bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppressing epithelial‐mesenchymal‐transition blue light therapy for reducing macrophage‐mediated cancerous pulmonary fibrosis: An in‐vitro study
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Dong Jianfei
Published: August 2023

Lung cancer is the leading killer among all types of cancer globally. As a key factor, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in pathological fibrosis and lung cancer metastasis. This study endeavors to investigate the effect of blue light at specific wavelengths of 405 nm and 415 nm (54 J/cm2) on EMT induced by TGF‐β1 in A549 cells. The results revealed that the blue light irradiation reduced the morphological characteristics of EMT in the A549 cells, and cell‐to‐cell connections were weakened significantly. Molecular analysis showed upregulation of epithelial marker E‐cadherin and downregulation of EMT marker vimentin. Additionally, exposure to blue light irradiation at 405 nm and 415 nm significantly decelerated the ability of invasion and migration. Moreover, cell viability was also investigated. Based on these findings, blue light can serve as a useful therapeutic option for inhibiting EMT in cases of lung cancer and fibrotic lung disease.
Antibacterial Broad‐Spectrum Dendritic/Gellan Gum Hybrid Hydrogels with Rapid Shape‐Forming and Self‐Healing for Wound Healing Application
Authors: Biscari Giuseppina , Fan Yanmiao , Namata Faridah , Fiorica Calogero , Malkoch Michael , Palumbo Fabio Salvatore , Pitarresi Giovanna
Published: August 2023

Treating wound infections is a difficult task ever since pathogenic bacteria started to develop resistance to common antibiotics. The present study develops hybrid hydrogels based on the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex between the anionic charges of dopamine‐functionalized Gellan Gum (GG‐DA) and the cationic moieties of the TMP‐G2‐alanine dendrimer. The hydrogels thus obtained can be doubly crosslinked with CaCl2, obtaining solid hydrogels. Or, by oxidizing dopamine to GG‐DA, possibly causing further interactions such as Schiff Base and Michael addition to take place, hydrogels called injectables can be obtained. The latter have shear‐thinning and self‐healing properties (efficiency up to 100%). Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT), and mouse monocyte cells (RAW 264.7), after incubation with hydrogels, in most cases show cell viability up to 100%. Hydrogels exhibit adhesive behavior on various substrates, including porcine skin. At the same time, the dendrimer serves to crosslink the hydrogels and endows them with excellent broad‐spectrum microbial eradication activity within four hours, evaluated using Staphylococcus aureus 2569 and Escherichia coli 178. Using the same GG‐DA/TMP‐G2‐alanine ratios hybrid hydrogels with tunable properties and potential for wound dressing applications can be produced.
Dietitian's approach to managing enteral nutrition intolerance when a formula change is indicated: A clinical practice survey
Authors: Steel Cindy , Wile Heather
Published: August 2023

Background

Enteral nutrition intolerance (ENI) is often defined as one or more gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms related to enteral nutrition (EN) and may have significant impact on patient outcomes. There are multiple strategies to help manage ENI, such as changing the EN formula. The objective of this practice survey was to understand prevalence of ENI, management of ENI symptoms, and EN formula features considered when changing formulas to manage ENI.

Methods

Canadian clinical dietitians working across care settings (n = 4827) were invited to complete a 28‐question online survey if involved in the management of adult and/or pediatric patients receiving EN.

Results

Five hundred seventeen surveys were analyzed. Significantly more dietitians in adult vs pediatric settings (83.4% and 59.1%, respectively; P = 0.0012), reported ENI in <40% of patients. Assessing medications, elevating the head of the bed, and changing EN infusion rate, volume, or feeding regimen were the highest‐ranked strategies to manage ENI symptoms. Most (>90%) respondents change the EN formula <50% of the time to manage ENI. Dietitians consider caloric density and protein form as the most important EN features to manage upper‐GI symptoms vs fiber source, osmolality, and form of protein to manage lower‐GI symptoms. EN with real‐food ingredients was ranked higher in importance for managing upper‐ and lower‐GI symptoms by dietitians in pediatric vs adult settings.

Conclusion

To manage ENI symptoms, dietitians consider multiple strategies before deciding to change the EN formula. When a formula change is indicated, dietitians consider different EN features for the management of upper‐ and lower‐GI symptoms.
Effectiveness and tolerability of liraglutide for the management of weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Jamal Mohammad , Qasem Wafa , Hamshari Fatima , Dsouza Carol , Alqallaf Nagi , Otiku Paul , Nnaji Chukwudi A.
Published: August 2023

Background

There is currently very little research evidence on the benefits and safety of liraglutide in the management of weight regain or inadequate weight loss following metabolic and bariatric surgery. This study aimed to determine the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of liraglutide as an adjunct therapy for managing weight regain and inadequate weight loss following sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of medical records conducted at a private clinic in Kuwait.

Results

Data of 57 post‐SG patients were included in the analysis. The mean (±SD) pre‐treatment weight was 96.12 (29.26) kg. Following a median liraglutide treatment duration of approximately 3 months, the mean post‐treatment weight was 90.19 (26.82) kg. This represents a statistically significant mean weight loss of 5.94 (6.31) kg (p < 0.001), corresponding to a loss of 6.20% of pre‐treatment weight. Patients aged 31–40 years achieved a greater post‐treatment weight loss of 7.63 (7.41) kg, a loss of 7.80%, relative to age groups after treatment (p = 0.047). Patients who tolerated ≥2.4 mg of liraglutide recorded a higher mean weight loss of 8.42 (7.63) kg, a loss of 8.10% (p = 0.010).

Conclusion

The use of liraglutide may be an effective adjunct treatment for weight optimization following SG. Maximizing the tolerable dose may yield greater weight reduction.
Subjective time perception in musical imagery: An fMRI study on musicians
Authors: Izadifar Morteza , Formuli Arusu , Isham Eve A. , Paolini Marco
Published: August 2023

The cognitive preparation of an operation without overt motor execution is referred to as imagery (of any kind). Over the last two decades of progress in brain timing studies, the timing of imagery has received little focus. This study compared the time perception of ten professional violinists' actual and imagery performances to see if such an analysis could offer a different model of timing in musicians' imagery skills. When comparing the timing profiles of the musicians between the two situations (actual and imagery), we found a significant correlation in overestimation of time in the imagery. In our fMRI analysis, we found high activation in the left cerebellum. This finding seems consistent with dedicated models of timing such as the cerebellar timing hypothesis, which assigns a “specialized clock” for tasks. In addition, the present findings might provide empirical data concerning imagery, creativity, and time. Maintaining imagery over time is one of the foundations of creativity, and understanding the underlying temporal neuronal mechanism might help us to apprehend the machinery of creativity per se.
Identification of polymer behavior from nonequibiaxial elongation test with temperature and strain rate conditions close to blow molding process
Authors: Luo Yun‐Mei , Chevalier Luc , Nguyen Thanh Tung , Attar Hanane
Published: August 2023

An anisotropic visco‐hyperelastic (VHE) model for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used to simulate the stretch blow molding process. The biaxiality needs to be taken into account for an accurate identification of the model parameters related to the induced anisotropy. Thanks to the use of a biaxial elongation apparatus developed at MSME, nonequibiaxial tension tests on PET have been managed on optimized specimen in order to provide data complementary to the equibiaxial (EB) tension test. This last enables the correct identification of the temperature and strain rate influence, because both viscous and elastic parts of the model need to test the material in nonequibiaxial (NEB) conditions. The procedure already used for EB tension test is extended to constant width and an intermediate case, NEB cases. The VHE model developed to simulate the PET behavior in the stretch blow molding conditions is identified from these three different biaxial tests: differences and dispersions are discussed. The origin of this dispersion is found out and solved by a modification of the model. This leads to a reduction of the number of parameters in the proposed VHE model.
The effect of job stress on secondary school physical education teachers' work engagement: The mediating role of self‐efficacy
Authors: Li Siyuan , Wang Ying
Published: August 2023

The objective of this study is to investigate how work stress affects work engagement and how self‐efficacy mediates among secondary school physical education teachers. The link between work stress, engagement, and self‐efficacy of secondary school physical education teachers was examined using questionnaires and linear regression analysis with a sample of 400 secondary school physical education instructors from 32 primary and secondary schools in China. The findings indicated that the relationship between work stress and engagement of secondary school physical education teachers was increasing and then decreasing. When work stress exceeds a certain range, work engagement will decrease with the increase, but conversely, appropriate work stress could effectively promote work engagement and reduced the impact of stress on job engagement.
A Case of Trichodysplasia Spinulosa Related to Ruxolitinib Treated Successfully with Oral Acitretin
Authors: Rosa-Nieves Priscilla M. , Borucki Robert , Georgesen Corey , Sutton Adam , Arthur Megan , Whitley Melodi Javid
Published: August 2023

Trichodysplasia spinulosa (TS) is a rare disease that affects immunocompromised patients, characterized by hair-like growths caused by TS-associated polyomavirus infection. Little is known about specific immunosuppressive drugs that can precipitate the condition. We report a case of TS presenting after initiating the oral Janus-associated kinase inhibitor (JAKi) ruxolitinib. A 67-year-old female with a history of allogeneic bone marrow transplant requiring immunosuppression with tacrolimus, prednisone and, more recently, ruxolitinib 5 mg twice daily due to Graft versus Host Disease presented to the clinic with a facial rash. The clinical and histopathological findings in the setting of immunosuppression were consistent with TS. Initial treatments were ineffective, but oral acitretin showed significant improvement after 3 months. Due to the close temporal relationship between the initiation of ruxolitinib and the development of TS, this case suggests that JAKis may contribute to TS development by suppressing the JAK-signal transducer and activator of the transcription pathway's antiviral functions.
Comparative evaluation of different substrates compiled in column‐type vertical‐flow constructed wetlands to remove heavy metals
Authors: Ghaju Shrestha Rajani , Nishihata Kazuki , Inoue Daisuke , Ike Michihiko
Published: August 2023

Heavy metals (HMs), like chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), are toxic pollutants frequently detected in industrial wastewater. In this study, column‐type vertical‐flow constructed wetlands (CWs) filled with different substrates were examined for their ability to remove Cr, Mn, and Ni, focusing on their applicability to high HM concentrations (tens of mg/L) and short hydraulic retention times (2 days). Five candidate substrates—gravel, limestone, reddish soil, wood pellets, and activated carbon—were screened for their ability to remove 6 mg/L of the three HMs, revealing that reddish soil and activated carbon removed all three HMs efficiently. Further experiments to remove 60 mg/L of HMs were conducted using CWs filled with reddish soil or activated carbon with or without planting Phragmites australis. The results indicated that (1) substrate adsorption contributed exclusively to HM removal and the effects of planting may be negligible, and (2) activated carbon (removal efficiency of 74–99%, 98–99%, and 99% for Cr, Mn, and Ni, respectively) is likely a more promising substrate than reddish soil (removal efficiency of 90–99%, 48–99%, and 61–99% for Cr, Mn, and Ni, respectively) in light of its ability to achieve efficient HM removal under high loading conditions.
Size‐dependent Levinson beam theory for thermal vibration of a nanobeam with deformable boundary conditions
Authors: Civalek Ömer , Deliktaş Babür , Uzun Büşra , Yaylı Mustafa Özgür
Published: August 2023

In this study, an eigen‐value problem for deformable boundary conditions in nonlocal elasticity is described using Levinson beam theory. Firstly, the nanobeam has been modeled by placing two springs that can be deformed in the downward direction. These springs control the amount of downward displacement at the ends. In the analytical solution, the displacement points are defined by two coefficients and the interior part of the nanobeam deflection is expressed by Fourier sine series. Stokes’ transformation is preferred to enforce the boundary conditions to the desired point. After the mathematical operations, a matrix of coefficients including the general elastic spring constants has been found. The eigenvalues of this coefficient matrix give the frequencies of the Levinson nanobeam. The effect of some parameters on the free vibration frequencies is shown in a series of graphs and tables.
Consciousness and Flow for Leadership Development
Authors: Goodman David H. , Maheshwari Anil K.
Published: August 2023

The flow experience, first studied by Mihaly (Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Harper Perennial, 1991), represents a glimpse into peak experiences, and suggests an expanded state of consciousness often accompanied by superior creativity and accomplishment. The experience of transcendence through Transcendental Meditation® (TM®), brought to the world by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, leads to development of consciousness and is associated with heightened creativity and fluid thinking. This chapter will compare flow experience with the development of consciousness toward higher states. Flow experiences have prerequisites in terms of mastery of craft, unambiguous clear task requirements, and a basic equivalence between the individual’s level of skill and the presented challenge. Flow experiences E "experience" are often fleeting and hard to predict. Regular practice of TM can systematically support more frequent experiences of creativity and the establishment of higher states of consciousness, known as enlightenment and create more frequent experiences of creativity and effortlessness. The goal of practice of the TM technique is enlightenment, living the experience of pure consciousness in all situations throughout the day, along with the other three states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, and sleeping), during external turbulence or not, and autotelic or not. Autotelic simply means that the activity is inspiring in and of itself enough, without an end-purpose. That is one of the findings in the flow experience but is not necessary in higher states of consciousness. There is overlap; however higher states of consciousness are based on refinement of the nervous system to support silence and dynamism.
Radical Left Movements in Scandinavia, 1980–2020: Straddling Militant Counterculture and Popular Movements
Authors: Jämte Jan , Lundstedt Måns , Wennerhag Magnus
Published: August 2023

This chapter describes the development of radical left activism in Scandinavia in the post-war period, with a particular focus on the last four decades. During this period, the main tendency in radical left activism shifted from party-based Marxism-Leninism to network-based, direct-action activism based on libertarian socialist ideals. Combining secondary literature with original quantitative and qualitative data on the radical left-libertarian movements (RLLM) in Sweden and Denmark, this chapter shows how RLLM activism emerged, expanded, and ultimately declined between the early 1980s and late 2010s. While there are key differences between the countries in terms of timing and issue foci, the chapter emphasizes the similarities between the countries. Tracing the movements’ development through sequential phases, the chapter shows them shifting from direct-action networks that engaged in a variety of political issue—anti-fascism, anti-imperialism, feminism, animal rights, etc.—to more “conventional” networks of organizations and initiatives through which activists intervened in local politics and neighborhood and workplace conflicts. The same period also saw the RLLM become less disruptive and violent, in favor of tactical pragmatism and conventional forms of protest. The chapter explains these changes as a combination of four main processes: (1) movement-internal developments, (2) changes in the countercultural milieus surrounding the movement, (3) the political institutionalization of the movement’s main counterpart, the far right, and (4) new patterns of protest policing and state repression.
Introduction
Authors: Papathanassopoulos Stylianos , Miconi Andrea
Published: August 2023

The media in Europe have radically changed since 1990. But even within Europe, the processes or mechanisms of “oversight” varied according to individual political and cultural traditions. In effect a major element of the European media has been that they have been characterized by great diversity. The media in Europe are not only different media systems between the West and the East but also among the southern, central and the northern European countries. Hallin and Mancini, in their seminal work Comparing Media Systems, have suggested three models which describe the media systems in mainly “old” Western Europe. At the same time, their model has served as a theoretical landmark for most of comparative media systems studies and can still provide a useful framework for current comparative research on the media field. In effect, we consider that theoretical approach envisioned by Hallin and Mancini might still be a place for the concept of media systems among comparative studies in the digital era considering the new developments in the media systems. The latter are not simply a consequence of processes of globalization but also outcomes of technological change, policy making and economics and the Europeanization process which help give shape to the new world and to the media order. This book is based on some of the historical findings of a larger project entitled “European Media Platforms: Assessing Positive and Negative Externalities for European Culture” funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101004488. It aims to present an account of the contemporary media field focusing on the trends as well as on the problems the national media systems within the European Union face.
The Media in Northwestern Europe in the Last Three Decades
Authors: Grassmuck Volker , Thomass Barbara
Published: August 2023

On the basis of the model of Hallin and Mancini (Comparing media systems. Three models of media and politics. University Press, Cambridge, 2004), the chapter describes the media systems in Northwestern Europe with respect to their main characteristics and the developments of the markets and points to the development of trust in the media that we observe in the countries of Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria. The degree and nature of the links between the media and political parties are considered as well as the development of journalistic professionalism and the role of the state in the function of the media. We conclude that the media systems of the Northwestern European region are still in accordance with the democratic corporatist model of Hallin and Mancini.
$$L^s(L^q)$$-estimates of the pressure - The proof of Sohr-von Wahl and its impact on mathematical fluid dynamics
Authors: Farwig Reinhard
Published: August 2023

The article On the regularity of the pressure of weak solutions of Navier–Stokes equations by H. Sohr and W. von Wahl (1986) is one of the most-cited papers of the journal Archiv der Mathematik. Our aim is to describe not only the content of the paper, but especially the novelty of its results on maximal regularity of the Stokes operator considered from a point of view of the eighties and from a modern point of view.
Major complications after intraoperative radiotherapy with low-energy x-rays in early breast cancer
Authors: Berger Laura , Grimm Anja , Sütterlin Marc , Spaich Saskia , Sperk Elena , Tuschy Benjamin , Berlit Sebastian
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To describe and analyze major local complications after intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy x‑rays during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in early breast cancer.

Methods

Ten women out of 408 who were treated with IORT between 2002 and 2017 and subsequently developed a severe local complication requiring surgical intervention were retrospectively identified and analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and surgical parameters as well as complication characteristics and treatment methods were evaluated.

Results

At initial presentation, eight patients (80%) showed redness, six (60%) seroma, six (60%) wound infection, six (60%) suture dehiscence, and four (40%) induration of the former surgical area. Hematoma and necrosis were observed in one case (10%) each. Time interval until appearance of the first symptoms ranged from directly postoperative until 15 years postoperatively (median 3.1 months). Initial treatment modalities comprised antibiotic therapy (n = 8/80%) and transcutaneous aspiration of seroma (n = 3/30%). In the majority of patients, smaller surgical interventions (excision of a necrotic area/fistula [n = 6/60%] or secondary suture [n = 5/50%]) were sufficient to overcome the complication, yet larger interventions such as complex flap surgery and mastectomy were necessary in one patient each.

Conclusion

IORT is an efficient and safe treatment method as < 2.5% of all IORT patients experienced major local complications. However, it seems to pose the risk of causing severe local complications that may require lengthy and burdensome treatment. Thorough preoperative counseling, implementation of recommended intraoperative precautions, and high vigilance for first symptoms of complications during follow-up appointments are necessary measures.
Use of elemental profiles determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and multivariate analyses to detect adulteration in Ceylon cinnamon
Authors: Ghidotti Michele , Papoci Sergej , Pietretti Danilo , Ždiniaková Tereza , de la Calle Guntiñas María Beatriz
Published: August 2023

The price of Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) is around twice as high as that of the other cinnamon varieties commonly grouped under the name cassia cinnamon, making the former spice an attractive target for fraudsters. This work demonstrates that elemental profiles obtained by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence in combination with multivariate analyses can be used as a screening method to detect Ceylon cinnamon adulteration. Thirty-six elements were analysed in 52 commercially available cinnamon samples, 29 Ceylon, 8 cassia, and 15 for which no indication about variety was provided. Fifty-eight percent of the samples were either adulterated or did not meet international quality criteria. Four of the ground cinnamon samples labelled as Ceylon cinnamon were found to be pure cassia or a mixture with a high cassia content, and 26 samples were suspected of other types of adulteration including replacement of bark with other parts of the cinnamon tree. Headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and ash determination by thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the conclusions reached by elemental analysis. Only one sample labelled as Ceylon cinnamon and that according to its volatile composition was cassia cinnamon was not flagged as suspicious by elemental analysis.

Graphical Abstract
Methods of Recruitment for Surgical and Perioperative Randomized Controlled Trials: A Rapid Review
Authors: Ninomiya Maya Morton , Hiemstra Jenna , Nicholson Emma , Isaac Kathryn V.
Published: August 2023

Due to the complex nature of surgical randomized controlled trials (RCTs), reaching target recruitment can be challenging. The primary objective was to report on characteristics of successful pilot surgical and perioperative RCTs and the methodological strategies implemented to optimize recruitment. The secondary objective was to provide recommendations for successful recruitment strategies for future surgical RCTs. Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Web of Science (via Ovid) databases were searched from 2012 to 2022. This review included surgical and perioperative pilot studies that met their recruitment targets. Study and recruitment characteristics were summarized, and potential relationships between study design and recruitment rate were assessed. Optimized recruitment strategies were extracted when reported. Of 4156 total articles identified, 255 underwent full‐text screening, and 52 articles were included. Of the included pilot studies, 21% (n = 11) did not indicate a target sample size or recruitment rate. Recruitment methods were minimally reported in pilot studies for perioperative or surgical RCTs. Strategies to optimize recruitment included internal iterative evaluations of the recorded recruitment appointments and staged introduction of the study. Recruitment rate was not associated with invasiveness of intervention or burden of participation. Patient involvement is absent from current reports on methodological design and offers valuable opportunity to optimize recruitment. Recruitment strategies in perioperative and surgical RCTs can be optimized with iterative qualitative evaluation of the recruitment methods with input from the interdisciplinary research team.
Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study to Evaluate a Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis for Treatment of Stenosis or Occlusion within the Dialysis Outflow Circuit of an Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula or AV Graft (The WRAP Registry)
Authors: Rajan Dheeraj K. , Kitrou Panagiotis M.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Dysfunctional vascular access due to stenosis/occlusion within the arteriovenous fistula or graft (AVF/AVG) negatively affects the clinical management of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Results from the feasibility study of the WRAPSODY™ Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis demonstrated that the device can achieve high patency rates and maintain integrity of the dialysis outflow circuit. This study was designed to assess real-world evidence of safety and efficacy outcomes following device placement.

Materials and Methods

This is a prospective, multicenter, non-investigational, post-market observational study of 500 patients at up to 50 centers worldwide with a mature AVF/AVG dialysis access (≥ 1 hemodialysis session) who experience stenosis/occlusion of the outflow circuit prior to placement of WRAPSODY. Patients will be divided into the following two cohorts: peripheral or central thoracic. Primary outcome measures include target lesion primary patency (TLPP) at 6 months and procedure and/or device-related events through 30 days post-procedure. Secondary outcome measures include TLPP, safety events, and the number of interventions needed to maintain patency through the 24 month study period. Exploratory endpoints include time to access abandonment, resumption of successful dialysis, functional patency, and pending available imaging data, any incidence of stent fractures, migration, or edge stenosis. Study enrollment began in June 2022, the last patient visit is expected in 2026.

Discussion

It is expected that this study will provide real-world evidence regarding the performance of the WRAPSODY device in a diverse population of patients, which may encourage its use in the continuum of hemodialysis access management.

Trial Registration

NCT05062291

Graphical Abstract
Environmental dynamics of the western European Mediterranean landscape during the Pleistocene to Holocene transition
Authors: Pérez-Díaz Sebastián , Ruiz-Alonso Mónica , López-Sáez José Antonio , Alday Alfonso , Cava-Almuzara Ana
Published: August 2023

A strategic aim of research into climate change in the distant past is to respond to the contemporary challenges of global warming at the present. Determining the processes of adaptation by ecosystems to these challenges, evaluating the effects of environmental change on human communities and finding which regions are more or less sensitive to climate change are among the key topics of environmental research today. Throughout the past millennia, some of the most abrupt environmental upheavals were the successive phases of the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene transition, ranging from cold and dry to mild and damp climates. These phases differed in intensity and effects across all regions of the planet. In this paper, the long-term changes to both vegetation cover and human settlements within the upper Ebro river basin (northern Iberia, western Mediterranean) are shown by new palaeoenvironmental sequences from two archaeological sites dated between ca. 14,000 and 8,000 cal bp, which serve as proxy evidence for past vegetation cover. Summed radiocarbon probability distributions of other nearby archaeological sites were also used to study the dynamics of land occupation throughout the period. The main findings point to vegetation changes changing from the dominance of open landscapes with pines and deciduous woods during the late Pleistocene to the dominance of deciduous forest cover with few areas with open landscapes and far fewer pinewoods during the early Holocene.
Neurological update: neuro-otology 2023
Authors: Halmágyi Gábor M. , Akdal Gülden , Welgampola Miriam S. , Wang Chao
Published: August 2023

Much has changed since our last review of recent advances in neuro-otology 7 years ago. Unfortunately there are still not many practising neuro-otologists, so that most patients with vestibular problems need, in the first instance, to be evaluated and treated by neurologists whose special expertise is not neuro-otology. The areas we consider here are mostly those that almost any neurologist should be able to start managing: acute spontaneous vertigo in the Emergency Room—is it vestibular neuritis or posterior circulation stroke; recurrent spontaneous vertigo in the office—is it vestibular migraine or Meniere's disease and the most common vestibular problem of all—benign positional vertigo. Finally we consider the future: long-term vestibular monitoring and the impact of machine learning on vestibular diagnosis.
Effects of mandibular advancement devices on upper airway dimensions in obstructive sleep apnea: responders versus non-responders
Authors: Shi Xiaoxin , Lobbezoo Frank , Chen Hui , Rosenmöller Boudewijn R. A. M. , Berkhout Erwin , de Lange Jan , Aarab Ghizlane
Published: August 2023

Study objectives

To compare the effects of mandibular advancement device (MAD) therapy on upper airway dimensions between responders and non-responders with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

Thirty-one participants (21 men and 10 women) with a mean ± SD apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 16.6 ± 6.7 events/h, and aged 48.5 ± 13.9 years, were included in this study. Polysomnographic recordings and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans in supine position were performed for every participant at baseline and at 3-month follow-up with their MAD in situ. Responders were defined as having ≥ 50% reduction in baseline AHI with a residual AHI < 10 events/h. The primary outcome variable was the minimal cross-sectional area of the upper airway (CSAmin).

Results

No significant differences were found between responders (n = 15) and non-responders (n = 16) in age, gender distribution, body mass index, and neck circumference (P = 0.06–0.93), nor in AHI and CSAmin (P = 0.40 and 0.65, respectively) at baseline. The changes of the CSAmin with MAD in situ in the responder group were not significantly different compared to those in the non-responder group (P = 0.06).

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that the changes of the upper airway dimensions induced by MADs are not significantly different between responders and non-responders with mild to moderate OSA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02724865. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02724865
Clinical characteristics, course, and outcomes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis overlapping with pregnancy: a systematic review of 38 published cases
Authors: Hamad Abdullah Ashraf , Amer Basma Ehab , AL Mawla Aya Mustafa , Goufa Elarbi , Abdelwahab Maya Magdy , Serag Ibrahim
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that can overlap with pregnancy, but little is known about its clinical characteristics, course, and outcomes in this context. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current evidence on ALS overlapping with pregnancy.

Methods

We comprehensively searched four databases on February 2, 2023, to identify case studies reporting cases of ALS overlapping with pregnancy. Joanna Brigs Institute tool was followed to assess the quality of the included studies.

Results

Twenty-six articles reporting 38 cases were identified and included in our study. Out of the 38 cases, 18 were aged < 30 years. The onset of ALS was before pregnancy in 18 cases, during pregnancy in 16 cases, and directly after pregnancy in 4 cases. ALS progression course was rapid or severe in 55% of the cases during pregnancy, and this percentage reached 61% in cases with an onset of ALS before pregnancy. While ALS progression course after pregnancy was rapid or severe in 63% and stable in 37% of the cases. Most cases (95%) were able to complete the pregnancy and gave live birth. However, preterm delivery was common. For neonates, 86% were healthy without any complications.

Conclusion

While pregnancy with ALS is likely to survive and result in giving birth to healthy infants, it could be associated with rapid or severe progression of ALS and result in a worse prognosis, highlighting the importance of close monitoring and counselling for patients and healthcare providers.
Detection of adversarial attacks based on differences in image entropy
Authors: Ryu Gwonsang , Choi Daeseon
Published: August 2023

Although deep neural networks (DNNs) have achieved high performance across various applications, they are often deceived by adversarial examples generated by adding small perturbations. To combat adversarial attacks, many detection methods have been proposed, including feature squeezing and trapdoor. However, these methods rely on the output of DNNs or involve training a separate network to detect adversarial examples, which leads to high computational costs and low efficiency. In this study, we propose a simple and effective approach called the entropy-based detector (EBD) to protect DNNs from various adversarial attacks. EBD detects adversarial examples by comparing the difference in entropy between the input sample before and after bit depth reduction. We show that EBD can detect over 98% of the adversarial examples generated by attacks using fast-gradient sign method, basic iterative method, momentum iterative method, DeepFool and CW attacks when the false positive rate is 2.5% for CIFAR-10 and ImageNet datasets.
Analyzing the impact of human errors on interactive service robotic scenarios via formal verification
Authors: Lestingi Livia , Manglaviti Andrea , Marinaro Davide , Marinello Luca , Askarpour Mehrnoosh , Bersani Marcello M. , Rossi Matteo
Published: August 2023

Developing robotic applications with human–robot interaction for the service sector raises a plethora of challenges. In these settings, human behavior is essentially unconstrained as they can stray from the plan in numerous ways, constituting a critical source of uncertainty for the outcome of the robotic mission. Application designers require accessible and reliable frameworks to address this issue at an early development stage. We present a model-driven framework for developing interactive service robotic scenarios, allowing designers to model the interactive scenario, estimate its outcome, deploy the application, and smoothly reconfigure it. This article extends the framework compared to previous works by introducing an analysis of the impact of human errors on the mission’s outcome. The core of the framework is a formal model of the agents at play—the humans and the robots—and the robotic mission under analysis, which is subject to statistical model checking to estimate the mission’s outcome. The formal model incorporates a formalization of different human erroneous behaviors’ phenotypes, whose likelihood can be tuned while configuring the scenario. Through scenarios inspired by the healthcare setting, the evaluation highlights how different configurations of erroneous behavior impact the verification results and guide the designer toward the mission design that best suits their needs.
The value of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 as a diagnostic biomarker for bladder cancer
Authors: Liu Chengyi , Xu Pengcheng , Shao Song , Wang Fang , Zheng Zhiwen , Li Shuangjie , Liu Wei , Li Guangyuan
Published: August 2023

Objective

To detect the expression level of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in patients with bladder cancer and healthy individuals and explore its clinical application value in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Methods

Urine samples were collected from 42 patients with bladder cancer and 42 healthy volunteers who visited Lu’an Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022. The expression levels of lncRNA SNHG16 in urinary exosomes of the two groups were detected by RT‒qPCR, and their correlation with clinical pathological parameters of bladder cancer patients was analysed. An Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve was drawn to analyse the diagnostic value of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 for bladder cancer and compared with urinary cytology.

Results

The expression of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in patients with bladder cancer was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and the expression level had no correlation with the age, sex, pathological T stage, pathological grade, or tumour size of bladder cancer patients (P > 0.05). The Area Under Curve(AUC) of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in diagnosing bladder cancer was 0.791, which was superior to that of urinary cytology (AUC = 0.597).

Conclusion

Urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 with high expression can serve as a potential diagnostic biological marker for bladder cancer.
Criticizing Danaher’s Approach to Superficial State Deception
Authors: Musiał Maciej
Published: August 2023

If existing or future robots appear to have some capacity, state or property, how can we determine whether they truly have it or whether we are deceived into believing so? John Danaher addresses this question by formulating his approach to what he refers to as superficial state deception (SSD) from the perspective of his theory termed ethical behaviourism (EB), which was initially designed to determine the moral status of robots. In summary, Danaher believes that focusing on behaviour is sufficient to determine whether SSD occurs. My general claim is that Danaher’s approach to SSD based on EB is implausible since it results in the impossibility of conceptualizing SSD, e.g., it does not enable determining whether or not SSD occurs in a particular case. Moreover, I show how Danaher’s approach to SSD needs to be transformed to become plausible. To make my point, I (1) examine the main features of EB and distinguish its two versions by showing how Danaher revised the original EB in response to criticism; (2) discuss Danaher’s approach to the problem of deception from the perspective of EB; (3) criticize that approach by showing that it requires revisions analogous to those that have already been recommended in reference to EB, and (4) propose an alternative method for determining the presence of SSD that covers diverse, plausible approaches to SSD.
Multivocality and Sexual Identity of a “Nation” in Zimbabwe: Exploring Twitter Discourse on Queer Sexualities
Authors: Moyo Clayton , Ndhlovu Mthokozisi Phathisani
Published: August 2023

In Zimbabwe, like in most African countries, sexuality is strongly tied with national identities. Previous studies show that queer sexualities are associated with Western values. While this narrative is contested, it has, nevertheless, been promoted by the mainstream media. However, this article focuses on social media, Twitter to be specific, to examine how users discuss sexuality and national identities. The focus is on social media platforms as they enable users to bypass traditional gatekeepers and use reason and emotions to argue about different issues. The article uses the case studies of a Zimbabwean school teacher, Neal Hovelmeier, and a South African gay celebrity, Somizi Mhlongo, who became subjects of Twitter discussions in Zimbabwe because of their homosexual orientation. The article established that Twitter reflects a wide range of reactions and formulations of queerness within what is imagined to be normative identities in Zimbabwe. It further noted that queer struggles are tied to contemporary political and social struggles and Twitter users frame their responses in ways that show these intersections.
Height and body mass index trajectories from 1975 to 2015 and prevalence of stunting, underweight and obesity in 2016 among children in Chinese cities: findings from five rounds of a national survey
Authors: Zong Xin-Nan , Li Hui , Zhang Ya-Qin
Published: August 2023

Background

A more comprehensive assessment of growth and nutrition in children is required in China due to rapid socioeconomic processes. We aimed to investigate height and body mass index (BMI) trajectories from 1975 to 2015 and the prevalence of stunting and obesity in 2016 among children in Chinese cities.

Methods

A total of 904,263 children from birth to 6.9 years were collected from a series of nationally representative surveys in China. Height and BMI trajectories and prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight and obesity were assessed.

Results

The average height level of Chinese urban children under 7 years presented a positive secular trend from 1975 to 2015; however, a slowing tendency occurred in 2005‒2015. An apparent increase was observed at the 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of BMI in urban children aged 3 years and older, with a more prominent increase at the 95th percentile. The total prevalence of stunting and underweight under 7 years was 1.4% and 2.0%, respectively. The total prevalence of overweight and obesity under 7 years was 12.6% and 4.3%, respectively, with 12.7% and 4.9% for boys, 12.6% and 3.6% for girls, 12.1% and 4.0% in urban areas and 13.1% and 4.5% in suburban rural areas.

Conclusions

The average height level of Chinese urban children has reached World Health Organization child growth standards since 2005 and presented a slowing tendency in secular trend in 2005‒2015. More attention and efforts and public health interventions should be urgently made to combat overweight and obesity among preschool children.
Machine learning–couched treatment algorithms tailored to individualized profile of patients with primary anterior chamber angle closure predisposed to the glaucomatous optic neuropathy
Authors: Kurysheva Natalia I. , Rodionova Oxana Y. , Pomerantsev Alexey L. , Sharova Galina A. , Golubnitschaja Olga
Published: August 2023

Background

Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is still one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, with a trend towards an increase in the number of patients to 32.04 million by 2040, an increase of 58.4% compared with 2013. Health risk assessment based on multi-level diagnostics and machine learning–couched treatment algorithms tailored to individualized profile of patients with primary anterior chamber angle closure are considered essential tools to reverse the trend and protect vulnerable subpopulations against health-to-disease progression.

Aim

To develop a methodology for personalized choice of an effective method of primary angle closure (PAC) treatment based on comparing the prognosis of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes due to laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) or lens extraction (LE).

Methods

The multi-parametric data analysis was used to develop models predicting individual outcomes of the primary angle closure (PAC) treatment with LPI and LE. For doing this, we suggested a positive dynamics in the intraocular pressure (IOP) after treatment, as the objective measure of a successful treatment. Thirty-seven anatomical parameters have been considered by applying artificial intelligence to the prospective study on 30 (LE) + 30 (LPI) patients with PAC.

Results and data interpretation in the framework of 3P medicine

Based on the anatomical and topographic features of the patients with PAC, mathematical models have been developed that provide a personalized choice of LE or LPI in the treatment. Multi-level diagnostics is the key tool in the overall advanced approach. To this end, for the future application of AI in the area, it is strongly recommended to consider the following:

Clinically relevant phenotyping applicable to advanced population screening

Systemic effects causing suboptimal health conditions considered in order to cost-effectively protect affected individuals against health-to-disease transition

Clinically relevant health risk assessment utilizing health/disease-specific molecular patterns detectable in body fluids with high predictive power such as a comprehensive tear fluid analysis.
Q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy preference relations and its group decision-making application
Authors: Wan Benting , Zhang Jiao , Garg Harish , Huang Weikang
Published: August 2023

To express the opinions of decision-makers, q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy sets (q-ROHFSs) have been employed extensively. Therefore, it is necessary to construct q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy preference relations (q-ROHFPRs) as a crucial decision-making tool for decision-makers. The goal of this paper aims to define a new consistency and consensus approach for solving q-ROHFPR group decision-making (GDM) problems. To do this, we first state the definitions of q-ROHFPRs and additive consistent q-ROHFPRs based on q-ROHFSs, an additive consistency index and acceptable additive consistent q-ROHFPRs. Second, based on minimizing the deviation, we establish an acceptable goal programming model for unacceptable additive consistent q-ROHFPRs. Third, an iterative algorithm is created for achieving acceptable consistency and reaching a rational consensus. The degree of rational consensus among individual q-ROHFPRs is quantified by a distance-based consensus index. Afterward, a non-linear programming model is formulated to derive the priority vector of alternatives, which are q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy numbers (q-ROHFNs). Based on this model, a GDM model for q-ROHFPRs is then developed. To demonstrate the validity and utility of the proposed GDM model, a case study on the risk assessment of hypertension is provided. The finding of sensitivity and comparison analyses supports the feasibility and efficacy of the suggested approach.