bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REVISITING TEMPORAL CAUSALITY BETWEEN ISLAMIC FINANCE INSTRUMENTS AND OUTPUT
Authors: Noor Zahirah Mohd Sidek  , Norashikin Adam
Published: April 2023

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, financing would again be the crux of the recovery process. This paper revisits existing literature on how financial development promotes growth by focusing on the role of Islamic finance in Malaysia. Specifically, the role of sukuk and loans by Islamic banks on output is examined in Malaysia. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the causal nexus between sukuk, Islamic banking loan, and output using a bootstrap causality test applied to both full sample and rolling window sub-samples. Data ranges from 2000M1-2021M6 for the sukuk market and 2006M12-2021M6 for Islamic banking loans. We rely on bootstrap rolling windows which allow for time-varying causalities within time-series data. Results indicate evidence that Islamic financing instruments, in this case, sukuk and loans by Islamic banks Granger-cause output in the long run. Even in the long run, non-constancy in the parameters is detected for total sukuk, sukuk for finance, and sukuk for transport. The parameter stability tests indicate parameter non-constancy in the short run for total sukuk, sukuk for finance, sukuk for transport, and sukuk for utility for the output - sukuk equation. In the case of Islamic financing via loans, short-run parameter instability is prevalent for all loan–output equations. We take the analysis further by examining the direction of the lead variables on a multi-time scale using continuous wavelet transforms and wavelet coherence. Results show that causality runs from sukuk output for total sukuk, transport, and utility sukuk whereas construction sukuk seems to exhibit a mixed behaviour.  In the case of sukuk for finance, the impact is more pronounced in the very-long run. These findings could be a guide for countries intending to use Islamic financing instruments as one of the tools for fiscal stimulus or post-pandemic economic recovery.
Governing the underworld: How organised crime governs other criminals
Authors: Badillo-Sarmiento Reynell , Trejos-Rosero Luis Fernando
Published: April 2023

This article explores how organised criminal organisations exercise criminal governance over other individual criminals and gangs using lethal and extra-lethal violence. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, over 250 press reports, and an original database on inter-criminal lethal violence, we demonstrate that while these organisations use violence to build their reputation as actors willing to use force, they also provide benefits to other criminals such as financing and protection from state and competitors. This article contributes to the literature on criminal governance by expanding the understanding of how the criminal world is organised and how OCGs use their political influence to legitimize criminal governance.
Sustaining criminal governance with horror: The use of extra-lethal violence to regulate community life
Authors: Badillo-Sarmiento Reynell , Trejos-Rosero Luis Fernando
Published: April 2023

This article investigates why organised criminal organisations opt for dismemberment, a costly and resource-intensive practice compared to targeted killings. We argue that dismemberment serves two functions for OCGs: first, it demonstrates OCGs' willingness to use gruesome violence against those who challenge their territorial hegemony, and second, it sustains criminal governance regimes by punishing individuals who violate OCGs' regulations. To demonstrate this argument, we analyse 25 cases of dismemberment in Colombia that we compiled during more than four years of fieldwork, review of press archives and databases provided by local authorities. This article contributes to extending the concept of extra-lethal violence to organised crime studies.
Designprocesser kan stödja teknisk bildning om hållbar utveckling
Authors: Höst Gunnar
Published: April 2023

En designprocess kopplad till undervisning om modern teknik kan vara ett sätt att kombinera teknikundervisning om begrepp, modeller och teknikutveckling med utveckling av teknisk bildning om hållbar utveckling. Det visar en studie där elever fått designa och diskutera framtidens hus.
Prediction of drug sensitivity based on multi-omics data using deep learning and similarity network fusion approaches
Authors: Liu Xiao-Ying , Mei Xin-Yue
Published: April 2023

With the rapid development of multi-omics technologies and accumulation of large-scale bio-datasets, many studies have conducted a more comprehensive understanding of human diseases and drug sensitivity from multiple biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites. Using single omics data is difficult to systematically and comprehensively analyze the complex disease pathology and drug pharmacology. The molecularly targeted therapy-based approaches face some challenges, such as insufficient target gene labeling ability, and no clear targets for non-specific chemotherapeutic drugs. Consequently, the integrated analysis of multi-omics data has become a new direction for scientists to explore the mechanism of disease and drug. However, the available drug sensitivity prediction models based on multi-omics data still have problems such as overfitting, lack of interpretability, difficulties in integrating heterogeneous data, and the prediction accuracy needs to be improved. In this paper, we proposed a novel drug sensitivity prediction (NDSP) model based on deep learning and similarity network fusion approaches, which extracts drug targets using an improved sparse principal component analysis (SPCA) method for each omics data, and construct sample similarity networks based on the sparse feature matrices. Furthermore, the fused similarity networks are put into a deep neural network for training, which greatly reduces the data dimensionality and weakens the risk of overfitting problem. We use three omics of data, RNA sequence, copy number aberration and methylation, and select 35 drugs from Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) for experiments, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved targeted drugs, FDA-unapproved targeted drugs and non-specific therapies. Compared with some current deep learning methods, our proposed method can extract highly interpretable biological features to achieve highly accurate sensitivity prediction of targeted and non-specific cancer drugs, which is beneficial for the development of precision oncology beyond targeted therapy.
Squirmer hydrodynamics near a periodic surface topography
Authors: Ishimoto Kenta , Gaffney Eamonn A. , Smith David J.
Published: April 2023

The behaviour of microscopic swimmers has previously been explored near large-scale confining geometries and in the presence of very small-scale surface roughness. Here, we consider an intermediate case of how a simple microswimmer, the tangential spherical squirmer, behaves adjacent to singly and doubly periodic sinusoidal surface topographies that spatially oscillate with an amplitude that is an order of magnitude less than the swimmer size and wavelengths that are also within an order of magnitude of this scale. The nearest neighbour regularised Stokeslet method is used for numerical explorations after validating its accuracy for a spherical tangential squirmer that swims stably near a flat surface. The same squirmer is then introduced to different surface topographies. The key governing factor in the resulting swimming behaviour is the size of the squirmer relative to the surface topography wavelength. For instance, directional guidance is not observed when the squirmer is much larger, or much smaller, than the surface topography wavelength. In contrast, once the squirmer size is on the scale of the topography wavelength, limited guidance is possible, often with local capture in the topography troughs. However, complex dynamics can also emerge, especially when the initial configuration is not close to alignment along topography troughs or above topography crests. In contrast to sensitivity in alignment and topography wavelength, reductions in the amplitude of the surface topography or variations in the shape of the periodic surface topography do not have extensive impacts on the squirmer behaviour. Our findings more generally highlight that the numerical framework provides an essential basis to elucidate how swimmers may be guided by surface topography.
Strain, cell density, and nutrient condition affect patterns of diurnal vertical migration and superoxide production in a red-tide alga
Authors: Shikata Tomoyuki , Kitatsuji Saho , Yuasa Koki
Published: April 2023

A red tide occurs when cell densities of autotrophic microalgae and some heterotrophic protists increase dramatically and thereby change the color of the sea. Red tides sometimes have negative impacts on human activities, such as fisheries and tourism. Most red-tide flagellates display diurnal vertical migration (DVM) in which cells normally migrate upward during the day and downward at night. This behavior promotes active growth, due to the effective acquisition of nutrients and light, as well as population density increase and cell aggregation. However, the factors and their interactions influencing DVM remain to be clarified, such that no algorithm exists that can precisely simulate the DVM pattern and the development of a red tide in the field. Chattonella marina complex (hereafter Chattonella) is a representative microalga of harmful red tides and some previous studies has suggested that Chattonella’s DVM plays important roles in development of a red tide. Chattonella can produce a large amount of superoxide (•O2−), which is responsible for the regulation of various physiological processes as well as its toxicity against microorganisms and animals. In the present study, we examined the effects of strain, growth phase, cell density, and nutrient deficiency on the pattern of DVM. In addition, we also measured the •O2− level in most experiments to assess the relationship between DVM and •O2− production. Some strains displayed clear DVM, whereas others aggregated at the surface all day in a fixed condition. Strains’ DVM patterns did not show a relationship with •O2− production. Moreover, the DVM became less clear at high cell density and in nitrogen- or phosphorus-depleted conditions. Although a previous study reported that the •O2− production rate increased during the light period and decreased during the dark period, regardless of cell density, the diurnal pattern of •O2− became less clear at a higher cell density in a Chattonella strain used in the present study. Our findings indicate that DVM and •O2− production by a Chattonella population composed of various strains can change across developmental phases and environmental conditions. This characteristic may produce adaptability in species and increase the chances of a massive population increase.
Connexin 43 hemichannels and prostaglandin E2 release in anabolic function of the skeletal tissue to mechanical stimulation
Authors: Zhao Dezhi , Wu Jiawei , Acosta Francisca M. , Xu Huiyun , Jiang Jean X.
Published: April 2023

Bone adapts to changes in the physical environment by modulating remodeling through bone resorption and formation to maintain optimal bone mass. As the most abundant connexin subtype in bone tissue, connexin 43 (Cx43)-forming hemichannels are highly responsive to mechanical stimulation by permitting the exchange of small molecules (<1.2 kDa) between bone cells and the extracellular environment. Upon mechanical stimulation, Cx43 hemichannels facilitate the release of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), a vital bone anabolic factor from osteocytes. Although most bone cells are involved in mechanosensing, osteocytes are the principal mechanosensitive cells, and PGE2 biosynthesis is greatly enhanced by mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation-induced PGE2 released from osteocytic Cx43 hemichannels acts as autocrine effects that promote β-catenin nuclear accumulation, Cx43 expression, gap junction function, and protects osteocytes against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in cultured osteocytes. In vivo, Cx43 hemichannels with PGE2 release promote bone formation and anabolism in response to mechanical loading. This review summarizes current in vitro and in vivo understanding of Cx43 hemichannels and extracellular PGE2 release, and their roles in bone function and mechanical responses. Cx43 hemichannels could be a significant potential new therapeutic target for treating bone loss and osteoporosis.
Impact of sunlight irradiation on CvFAP photodecarboxylation
Authors: França Alexandre S. , Breda Gabriela C. , De Oliveira Kleber T. , Almeida Rodrigo V. , Hollmann Frank , De Souza Rodrigo O. M. A.
Published: April 2023

A visible-light-driven photocatalytic decarboxylation of palmitic acid and related fatty acids is described in this study. Remarkable decarboxylation rates have been observed with full conversion in less than 20 min. In this study, we have demonstrated that sunlight irradiation, even on cloudy days, can deliver similar results to traditional LED lamps while using much less energy and minimizing environmental impact. The findings indicate that the process of enzymatic decarboxylation could be useful for the production of different biofuels in the future.
University students’ opinions towards mobile sensing data collection: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Cooper Jack R. H. , Scarf Damian , Conner Tamlin S.
Published: April 2023

mHealth researchers can now collect a wealth of data using “life tracking apps” (LTAs), which are smartphone applications that use mobile sensing to capture and summarise a multitude of data channels (e.g., location, movement, keyword use, sleep, exercise, and so on). The combined wealth of information can create digital signatures of individuals, which hold immense promise for mental health research and interventions by allowing new insights into moment-to-moment changes in behaviour and mental states. However, little is known about what a common research demographic (university students) thinks about these apps and what might factor into their decisions to participate in research using a LTA. This qualitative study ran five focus group sessions (21 students in total) to explore students’ experiences, beliefs, and opinions about LTAs to generate insights into what would make them more or less likely to participate in research involving LTAs. Transcripts were coded and examined for categories using qualitative content analysis. Important categories that emerged were privacy (although this varied based on the individual and data being collected), data security, inconvenience, intrusiveness, financial compensation, and the perceived nature of the research team responsible. On the basis of these categories, we derived seven key insights to increase student participation in research using LTAs: strengthen and communicate privacy and data security, design the app to be as convenient as possible to users, maximise passive data collection, think cautiously before tracking data perceived as “creepy” such as messages, offer suitable financial compensation, be transparent about goals and justification for data being collection to build trust, and attract participants by highlighting how the app can help them achieve their goals. With these insights, mHealth researchers can maximise their participant pool and improve this nascent and promising field.
Time-varying model of engagement with digital self reporting: Evidence from smoking cessation longitudinal studies
Authors: Sobolev Michael , Anand Aditi , Dziak John J. , Potter Lindsey N. , Lam Cho Y. , Wetter David W. , Nahum-Shani Inbal
Published: April 2023

Objective

Insufficient engagement is a critical barrier impacting the utility of digital interventions and mobile health assessments. As a result, engagement itself is increasingly becoming a target of studies and interventions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamics of engagement in mobile health data collection by exploring whether, how, and why response to digital self-report prompts change over time in smoking cessation studies.

Method

Data from two ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies of smoking cessation among diverse smokers attempting to quit (N = 573) with a total of 65,974 digital self-report prompts. We operationalize engagement with self-reporting in term of prompts delivered and prompt response to capture both broad and more granular engagement in self-reporting, respectively. The data were analyzed to describe trends in prompt delivered and prompt response over time. Time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) was employed to investigate the time-varying effects of response to previous prompt and the average response rate on the likelihood of current prompt response.

Results

Although prompt response rates were relatively stable over days in both studies, the proportion of participants with prompts delivered declined steadily over time in one of the studies, indicating that over time, fewer participants charged the device and kept it turned on (necessary to receive at least one prompt per day). Among those who did receive prompts, response rates were relatively stable. In both studies, there is a significant, positive and stable relationship between response to previous prompt and the likelihood of response to current prompt throughout all days of the study. The relationship between the average response rate prior to current prompt and the likelihood of responding to the current prompt was also positive, and increasing with time.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the importance of integrating various indicators to measure engagement in digital self-reporting. Both average response rate and response to previous prompt were highly predictive of response to the next prompt across days in the study. Dynamic patterns of engagement in digital self-reporting can inform the design of new strategies to promote and optimize engagement in digital interventions and mobile health studies.
Biochar amendment of a metal contaminated soil partially immobilized Zn, Pb, and Cd and reduced ryegrass uptake
Authors: Antonangelo Joao Arthur , Zhang Hailin , Sitienei Isaac
Published: April 2023

Soil heavy metals (HM) contamination threatens soil and water quality, which significantly affects humans and animals. This study focuses on the competitive immobilization of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in soils from a contaminated site using ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in a potting experiment amended with biochars. Increased rates of switchgrass- (SGB) and poultry litter-derived biochars (PLB) were applied before ryegrass cultivation. Soil HM phytoavailability and HM concentrations in plant shoots were determined. Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the influence of several soil chemical attributes on the HM phytoavailability. The increased rates of both biochars reduced the Zn, Pb, and Cd availability (p < 0.001). Langmuir models showed that the maximum HM immobilization (IMAX) was 169.2 ± 29.5 mg kg–1 for Zn with SGB, and 20 ± 7.4 (Pb) and 1.08 mg kg–1 (Cd) with PLB. The extended Langmuir model (EL) showed competitive HM immobilization since there was a decrease in the IMAX of Zn (∼90 ± 28 mg kg–1 from SGB) and Cd (∼0.70 ± 0.21 mg kg–1). Negative values of Pb and Cd immobilization at low rates of SGB indicated an increase in those HM availabilities and preferential immobilization for Zn. The reduced Zn and Pb uptake in ryegrass shoots ranged from 70% to 98% and were optimum at rates of 0.50% ± 0.00%–0.60% ± 0.06% for both biochars, and 1.6% ± 0.4% of SGB for Cd. The stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and partial least squares (PLS) revealed that pH and organic matter (OM) were the most responsible factors for reducing Zn bioavailability while OM was more impactful in decreasing Pb and Cd levels. This suggests that the preferential immobilization for Zn relies on its higher sensitivity to the pH increase. Also, the ubiquitous positive relationship among the metals studied shows that competitive immobilization is ceased at high rates of biochars application. Path analysis (PA) showed that pH and OM were the common contributors from both biochars to simultaneously affect Zn, Pb, and Cd availability regardless of the contrasting physicochemical properties of the two bioproducts. This work proved the potential of applying low rates of two contrasting feedstock-derived biochars to remediate the contaminants and safely grow ryegrass.
New pathogenic variant in DLX5: New clues for a clinical spectrum from split-hand-foot malformation to fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia and oligosyndactyly
Authors: Sifre-Ruiz Anna , Sagasta Amaia , Santos Erika , Perez de Nanclares Guiomar , Heath Karen E.
Published: April 2023

Introduction: FATCO (Fibular Aplasia, Tibial Campomelia and Oligosyndactyly) is a very infrequent skeletal dysplasia classified within the limb hypoplasia-reduction defects group whose genetic cause has not yet been identified. The advent of next-generation sequencing is enabling the diagnosis of diseases with no previously known genetic cause.

Methods: We performed a thorough autopsy on a fetus whose pregnancy was legally terminated due to severe malformations detected by ultrasound. A trio exome was run to identify the genetic cause and risk of recurrence. Previous literature of similar cases was systematically searched.

Results: Anatomopathological analyses revealed complete fibular aplasia, shortened and campomelic tibia, absent ankle joint, club right foot and a split foot malformation, leading to the diagnosis of FATCO. Exome sequencing showed that the female fetus carried a de novo nonsense variant in DLX5. The literature search permitted the collection of information on 43 patients with FATCO, the majority of whom were males diagnosed postnatally. In most cases, lower limbs were affected exclusively, but in 39.5% of cases the upper limbs were also affected.

Conclusion: The pathologies associated with DLX5 variants encompass a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from abnormalities exclusively in the hands and feet to long bones such as the tibia and fibula.
Mast Cell Activation Triggered by Retrovirus Promotes Acute Viral Infection
Authors: Song Shu-Ting , Wu Meng-Li , Zhang Hai-Jiao , Su Xiao , Wang Jian-Hua
Published: April 2023

Graphical Abstract

Retrovirus-induced MC degranulation promotes acute viral infection. The acute infection of MuLV/Friend virus triggers MC degranulation, which activates G-MDSCs to inhibit both CD8+ T- and NK cell-mediated antiviral immune responses; the HR1 antagonists Eastine and Loratadine that being used as the MC stabilizers block MC degranulation and consequently reverse degranulation-induced immune suppression for viral suppression. G-MDSCs, granulocyte-like myeloid derived suppressive cells; HR1, histamine receptor 1; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; MC, mast cell.
Salinity matters the most: How environmental factors shape the diversity and structure of cyanobacterial mat communities in high altitude arid ecosystems
Authors: Sandzewicz Małgorzata , Khomutovska Nataliia , Łach Łukasz , Kwiatowski Jan , Niyatbekov Toirbek , Suska-Malawska Małgorzata , Jasser Iwona
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Microbial mats are complex communities of benthic microorganisms that occur at the soil-water interphase in lakes’ shores, streams, and ponds. In the cold, mountainous desert of Eastern Pamir (Tajikistan), where scarce water bodies are influenced by extreme environmental conditions, photosynthetic cyanobacteria form diverse mats. The mats are characterized by different morphology and thickness. Their habitats exhibit a wide range of conditions; from oligosaline to hypersaline, oligotrophic to hypertrophic, and from cold ponds to hot springs. The aim of the present study was to reveal the taxonomic composition and structure of these mats and to examine which environmental factors influence them.

Methods

Fifty-one mats were collected from small water bodies around Bulunkul, Karakul, and Rangkul Lakes in 2015 and 2017. The physical and chemical properties of the water were measured in situ, while the concentration of nutrients was analyzed ex-situ. To reveal the taxonomic composition of the mats, the hypervariable V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was examined using NGS technology.

Results

The results of bioinformatic analyses were compared with microscopic observations. They showed that Cyanobacteria was the dominant phylum, constituting on average 35% of bacterial ASVs, followed by Proteobacteria (28%), Bacteroidota (11%), and Firmicutes (9%). Synechococcales, Oscillatoriales, and Nostocales orders prevailed in Oxyphotobacteria, with a low contribution of Chroococcales, Gloeobacterales, and Chroococcidiopsidales. Occasionally the non-photosynthetic Vampirivibrionia (Melainabacteria) and Sericytochromatia from sister clades to Oxyphotobacteria were noted in the samples. Moreover, there was a high percentage of unidentified cyanobacterial sequences, as well as the recently described Hillbrichtia pamiria gen. et sp. nov., present in one of the samples. Salinity, followed by Na and K concentrations, correlated positively with the composition and structure of Oxyphotobacteria on different taxonomic levels and the abundance of all bacterial ASVs.

Discussion

The study suggests that the investigated communities possibly host more novel and endemic species. Among the environmental factors, salinity influenced the Oxyphotobacteria communities the most. Overall, the microenvironmental factors, i.e. the conditions in each of the reservoirs seemed to have a larger impact on the diversity of microbial mats in Pamir than the “subregional” factors, related to altitude, mean annual air temperature and distance between these subregions.
Computational prediction of promotors in Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 by using the machine learning technique
Authors: Zulfiqar Hasan , Ahmed Zahoor , Kissanga Grace-Mercure Bakanina , Hassan Farwa , Zhang Zhao-Yue , Liu Fen
Published: April 2023

Promotors are those genomic regions on the upstream of genes, which are bound by RNA polymerase for starting gene transcription. Because it is the most critical element of gene expression, the recognition of promoters is crucial to understand the regulation of gene expression. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based model to predict promotors in Agrobacterium tumefaciens (A. tumefaciens) strain C58. In the model, promotor sequences were encoded by three different kinds of feature descriptors, namely, accumulated nucleotide frequency, k-mer nucleotide composition, and binary encodings. The obtained features were optimized by using correlation and the mRMR-based algorithm. These optimized features were inputted into a random forest (RF) classifier to discriminate promotor sequences from non-promotor sequences in A. tumefaciens strain C58. The examination of 10-fold cross-validation showed that the proposed model could yield an overall accuracy of 0.837. This model will provide help for the study of promoters in A. tumefaciens C58 strain.
Dynamics of a model for the degradation mechanism of aggregated α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Yang Bojie , Yang Zhuoqin , Hao Lijie
Published: April 2023

Accumulation of the misfolded synaptic protein α-synuclein (αSyn*) is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies suggest that the autophagy lysosome pathway (ALP) including both the Beclin1-associated and mTOR-signaling pathways is involved in the αSyn* clearance mechanism. In this study, a mathematical model is proposed for the degradation of αSyn* by ALP with the crosstalk element of mTOR. Using codimension-1 bifurcation analysis, the tri-stability of αSyn* is surveyed under three different stress signals and, in addition, consideration is given to the regulatory mechanisms for the Beclin1- and mTOR-dependent rates on αSyn* degradation using the codimension-1 and−2 bifurcation diagrams. It was found that, especially under internal and external oxidative stresses (S1), the bistable switch of the aggregation of αSyn* can be transformed from an irreversible to a reversible condition through the ALP degradation pathways. Furthermore, the robustness of the tri-stable state for the stress S1 to the parameters related to mTOR-mediated ALP was probed. It was confirmed that mTOR-mediated ALP is important for maintaining the essential dynamic features of the tri-stable state. This study may provide a promising avenue for conducting further experiments and simulations of the degradation mechanism of dynamic modeling in PD.
Dual adversarial models with cross-coordination consistency constraint for domain adaption in brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Qin Chuanbo , Li Wanying , Zheng Bin , Zeng Junying , Liang Shufen , Zhang Xiuping , Zhang Wenguang
Published: April 2023

The brain tumor segmentation task with different domains remains a major challenge because tumors of different grades and severities may show different distributions, limiting the ability of a single segmentation model to label such tumors. Semi-supervised models (e.g., mean teacher) are strong unsupervised domain-adaptation learners. However, one of the main drawbacks of using a mean teacher is that given a large number of iterations, the teacher model weights converge to those of the student model, and any biased and unstable predictions are carried over to the student. In this article, we proposed a novel unsupervised domain-adaptation framework for the brain tumor segmentation task, which uses dual student and adversarial training techniques to effectively tackle domain shift with MR images. In this study, the adversarial strategy and consistency constraint for each student can align the feature representation on the source and target domains. Furthermore, we introduced the cross-coordination constraint for the target domain data to constrain the models to produce more confident predictions. We validated our framework on the cross-subtype and cross-modality tasks in brain tumor segmentation and achieved better performance than the current unsupervised domain-adaptation and semi-supervised frameworks.
Imaging-based frequency mapping for cochlear implants – Evaluated using a daily randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lambriks Lars , van Hoof Marc , Debruyne Joke , Janssen Miranda , Chalupper Josef , van der Heijden Kiki , Hof Janny , Hellingman Katja , Devocht Elke , George Erwin
Published: April 2023

Background

Due to variation in electrode design, insertion depth and cochlear morphology, patients with a cochlear implant (CI) often have to adapt to a substantial mismatch between the characteristic response frequencies of cochlear neurons and the stimulus frequencies assigned to electrode contacts. We introduce an imaging-based fitting intervention, which aimed to reduce frequency-to-place mismatch by aligning frequency mapping with the tonotopic position of electrodes. Results were evaluated in a novel trial set-up where subjects crossed over between intervention and control using a daily within-patient randomized approach, immediately from the start of CI rehabilitation.

Methods

Fourteen adult participants were included in this single-blinded, daily randomized clinical trial. Based on a fusion of pre-operative imaging and a post-operative cone beam CT scan (CBCT), mapping of electrical input was aligned to natural place-pitch arrangement in the individual cochlea. That is, adjustments to the CI’s frequency allocation table were made so electrical stimulation of frequencies matched as closely as possible with corresponding acoustic locations in the cochlea. For a period of three months, starting at first fit, a scheme was implemented whereby the blinded subject crossed over between the experimental and standard fitting program using a daily randomized wearing schedule, and thus effectively acted as their own control. Speech outcomes (such as speech intelligibility in quiet and noise, sound quality and listening effort) were measured with both settings throughout the study period.

Results

On a group level, standard fitting obtained subject preference and showed superior results in all outcome measures. In contrast, two out of fourteen subjects preferred the imaging-based fitting and correspondingly had better speech understanding with this setting compared to standard fitting.

Conclusion

On average, cochlear implant fitting based on individual tonotopy did not elicit higher speech intelligibility but variability in individual results strengthen the potential for individualized frequency fitting. The novel trial design proved to be a suitable method for evaluation of experimental interventions in a prospective trial setup with cochlear implants.
Sanhua decoction: Current understanding of a traditional herbal recipe for stroke
Authors: Zheng Lanlan , Meng Linglei , Liang Huazheng , Yang Jiandao
Published: April 2023

Both thrombolytic and endovascular therapies are optimal treatment options for patients with acute ischemic stroke, but only less than half of these patients can benefit from these treatments. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of successfully managing ischemic stroke using both herbal and physical therapeutics. Among herbal recipes, Sanhua decoction (SHD) is one of the classical prescriptions for ischemic stroke. The present review aimed to summarize evidence from both clinical and basic research to demonstrate its efficacy in managing ischemic stroke and the potential mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, which will provide evidence on the therapeutic effect of this herbal recipe and guide future studies on this recipe. SHD is composed of four herbs, Rheum palmatum L. [Polygonaceae], Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson [Magnoliaceae], Citrus × aurantium L. [Rutaceae], Hansenia weberbaueriana (Fedde ex H.Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov [Apiaceae]. We found that the majority of clinical studies on SHD are case reports and they showed positive therapeutic effect of SHD on both acute and chronic ischemic stroke. There are over 40 bioactive compounds identified in SHD, but few experimental studies have examined their individual molecular mechanisms. As an extract of SHD, it improves neurological functions through suppressing inflammation, protecting the blood brain barrier from degradation, restoring the number of neural stem cells, inhibiting apoptosis and brain edema, scavenging oxygen free radicals, and regulating the brain-gut axis. These will lay the theoretical foundation for future studies on this prescription and its clinical application. Future research may need to confirm its clinical efficacy in large-scale clinical trials and to disentangle its bioactive compounds and their potential mechanisms.
The first prospective application of AIGS real-time fluorescence PCR in precise diagnosis and treatment of meningioma: Case report
Authors: Han Zhe , Chi Huizhong , Li Xueen , Jia Deze , Li Haiyan , Ni Shilei , Zhang Kailiang , Feng Zichao , Wang Qingtong , Xue Hao , Li Gang
Published: April 2023

Background

The emergence of the new WHO classification standard in 2021 incorporated molecular characteristics into the diagnosis system for meningiomas, making the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas enter the molecular era.

Recent findings

At present, there are still some problems in the clinical molecular detection of meningioma, such as low attention, excessive detection, and a long cycle. In order to solve these clinical problems, we realized the intraoperative molecular diagnosis of meningioma by combining real-time fluorescence PCR and AIGS, which is also the first known product applied to the intraoperative molecular diagnosis of meningioma.

Implications for practice

We applied AIGS to detect and track a patient with TERTp mutant meningioma, summarized the process of intraoperative molecular diagnosis, and expounded the significance of intraoperative molecular diagnosis under the new classification standard, hoping to optimize the clinical decision-making of meningioma through the diagnosis and treatment plan of this case.
The neurosurgical benefit of contactless in vivo optical coherence tomography regarding residual tumor detection: A clinical study
Authors: Kuppler Patrick , Strenge Paul , Lange Birgit , Spahr-Hess Sonja , Draxinger Wolfgang , Hagel Christian , Theisen-Kunde Dirk , Brinkmann Ralf , Huber Robert , Tronnier Volker , Bonsanto Matteo Mario
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In brain tumor surgery, it is crucial to achieve complete tumor resection while conserving adjacent noncancerous brain tissue. Several groups have demonstrated that optical coherence tomography (OCT) has the potential of identifying tumorous brain tissue. However, there is little evidence on human in vivo application of this technology, especially regarding applicability and accuracy of residual tumor detection (RTD). In this study, we execute a systematic analysis of a microscope integrated OCT-system for this purpose.

Experimental design

Multiple 3-dimensional in vivo OCT-scans were taken at protocol-defined sites at the resection edge in 21 brain tumor patients. The system was evaluated for its intraoperative applicability. Tissue biopsies were obtained at these locations, labeled by a neuropathologist and used as ground truth for further analysis. OCT-scans were visually assessed with a qualitative classifier, optical OCT-properties were obtained and two artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted methods were used for automated scan classification. All approaches were investigated for accuracy of RTD and compared to common techniques.

Results

Visual OCT-scan classification correlated well with histopathological findings. Classification with measured OCT image-properties achieved a balanced accuracy of 85%. A neuronal network approach for scan feature recognition achieved 82% and an auto-encoder approach 85% balanced accuracy. Overall applicability showed need for improvement.

Conclusion

Contactless in vivo OCT scanning has shown to achieve high values of accuracy for RTD, supporting what has well been described for ex vivo OCT brain tumor scanning, complementing current intraoperative techniques and even exceeding them in accuracy, while not yet in applicability.
Surface engineered mesoporous silica carriers for the controlled delivery of anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil: Computational approach for the drug-carrier interactions using density functional theory
Authors: Rehman Fozia , Khan Asif Jamal , Sama Zaib Us , Alobaid Hussah M. , Gilani Mazhar Amjad , Safi Sher Zaman , Muhammad Nawshad , Rahim Abdur , Ali Abid , Guo Jiahua , Arshad Muhammad , Emran Talha Bin
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Drug delivery systems are the topmost priority to increase drug safety and efficacy. In this study, hybrid porous silicates SBA-15 and its derivatives SBA@N and SBA@3N were synthesized and loaded with an anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil. The drug release was studied in a simulated physiological environment.

Method: These materials were characterized for their textural and physio-chemical properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAX), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques. The surface electrostatics of the materials was measured by zeta potential.

Results: The drug loading efficiency of the prepared hybrid materials was about 10%. In vitro drug release profiles were obtained in simulated fluids. Slow drug release kinetics was observed for SBA@3N, which released 7.5% of the entrapped drug in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.2) and 33% in simulated body fluid (SBF, pH 7.2) for 72 h. The material SBA@N presented an initial burst release of 13% in simulated intestinal fluid and 32.6% in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2), while about 70% of the drug was released within the next 72 h. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have also supported the slow drug release from the SBA@3N material. The release mechanism of the drug from the prepared carriers was studied by first-order, second-order, Korsmeyer–Peppas, Hixson–Crowell, and Higuchi kinetic models. The drug release from these carriers follows Fickian diffusion and zero-order kinetics in SGF and SBF, whereas first-order, non-Fickian diffusion, and case-II transport were observed in SIF.

Discussion: Based on these findings, the proposed synthesized hybrid materials may be suggested as a potential drug delivery system for anti-cancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil.
Self-stigma and cognitive insight in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis
Authors: Sportel Bouwina Esther , van Enthoven Mirjam , van Donkersgoed Rozanne J. M. , Kuis Daan Jan , van de Giessen Tara , Lysaker Paul H. , Hasson-Ohayon Ilanit , de Jong Steven , Boonstra Nynke , Pijnenborg Gerdina H. M.
Published: April 2023

Background

Impaired cognitive insight and increased self-stigma have been consistently reported in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but little is known about its presence in individuals at ultra-high risk of developing a psychosis, although self-stigma is associated with transition.to psychosis. The current study examined whether self-stigma is already present in individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis, and whether this is associated with impaired cognitive insight.

Methods

184 participants were recruited divided over three groups, namely individuals diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD; n = 92, 34% females), individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR; n = 43, 59% females) and general population controls (GPC; n = 49, 27% females). All participants completed assessments on demographic information (gender, age, education), and cognitive insight. In addition, participants with SSD and individuals at UHR completed a questionnaire on self-stigma.

Results

The level of self-stigma did not differ between individuals at UHR and individuals diagnosed with SSD. Cognitive insight also did not differ significantly between the three groups, but the subscale self-reflection differed between the three groups [F(2,184) = 4.20, p = 0.02], with the UHR and SSD groups showing more self-reflection. Pearson’s correlation analyses showed that in individuals at UHR total cognitive insight and its self-reflection subscale were significantly associated with the alienation subscale of self-stigma, and in individuals with SSD self-certainty subscale of cognitive insight was significantly associated with stereotype endorsement.

Conclusion

Findings show that self-stigma was already present in the UHR phase, to a similar degree as in individuals with a diagnosis of a SSD, and is thus not dependent of previous experience of having a label of SSD. Cognitive insight in individuals at UHR of psychosis appears to be intact, but individuals at UHR showed more self-reflectiveness, and individuals at risk with high cognitive insight also experience high levels of self-stigma. Overall findings from our study suggest that pre-emptive interventions targeting self-stigma, while considering cognitive insight, are needed early on in manifestation of psychotic illness, preferably already in the UHR phase.
Incarceration status at buprenorphine initiation and OUD treatment outcomes during pregnancy
Authors: Nguyen Andrea , Shadowen Hannah , Shadowen Caroline , Thakkar Bhushan , Knittel Andrea K. , Martin Caitlin E.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths. OUD treatment with buprenorphine (BUP) reduces overdose risk and improves perinatal outcomes. Incarceration can be a barrier to receipt of OUD treatment during pregnancy and postpartum. The objective of this study was to examine differences in BUP continuation at delivery by patients’ incarceration status at the time of BUP initiation.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients with OUD who delivered at an academic medical center and initiated BUP between January 1, 2018, and March 30, 2020. The primary outcome was BUP continuation at delivery, abstracted from the state prescription monitoring program and electronic medical record, along with incarceration status. Bivariate analysis was used to assess the relationship between BUP continuation and incarceration status.

Results

Our sample included 76 patients, with 62% of patients incarcerated at BUP initiation (n = 47). Among the entire sample, 90.7% (n = 68) received BUP at delivery. Among patients who were incarcerated at BUP initiation, 97% remained on BUP at delivery; among patients who were not incarcerated at BUP initiation, 79% remained on BUP at delivery (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

In our sample from a health system housing a care model for pregnant and parenting people with OUD with local jail outreach, BUP continuation rates at delivery were high, both for patients who were and were not incarcerated at BUP initiation. Findings are intended to inform future work to develop and evaluate evidence-based, patient-centered interventions to expand OUD treatment access for incarcerated communities.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19 in Indonesia: A post delta variant wave cross-sectional study
Authors: Hafidz Firdaus , Adiwibowo Insan Rekso , Kusila Gilbert Renardi , Oktavia Ayunda , Saut Benjamin , Jaya Citra , Siregar Dedy Revelino , Dhanalvin Erzan , Tania Indira , Johana Johana , Ruby Mahlil , Baros Wan Aisyiah
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Public information and regulations related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been widely published and continuously changed. The Indonesian government has responded to the emerging evidence by regularly updating its unprecedented and preventive measures against the transmission of COVID-19 to the public. It is important to understand how the public responded to these updates. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Indonesians toward COVID-19 after the emergence of the delta variant wave.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult population of non-healthcare workers in Indonesia through an online questionnaire using the SurveyMonkey platform. A total of 1,859 respondents completed this survey from September to October 2021. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices data were analyzed descriptively to find their frequency and percentage. A multivariate analysis was conducted to confirm the factors affecting the respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices with a p-value of <0.05 set as significant.

Results

Being female, having a higher education level, and having a higher frequency of access to COVID-19 news showed significant impacts on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (p<0.001). Older age stratification influenced the knowledge level (p<0.05) but had no significant effect on people's attitudes and practices toward COVID-19. Respondents' perceived probability of being exposed to COVID-19 (p < 0.05) and their COVID-19 infection frequency (p < 0.001) significantly influenced their knowledge. Household income and respondents' knowledge significantly affected their attitudes toward COVID-19. Furthermore, only their attitudes had a significant impact on the respondents' practices. Perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, and vaccination status did not significantly influence their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

After more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesians maintain their high level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. COVID-19 disinformation must be combatted by strengthening authorized media, empowering communities, and improving governance among institutions during and post-pandemic.