risk governance is missing an opportunity to institutionalise proactive, decisive, and effective heat action planning in the country.
A non-canonical role of somatic Cyclin D/CYD-1 in oogenesis and in maintenance of reproductive fidelity, dependent on the FOXO/DAF-16 activation state
Authors: Rautela Umanshi , Sarkar Gautam Chandra , Chaudhary Ayushi , Chatterjee Debalina , Rosh Mohtashim , Arimbasseri Aneeshkumar G. , Mukhopadhyay Arnab
Published: November 2024

For the optimal survival of a species, an organism coordinates its reproductive decisions with the nutrient availability of its niche. Thus, nutrient-sensing pathways like insulin-IGF-1 signaling (IIS) play an important role in modulating cell division, oogenesis, and reproductive aging. Lowering of the IIS leads to the activation of the downstream FOXO transcription factor (TF) DAF-16 in Caenorhabditis elegans which promotes oocyte quality and delays reproductive aging. However, less is known about how the IIS axis responds to changes in cell cycle proteins, particularly in the somatic tissues. Here, we show a new aspect of the regulation of the germline by this nutrient-sensing axis. First, we show that the canonical G1-S cyclin, Cyclin D/CYD-1, regulates reproductive fidelity from the uterine tissue of wild-type worms. Then, we show that knocking down cyd-1 in the uterine tissue of an IIS receptor mutant arrests oogenesis at the pachytene stage of meiosis-1 in a DAF-16-dependent manner. We observe activated DAF-16-dependent deterioration of the somatic gonadal tissues like the sheath cells, and transcriptional de-regulation of the sperm-to-oocyte switch genes which may be the underlying reason for the absence of oogenesis. Deleting DAF-16 releases the arrest and leads to restoration of the somatic gonad but poor-quality oocytes are produced. Together, our study reveals the unrecognized cell non-autonomous interaction of Cyclin D/CYD-1 and FOXO/DAF-16 in the regulation of oogenesis and reproductive fidelity.
Assessing the impact of structural modifications in the construction of surveillance network for Peste des petits ruminants disease in Nigeria: The role of backbone and sentinel nodes
Authors: Mesdour Asma , Ijoma Sandra , Bolajoko Muhammad-Bashir , Arsevska Elena , Ciss Mamadou , Cardinale Eric , Andraud Mathieu , Apolloni Andrea
Published: November 2024

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease affecting mainly sheep and goats. Livestock movements contribute to the spread of the disease by introducing it to naive areas or exposing susceptible animals to it in infected regions. Because of its socio-economic impact, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have set the goal to eradicate it by 2030, one of the key steps being the improvement of surveillance networks. The present study aimed to provide tools to identify areas that could serve as sentinel nodes, i.e. areas that may be rapidly infected at the onset of epidemics. Using data from a market survey conducted in Northern Nigeria, we reconstructed the small ruminants mobility network and simulated the diffusion of PPR virus through animal movement. From the analysis of simulation outcomes, we investigated which nodes could act as sentinel nodes under specific conditions for disease transmission. We considered several modified networks to get around the problem of data only being available for part of the overall network structure and to account for potential errors made during the field study. For each configuration, we simulated the spread of PPR using a stochastic Susceptible-Infectious (SI) model based on animal movements to assess the epidemics’ extent and the presence of recurrent patterns to identify potential sentinel nodes. We extracted the backbone of the reference network and checked for the presence of sentinel nodes within it. We investigated how the origin (seed) of the epidemics could affect the propagation pattern by comparing and grouping seeds based on their respective transmission paths. Results showed that the isolated backbone contains 45% of sentinel nodes that remain stable or undergo only minor changes in 9 out of 11 configurations. On top of that, the characteristics of sentinel nodes identified in the backbone are not influenced by the severity of the disease. The H index, in-degree, and eigenvector are the most essential variables. This study provides an overview of the major axes of animal movements in Nigeria and the most vulnerable locations that should be prioritized for monitoring livestock diseases like PPR.
Rural-urban disparities in full antenatal care utilization among women in Ethiopia: A further analysis of Mini-EDHS, 2019
Authors: Addisu Elsabeth , Cherie Niguss , Birhane Tesfaye , Abegaz Zinet , Endawkie Abel , Mohammed Anissa , Melak Dagnachew , Bayou Fekade Demeke , Asfaw Ahmed Hussien , Yasin Husniya , Zerga Aregash Abebayehu , Wagaye Birhanu , Ayele Fanos Yeshanew , Kebede Natnael , Mekonen Asnakew Molla , Mihiretu Mengistu Mera , Muche Amare , Tsega Yawkal
Published: November 2024

Background

Full antenatal care utilization is a key intervention that creates the opportunity to provide all the necessary health services during pregnancy that aims to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. However, there is still a gap in utilizing this service between rural and urban women. So, this study aimed to identify the sources of variations in full antenatal care utilization between the rural and urban areas of Ethiopia.

Methods

The study used the data on a nationwide representative sample of the Mini- Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of Ethiopia. The data were collected from March 21, 2019, to June 28, 2019, in all regions of Ethiopia. Two stage cluster sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. This study included about 3,927 (weighted samples) of women aged from 15 to 49 years. A multivariate decomposition analysis technique was performed to observe the rural-urban disparities in full antenatal care utilization explained by residence difference in components of endowments and coefficients.

Results

The prevalence of full antenatal care utilization was 43.25% (95% CI: 41.7%, 44.8%). The difference in the prevalence of full antenatal care utilization between rural and urban women was (rural prevalence was 27.73%, while in urban areas it was 15.52%). These results showed a statistically significant full antenatal care utilization gap in rural urban resident women (-0.21807, 95% CI:(-0.27397, -0.16217)). The majority of the gap was explained by the covariate distribution, which accounted for 76.84%, and the rest, 23.16%, was due to the effect of covariate differences. Educational status, wealth status, religion, region, birth order, and parity differences between urban and rural women explain most of the full antenatal care utilization disparities.

Conclusion and recommendations

There is a significant full antenatal care utilization disparity between rural and urban women in Ethiopia. This variation in the rural-urban full antenatal care utilization was explained by differences in characteristics (endowment). So to decrease this gap, emphasis should be given to resource distribution targeting rural households, improvement of maternal education and creating a platform to access information about the service and its relevance.
Medium-term survival of patients with mechanical and biological aortic prosthesis at the 6th decade of life
Authors: Dayan Victor , Montero Juan Andres , Freemantle Nick
Published: November 2024

Objective

The best aortic prosthesis type in 60–70 year old patients is not established. Our aim was to evaluate the survival in a National cohort of patients between 60–70 years old who required surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis (SAVR) with either a mechanical (MP) or bioprosthesis (BP) valve.

Methods

This is a retrospective study using national data from the Ministry of Health. We included all patients between 60 to 70 years old who underwent SAVR for aortic stenosis in Uruguay from 2011 to 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival according to type of prosthesis used stratified by effect modifiers. The independent effects of gender and use of statins were evaluated.

Results

We included 1196 patients (66±3.0 years old; 39.1% female). Mortality was higher for BP (296, 29.9%%) than MP (36, 17.1%; p<0.001). Median follow-up time was 4.5 years (Interquartile range [IQR] 3.4–6.5). The unadjusted incidence rate ratio was higher for BP (Incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.43;95%CI: 0.99, 2.14, p = 0.045). The effect of BP on mortality rate was greater in males (IRR = 1.82;95%CI:1.14,2.92. p interaction = 0.08) and patients who were not taking statins (IRR = 1.97;95%CI:1.14,3.41. p interaction = 0.06). The use of BP was an independent predictor of overall survival in male patients (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.32;95%CI: 1.68, 1.04. p = 0.021) and in patients who were not taking statins (HR = 2.07;95%CI: 1.17, 3.67. p = 0.013).

Conclusion

The use of BP was associated with worse survival in male patients and patients not taking statins. Gender and statins use should contribute to type of prosthesis decision in the 60–69 age group.