bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Spirogyra daedaleoides Czurda in terms of bioactive components
Authors: Demiriz Yücer Tuğba
Published: June 2024

Algae stand out as suitable sources for use in the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries due to their high content of components such as protein, polysaccharide, lipid, vitamin, mineral, amino acid, fatty acid, and carotenoid and due to the bioactive components that they produce. In this study, the bioactive properties of Spirogyra daedaleoides Czurda, located in the Charopyhta phylum of the algae, were examined. This species was isolated from the benthic habitats of the Yeşilırmak River and cultured. Antioxidant properties of Spirogyra daedaleoides was determined with the methods of free radical removal activity (DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), iron (III) ion reduction power activity (FRAP, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) and cation radical removal activity (ABTS, 2,2´-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)). The fatty acids of Spirogyra daedaleoides was determined by gas chromatography analysis, and vitamins were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. According to the results of antioxidant analysis, the free radical removal activity of Spirogyra daedaleoides, iron ion reduction power activity and cation radical removal activity were found to be high. When the fatty acid percentages of Spirogyra daedaleoides were considered, the ratios of C20:0 Arachidic acid, C16:0 Palmitic acid, C18:3n3 Alpha linoleic acid, C10:0 Caprinic acid and C18:2n6c Linoleic acid were found to be high. Spirogyra daedaleoides was found to be high in Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Spirogyra daedaleoides could be used as natural resources in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries according to the results.
Effective herbal therapeutics against the protozoan parasites in aquaculture
Authors: Gadallah Ahmed Omar , Kaya Doğukan , Gürler Ahmet , Genç Ercüment
Published: June 2024

In industrial aquaculture, producing at high stock densities is inevitable to maximize efficiency and harvest per unit volume. Antibiotics, disinfectants, and other chemicals have become necessary to prevent and control disease outbreaks in intensive fish farming practices. However, the negative impacts of the use of synthetic chemical drugs on environmental health have sparked discussions, making research into alternative treatments inevitable. Medicinal plants offer promising solutions for disease control due to their natural, biodegradable, and antimicrobial properties. The therapeutic properties of plants have been known and safely used in traditional medicine for a long time. The idea that medicinal plants can be utilized in aquaculture as a safer, sustainable, and environmentally friendly practice has begun to be embraced. Although numerous treatment protocols have been developed against metazoan parasites in aquaculture, managing protozoan parasites still poses a significant challenge. A detailed literature review has identified that more than 30 plant species have the potential to control many protozoan pathogens in fish, including Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Cryptocaryon irritans. Studies highlight the effectiveness of plant-derived compounds in combating parasites and promoting growth, supporting immunity, serving as antibacterial agents, and even as anaesthetics. Since research on medicinal plants predominantly targets commercially valuable fish farming, there is a recognized need for expanded studies on their application in shellfish farming. Collaboration among researchers, institutions, and farmers is crucial in increasing awareness of local medicinal plants and promoting their use. The use of plants with medicinal properties in aquaculture represents a promising path for disease control and sustainable production. Adopting these natural alternatives could align with responsible agricultural practices and meet the urgent need to mitigate the environmental impacts of traditional treatments in the aquaculture industry.
How to treat androgenetic alopecia – the most common form of hair loss. A review
Authors: Stradczuk Monika , Mazurek Łukasz , Rękas Barbara , Mazurek Wojciech , Piętak Mateusz , Kruczyk Barbara , Kopacz Wojciech , Olędzka Joanna , Czach Zuzanna , Bachurska Dominika
Published: June 2024

Introduction and purposeAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common causes of baldness worldwide. It affects up to 80% of men by the age of 70 and up to 40% of postmenopausal women. In AGA etiology and pathogenesis, the three essential components play a key role - genetic inheritance, patient age and hormonal effects of androgens. In the following review, we have described the available FDA-approved and off-label treatments for AGA, along with their efficacy and potential side effects that should always be considered to prevent treatment discontinuation by the patients.The state of knowledgeThe pathogenesis of AGA is based on inherited dihydrotestosterone (DHT) sensitivity in the scalp skin, which leads to progressive hair loss. The literature documents the effectiveness of several treatments with different mechanisms of action in AGA therapy, but only topical minoxidil and oral finasteride gained FDA approval so far. Minoxidil acts by the blood vessels dilatation that increases the flow of oxygenated and growth factor-enriched blood to the hair follicles in the skin. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride are another threapeutic option. Thy act by the inhibition of 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT - the main causative agent of androgenetic alopecia. Recently, topical applications of minoxidil and finasterid, along with completely new emerging treatments for androgenetic alopecia are gaining popularity among doctors and patients. SummaryThis review describes current treatments for AGA, considering their efficacy, optimal doses, and the most common side effects. An important fact to emphasise is that androgenetic alopecia is based on a genetic predisposition, and treatment requires long-term use. For this reason, when choosing a medication, it is essential to cooperate with the patient and combine different therapeutic methods to achieve the desirable outcome while avoiding adverse reactions.
Status social subjetivo e a qualidade de vida em estudantes do ensino fundamental
Authors: Moreira Giselly Cristiny , Ferrari Junior Geraldo Jose , Andrade Rubian Diego , Beltrame Thaís Silva , Felden Érico Pereira Gomes
Published: June 2024

Este estudo teve o objetivo de descrever e relacionar a qualidade de vida e o Status Social Subjetivo (SSS) na escola e nas aulas de educação física em estudantes do ensino fundamental. Estudo transversal com 875 estudantes do ensino fundamental do município de Palhoça, Santa Catarina. A qualidade de vida foi analisada por meio do Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM versão 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) e o SSS foi investigado por meio da escala de MacArthur adaptada para estudantes brasileiros para o ambiente escolar e aulas de educação física. Os domínios da qualidade de vida que apresentaram menores pontuações foram os relacionados aos sentimentos (61,4 pontos) e à escola (70,3 pontos). A questão “eu sinto raiva” obteve menor pontuação (50,8 pontos), seguida da questão “eu me preocupo com o que vai acontecer comigo” (53,1 pontos), ambas do domínio sentimentos. Um total de 37,1% e 25% dos estudantes apresentaram percepção de SSS negativa nas aulas de educação física e na escola, respectivamente. Os estudantes com a percepção negativa de SSS tiveram piores escores de qualidade de vida. Diante dos resultados destacam-se as pontuações baixas de qualidade de vida, especialmente com relação aos sentimentos e escola por parte dos estudantes, e os percentuais altos de percepção negativa de SSS.
Learning Personalized Privacy Preference from Public Data
Authors: Wang Wen , Li Beibei
Published: June 2024

In the era of digital transformation, understanding personalized privacy preferences is essential for firms and policymakers to build trust and ensure compliance. Traditional methods rely on private data and explicit user input, which can be invasive and impractical. This paper introduces a novel framework that leverages public data, specifically social media posts, to predict individual privacy preferences. By employing deep learning and natural language processing, the framework extracts psychosocial traits such as lifestyle, risk preferences, and emotional states from public data, offering a nonintrusive and scalable approach. Findings reveal that psychosocial traits derived from social media provide greater predictive power than traditional private data. This model aids businesses and policymakers by offering a deeper understanding of user privacy concerns, enabling the development of effective privacy policies and practices. This innovative approach not only enhances consumer privacy control and trust but also optimizes data management for platforms and informs better regulatory decisions, showcasing the practical implications of utilizing public data for privacy preference prediction.
České panelové šetření středoškoláků. Výzkumná zpráva z první vlny sběru dat
Authors:   Sociologický ústav AV ČR, Kudrnáč Aleš , Hanzlová Radka , Petrúšek Ivan , Spitzerová Markéta , Aslan Katarína , Bocksor Ákos
Published: June 2024

Cílem této výzkumné zprávy je představit vybrané výsledky první vlny longitudinálního výzkumného projektu CZEPS. Výsledky prezentované v této zprávě jsou založeny na datech, která byla sebrána pouhý měsíc po nástupu žáků a žákyň na střední školy, a výsledky je tudíž třeba vnímat jako počáteční stav našeho výzkumu.
Kibyra İmparator Kült Tapınağı (Kaisarion) Kazılarında Bulunan Bir Grup Geç Hellenistik-Erken Roma Dönemi ne Ait Seramik
Authors: KILIÇKAYA Nurhan
Published: June 2024

Bu çalışmada ilk defa 2018 yılında kazısına başlanan Kibyra İmparator Kült Tapınağı (Kaisarion) yapısının C4-5-6, D5-6 ve E5-6 karelajlarından ele geçen Geç Hellenistik-Erken Roma dönemlerine ait seramikler ele alınmıştır. Söz konusu dönemlere tarihlenen seramikler dört başlık altında incelenmiştir. Kalıp yapımı kabartmalı kâseler kendi içinde; çam kozalağı taklidi, bitkisel bezemeli, uzun taç yapraklı, figürlü ve konsantrik yarım daire bezemeli kâseler olmak üzere beş farklı grupta değerlendirilmiştir. Açık zeminli seramiklerde/lagynos ise açık zemin üzerine boya ile bezemeler yapılmış gövde parçaları tanımlanmıştır. Kentte ilk defa ele geçen açık zemin üzerine koyu renk bant ve bitkisel bezeme ile süslenmiş formu belli olan kaplar ise unguentarium başlığı altında incelenmiştir. Son olarak alandan ele geçen bir adet Batı Yamacı Tekniği’nde bezenmiş ağız aynı isimli başlık altında anlatılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda kentteki yerel üretim kalıp yapımı kabartmalı kâseler genel olarak MÖ II-I. yüzyıla, açık zeminli seramikler/lagynos MÖ II. yüzyıla, unguentarium parçaları MÖ II. yüzyılın ikinci yarısı- MÖ I. yüzyılın başına ve Batı Yamacı Tekniği’nde bezenmiş parça ise MÖ II-I. yüzyıla tarihlendirilmiştir. Alandan ele geçen MÖ II. yüzyıla ait Kibyra sikkeleri de seramiklerin tarihlerini desteklemiştir.
First-principles simulations of high-order harmonics generation in thin films of wide bandgap materials [Invited]
Authors: Mathew Albert , Kruk Sergey , Yamada Shunsuke , Yabana Kazuhiro , Kheifets Anatoli
Published: June 2024

High-order harmonics generation (HHG) is the only process that enables tabletop-sized sources of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light. The HHG process typically involves light interactions with gases or plasma––material phases that hinder wider adoption of such sources. This motivates the research in HHG from nanostructured solids. Here, we employ the time-dependent density function theory (TDDFT) to investigate material platforms for HHG at the nanoscale using first-principles supercomputer simulations. We reveal that wide bandgap semiconductors, aluminum nitride (AlN) and silicon nitride (Si3N4), are highly promising for XUV light generation when compared to silicon, one of the most common nonlinear nanophotonic materials. In our calculations, we assume excitation with a 100 fs pulse duration, 1×1013W/cm2 peak power, and 800 nm central wavelength. We demonstrate that in AlN material the interplay between the crystal symmetry and the incident light direction and polarization can enable the generation of both even and odd harmonics. Our results should advance the development of high-harmonics generation of XUV light from nanostructured solids.
Interpolation-based reference image estimation for video display field communication
Authors: Kim Yu-Jeong , Jung Sung-Yoon
Published: June 2024

Display field communication (DFC) is a frequency-based display-to-camera (D2C) communication technology. The digital display and the camera act as transmitter and receiver, respectively, and data are transmitted in a video via the D2C link. The essence of DFC is to minimize image distortion for the user while concealing data within the image for transmission. Unlike traditional Video-DFC methods that may suffer from high error rates due to reliance on a single reference image, our proposed Interpolated Video-DFC technique employs a novel interpolated reference image estimation strategy. This method significantly enhances data detection by leveraging interpolation between two reference image frames, enabling accurate estimation of each reference image frame corresponding to data-embedded frames. Comparative experiments highlight the advantages of our method, showing a data rate improvement of approximately 2.3kbps for frame packet length N = 10. Additionally, we achieved a substantial reduction in error rates to approximately 69% lower than those of conventional methods. These findings indicate a promising direction for improving the performance and reliability of D2C communication systems.
The attentive reconstruction of objects facilitates robust object recognition
Authors: Ahn Seoyoung , Adeli Hossein , Zelinsky Gregory J.
Published: June 2024

Humans are extremely robust in our ability to perceive and recognize objects—we see faces in tea stains and can recognize friends on dark streets. Yet, neurocomputational models of primate object recognition have focused on the initial feed-forward pass of processing through the ventral stream and less on the top-down feedback that likely underlies robust object perception and recognition. Aligned with the generative approach, we propose that the visual system actively facilitates recognition by reconstructing the object hypothesized to be in the image. Top-down attention then uses this reconstruction as a template to bias feedforward processing to align with the most plausible object hypothesis. Building on auto-encoder neural networks, our model makes detailed hypotheses about the appearance and location of the candidate objects in the image by reconstructing a complete object representation from potentially incomplete visual input due to noise and occlusion. The model then leverages the best object reconstruction, measured by reconstruction error, to direct the bottom-up process of selectively routing low-level features, a top-down biasing that captures a core function of attention. We evaluated our model using the MNIST-C (handwritten digits under corruptions) and ImageNet-C (real-world objects under corruptions) datasets. Not only did our model achieve superior performance on these challenging tasks designed to approximate real-world noise and occlusion viewing conditions, but also better accounted for human behavioral reaction times and error patterns than a standard feedforward Convolutional Neural Network. Our model suggests that a complete understanding of object perception and recognition requires integrating top-down and attention feedback, which we propose is an object reconstruction.
History of tuberculosis disease is associated with genetic regulatory variation in Peruvians
Authors: Nieto-Caballero Victor E. , Reijneveld Josephine F. , Ruvalcaba Angel , Innocenzi Gabriel , Abeydeera Nalin , Asgari Samira , Lopez Kattya , Iwany Sarah K. , Luo Yang , Nathan Aparna , Fernandez-Salinas Daniela , Chiñas Marcos , Huang Chuan-Chin , Zhang Zibiao , León Segundo R. , Calderon Roger I. , Lecca Leonid , Budzik Jonathan M. , Murray Megan , Van Rhijn Ildiko , Raychaudhuri Soumya , Moody D. Branch , Suliman Sara , Gutierrez-Arcelus Maria
Published: June 2024

A quarter of humanity is estimated to have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) with a 5–10% risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) disease. Variability in responses to Mtb infection could be due to host or pathogen heterogeneity. Here, we focused on host genetic variation in a Peruvian population and its associations with gene regulation in monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). We recruited former household contacts of TB patients who previously progressed to TB (cases, n = 63) or did not progress to TB (controls, n = 63). Transcriptomic profiling of monocyte-derived DCs and macrophages measured the impact of genetic variants on gene expression by identifying expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). We identified 330 and 257 eQTL genes in DCs and macrophages (False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.05), respectively. Four genes in DCs showed interaction between eQTL variants and TB progression status. The top eQTL interaction for a protein-coding gene was with FAH, the gene encoding fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, which mediates the last step in mammalian tyrosine catabolism. FAH expression was associated with genetic regulatory variation in cases but not controls. Using public transcriptomic and epigenomic data of Mtb-infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells, we found that Mtb infection results in FAH downregulation and DNA methylation changes in the locus. Overall, this study demonstrates effects of genetic variation on gene expression levels that are dependent on history of infectious disease and highlights a candidate pathogenic mechanism through pathogen-response genes. Furthermore, our results point to tyrosine metabolism and related candidate TB progression pathways for further investigation.
The importance of belonging for well-being in college students
Authors: Romeo Isabella , Stanislaw Harold , McCreary Jamie , Hawley Marcus
Published: June 2024

College students are vulnerable to mental health challenges that include depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. We examined how subjective well-being in 369 college students in the United States was affected by the number friends or family members who could provide essential needs (instrumental support) or with whom intimate or personal matters could be discussed (emotional support), the frequency of engaging with others, satisfaction with these engagements, and the sense of belonging. Engagement satisfaction was affected by emotional support and engagement frequency. Instrumental support had no significant effect, but this could be an artifact of our sample. Emotional support affected belonging, which in turn affected well-being. These results highlight the central role of belonging in establishing and maintaining well-being. Some characteristics may act as well-being risk or protective factors, but these effects are small; all students may experience low levels of well-being. We recommend that institutions monitor the well-being of their students and require participation in curricular and co-curricular activities that are intentionally designed to promote belonging and well-being.
Addressing the health human resources crisis: Strategies for retaining women health care professionals in organizations
Authors: Sriharan Abi , Sekercioglu Nigar , Berta Whitney , Boet Sylvain , Laporte Audrey , Strudwick Gillian , Senkaiahliyan Senthujan , Ratnapalan Savithiri
Published: June 2024

Globally, healthcare systems are contending with a pronounced health human resource crisis marked by elevated rates of burnout, heightened job transitions, and an escalating demand for the limited supply of the existing health workforce. This crisis detrimentally affects the quality of patient care, contributing to long wait times, decreased patient satisfaction, and a heightened frequency of patient safety incidents and medical errors. In response to the heightened demand, healthcare organizations are proactively exploring solutions to retain their workforce. With women comprising over 70% of health human resources, this study seeks to gain insight into the unique experiences of women health professionals on the frontlines of healthcare and develop a conceptual framework aimed at facilitating organizations in effectively supporting the retention and advancement of women in healthcare frontline roles. We used grounded theory in this qualitative study. From January 2023 to May 2023, we conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 27 frontline HCWs working in Canada and representing diverse backgrounds. The data underwent thematic analysis, which involved identifying and comprehending recurring patterns across the information to elucidate emerging themes. Our analysis found that organizational, professional, and personal factors shape women’s intentions to leave the frontline workforce. Reevaluating organizational strategies related to workforce, fostering a positive work culture, and building the capacity of management to create supportive work environment can collectively transform the work environment. By creating conditions that enable women to perform effectively and find satisfaction in their professional roles, organizations can enhance their ability to retain valuable talent.
A novel method to evaluate the transverse pedicle angles of the lower lumbar vertebrae using digital radiography
Authors: Wu Shixun , Liu Shizhang , Ling Ming , Huang Minggang , Liu Zhe , Duan Xianglong
Published: June 2024

To investigate a novel approach for establishing the transverse pedicle angle (TPA) of the lower lumbar spine using preoperative digital radiography (DR). Computed Tomography (CT) datasets of the lower lumbar were reconstructed using MIMICS 17.0 software and then imported into 3-matic software for surgical simulation and anatomical parameter measurement. A mathematical algorithm of TPA based on the Pythagorean theorem was established, and all obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software. The CT dataset from 66 samples was reconstructed as a digital model of the lower lumbar vertebrae (L3-L5), and the AP length/estimated lateral length for L3 between the right and left sides was statistically significant (P = 0.015, P = 0.005). The AP length of the right for L4 was smaller than that of the left after a paired t test was executed (P = 0.006). Both the width of the pedicle and the length of the pedicle (P2C1) were consistent with TPA (L3<L4<L5). There were no significant differences in TAN-TPA and DR-TPA compared with real TPA. The ICCs for the real TPA and DR-TPA within L3 showed good reliability, and the ICCs for the real TPA and DR-TPA within both L4 and L5 showed moderate reliability. Our novel approach can be considered a reliable way to determine the transverse pedicle angle from routine DR, and the width and length of the pedicle within lumbar DR should be considered to determine the length and trajectory of the screw during preoperative planning.
Glyoxalase 1: Emerging biomarker and therapeutic target in cervical cancer progression
Authors: Kim Ji-Young , Jung Ji-Hye , Jung Soryung , Lee Sanghyuk , Lee Hyang Ah , Ouh Yung-Taek , Hong Seok-Ho
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Cervical cancer presents a significant global health challenge, disproportionately impacting underserved populations with limited access to healthcare. Early detection and effective management are vital in addressing this public health concern. This study focuses on Glyoxalase-1 (GLO1), an enzyme crucial for methylglyoxal detoxification, in the context of cervical cancer.

Methods

We assessed GLO1 expression in cervical cancer patient samples using immunohistochemistry. In vitro experiments using HeLa cells were conducted to evaluate the impact of GLO1 inhibition on cell viability and migration. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and gene set variation analysis were utilized to investigate the role of GLO1 in the metabolism of cervical cancer. Additionally, public microarray data were analyzed to determine GLO1 expression across various stages of cervical cancer.

Results

Our analysis included 58 cervical cancer patients, and showed that GLO1 is significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal cervical tissues, independent of pathological findings and disease stage. In vitro experiments indicated that GLO1 inhibition by S-p-bromobenzylglutathione cyclopentyl diester decreased cell viability and migration in cervical cancer cell lines. Analyses of scRNA-seq data and public gene expression datasets corroborated the overexpression of GLO1 and its involvement in cancer metabolism, particularly glycolysis. An examination of expression data from precancerous lesions revealed a progressive increase in GLO1 expression from normal tissue to invasive cervical cancer.

Conclusions

This study highlights the critical role of GLO1 in the progression of cervical cancer, presenting it as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. These findings contribute valuable insights towards personalized treatment approaches and augment the ongoing efforts to combat cervical cancer. Further research is necessary to comprehensively explore GLO1’s potential in clinical applications.
Selected serum cytokines and vitamin D levels as potential prognostic markers of acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Samarakoon Nirmali , Chang Thashi , Gunasekara Vimukthi , Ratnayake Praneeth , Jayatillake Rasika , Udagama Preethi
Published: June 2024

Inflammation-derived oxidative stress is postulated to contribute to neuronal damage leading to poor clinical outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). We aimed to investigate the association between serum levels of selected cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-4), and vitamin D in ischemic stroke progression, and their accuracy in predicting AIS prognosis, among Sri Lankans. We compared 60 AIS patients admitted in 4 phases post-stroke onset (<6 h; 6–24 h; 24–48 h; 48–96 h; n = 15/phase), with 15 age- and sex-matched controls. The 30-day functional outcome (FO) was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Serum cytokine and vitamin D levels were quantified using sandwich ELISAs, and competitive ELISA, respectively. The CombiROC web tool established optimal prognostic biomarker combinations. Serum IL-1β and IFN-γ were elevated in all four phases following stroke onset while IL-4 was elevated exclusively in the recovery phase (48–96 h) (p<0.05). Th1 bias polarization of the Th1:Th2 cytokine (IFN-γ:IL-4) ratio occurred with AIS progression while a Th2 bias occurred during AIS recovery (p<0.05). Lower serum IL-1β and higher IL-4 levels were associated with a good FO (p<0.05), while lower Vitamin D levels were related to a poor FO (p = 0.001). The triple-biomarker panel, IL-4- IFN-γ -Vit D, accurately predicted AIS prognosis (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 91.9%, area under the curve = 0.98). Serum immunologic mediators IFN-γ, IL-4, and vitamin D may be useful biomarkers of AIS prognosis and may serve as therapeutic targets in improving stroke outcomes. Vitamin D supplementation may improve the prognosis of AIS patients. Furthermore, binary logistic model fitted for FO indicated Th1:Th2 cytokine ratio (IFN-γ:IL-4), vitamin D status, history of stroke, and ischemic heart disease as significant predictors of AIS prognosis.
A unified design approach for control integrating processes with time delay
Authors: Yin Chengqiang , Wang Shourui , Gao Jie
Published: June 2024

The article presents a unified control system designing scheme to obtain enhanced performance for processes including integrator and dead time. A simple control structure including two controllers is proposed. Servo performance and disturbance rejection performance can be adjusted independently by introducing a desired transfer function model in the control structure. Servo controller is designed according to the direct synthesis principle and disturbance rejection controller is derived adopting the internal model control (IMC) theory. Simulations have been conducted on four kinds of integrating plants with dead time. The simulation results exhibit that noteworthy enhancement can be achieved by the presented scheme in comparation with the other methods even though there are perturbed dynamics.
The role of asymmetry and volume of thrombotic masses in the formation of local deformation of the aneurysmal-altered vascular wall: An in vivo study and mathematical modeling
Authors: Tikhvinsky Denis , Maus Maria , Lipovka Anna , Nikitin Nikita , Epifanov Rostislav , Volkova Irina , Mullyadzhanov Rustam , Chupakhin Alexander , Parshin Daniil , Karpenko Andrey
Published: June 2024

Currently, the primary factor indicating the necessity of an operation for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the diameter at its widest part. However, in practice, a large number of aneurysm ruptures occur before reaching a critical size. This means that the mechanics of aneurysm growth and remodeling have not been fully elucidated. This study presents a novel method for assessing the elastic properties of an aneurysm using an ultrasound technique based on tracking the oscillations of the vascular wall as well as the inner border of the thrombus. Twenty nine patients with AAA and eighteen healthy volunteers were considered. The study presents the stratification of a group of patients according to the elastic properties of the aneurysm, depending on the relative volume of intraluminal thrombus masses. Additionally, the neural network analysis of CT angiography images of these patients shows direct (r = 0.664271) correlation with thrombus volume according to ultrasound data, the reliability of the Spearman correlation is p = 0.000215. The use of finite element numerical analysis made it possible to reveal the mechanism of the negative impact on the AAA integrity of an asymmetrically located intraluminal thrombus. The aneurysm itself is considered as a complex structure consisting of a wall, intraluminal thrombus masses, and areas of calcification. When the thrombus occupies > 70% of the lumen of the aneurysm, the deformations of the outer and inner surfaces of the thrombus have different rates, leading to tensile stresses in the thrombus. This poses a risk of its detachment and subsequent thromboembolism or the rupture of the aneurysm wall. This study is the first to provide a mechanistic explanation for the effects of an asymmetrical intraluminal thrombus in an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The obtained results will help develop more accurate risk criteria for AAA rupture using non-invasive conventional diagnostic methods.
Impact of hospital internships on success in university summative objective structured clinical examinations: Large-scale experience in a French medical school
Authors: Carsuzaa Florent , Larid Guillaume , Martin Mickaël , Coudroy Rémi , Vallée Maxime , Paccalin Marc , Brunet Kévin , Jutant Etienne-Marie ,   for the Poitiers OSCEs group
Published: June 2024

Background

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are extensively used in many medical schools worldwide with the stated objective to assess students’ clinical skills acquired during internships. The objective of the present study was to assess the factors associated with success in university summative OSCEs, especially the impact of previous hospital internships in corresponding disciplines and supervision during internships.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study assessing the results in the summative OSCEs of 4th year medical students during the 2021–2022 academic year in a French medical school. The summative OSCEs included five stations for each student. Each student answered a survey at the end of summative OSCEs about previous internships, the supervision they had and perceived difficulty levels for each station. The scores in each station were assessed according to previous hospital internships in the corresponding discipline. Analysis of predictive factors of success in OSCEs, defined by a score ≥ 10/20 at each station, were performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Out of the 220 students participating in the summative OSCEs, 182 (83%) answered the survey. One hundred and forty-four (79%) of these students had carried out hospital internships in at least one of the disciplines evaluated during the OSCEs. Students having completed an internship in the corresponding discipline had significantly higher OSCEs scores for interrogation, communication, therapeutic education and procedure stations compared to those who had not. Previous internship in corresponding disciplines was independently associated with success in OSCEs in interrogation (OR 9.45 [1.34–66.8] p = 0.02), clinical examination (OR 6.93 [1.88–25.57] p = 0.004, and therapeutic education (OR 3.09 [1.22–7.82] p = 0.02) stations.

Conclusion

Previous hospital internships in the discipline evaluated by the OSCEs are associated with success in summative OSCEs. This reinforces the importance of student involvement during their hospital internships.
Deep learning based ECG segmentation for delineation of diverse arrhythmias
Authors: Joung Chankyu , Kim Mijin , Paik Taejin , Kong Seong-Ho , Oh Seung-Young , Jeon Won Kyeong , Jeon Jae-hu , Hong Joong-Sik , Kim Wan-Joong , Kook Woong , Cha Myung-Jin , van Koert Otto
Published: June 2024

Accurate delineation of key waveforms in an ECG is a critical step in extracting relevant features to support the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions. Although deep learning based methods using segmentation models to locate P, QRS, and T waves have shown promising results, their ability to handle arrhythmias has not been studied in any detail. In this paper we investigate the effect of arrhythmias on delineation quality and develop strategies to improve performance in such cases. We introduce a U-Net-like segmentation model for ECG delineation with a particular focus on diverse arrhythmias. This is followed by a post-processing algorithm which removes noise and automatically determines the boundaries of P, QRS, and T waves. Our model has been trained on a diverse dataset and evaluated against the LUDB and QTDB datasets to show strong performance, with F1-scores exceeding 99% for QRS and T waves, and over 97% for P waves in the LUDB dataset. Furthermore, we assess various models across a wide array of arrhythmias and observe that models with a strong performance on standard benchmarks may still perform poorly on arrhythmias that are underrepresented in these benchmarks, such as tachycardias. We propose solutions to address this discrepancy.
The REPERFUSE study protocol: The effects of vasopressor therapy on renal perfusion in patients with septic shock—A mechanistically focused randomised control trial
Authors: McDonald Rory , Watchorn James , Mehta Reena , Ostermann Marlies , Hutchings Sam
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of septic shock and together these conditions carry a high mortality risk. In septic patients who develop severe AKI, renal cortical perfusion is deficient despite normal macrovascular organ blood flow. This intra-renal perfusion abnormality may be amenable to pharmacological manipulation, which may offer mechanistic insight into the pathophysiology of septic AKI. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of vasopressin and angiotensin II on renal microcirculatory perfusion in a cohort of patients with septic shock.

Methods and analysis

In this single centre, mechanistically focussed, randomised controlled study, 45 patients with septic shock will be randomly allocated to either of the study vasopressors (vasopressin or angiotensin II) or standard therapy (norepinephrine). Infusions will be titrated to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) target set by the attending clinician. Renal microcirculatory assessment will be performed for the cortex and medulla using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and urinary oxygen tension (pO2), respectively. Renal macrovascular flow will be assessed via renal artery ultrasound. Measurement of systemic macrovascular flow will be performed through transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and microvascular flow via sublingual incident dark field (IDF) video microscopy. Measures will be taken at baseline, +1 and +24hrs following infusion of the study drug commencing. Blood and urine samples will also be collected at the measurement time points. Longitudinal data will be compared between groups and over time.

Discussion

Vasopressors are integral to the management of patients with septic shock. This study aims to further understanding of the relationship between this therapy, renal perfusion and the development of AKI. In addition, using CEUS and urinary pO2, we hope to build a more complete picture of renal perfusion in septic shock by interrogation of the constituent parts of the kidney. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at academic meetings.

Trial registration

The REPERFUSE study was registered on Clinical Trials.gov (NCT06234592) on the 30th Jan 24.
Insomnia symptoms and neurofunctional correlates among adults receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder
Authors: White Augustus M. , Eglovitch Michelle , Parlier-Ahmad Anna Beth , Dzierzewski Joseph M. , James Morgan , Bjork James M. , Moeller F. Gerard , Martin Caitlin E.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Insomnia symptoms are negatively related to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment outcomes, possibly reflecting the influence of sleep on neurofunctional domains implicated in addiction. Moreover, the intersection between OUD recovery and sleep represents an area well-suited for the development of novel, personalized treatment strategies. This study assessed the prevalence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms and characterized its neurofunctional correlates among a clinical sample of adults with OUD receiving buprenorphine.

Methods

Adults (N = 129) receiving buprenorphine for OUD from an outpatient clinic participated in a cross-sectional survey. Participants completed an abbreviated version of NIDA’s Phenotyping Assessment Battery, which assessed 6 neurofunctional domains: sleep, negative emotionality, metacognition, interoception, cognition, and reward. Bivariate descriptive statistics compared those with evidence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI] score of ≥11) to those with minimal evidence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms (ISI score of ≤10) across each of the neurofunctional domains.

Results

Roughly 60% of participants reported clinically significant insomnia symptoms (ISI score of ≥11). Experiencing clinically significant insomnia symptoms was associated with reporting greater levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, stress intolerance, unhelpful metacognition, and interoceptive awareness (ps<0.05). Participants with evidence of clinically significant insomnia were more likely to report that poor sleep was interfering with their OUD treatment and that improved sleep would assist with their treatment (ps<0.05).

Conclusions

Insomnia was prevalent among adults receiving buprenorphine for OUD. Insomnia was associated with neurofunctional performance, which may impact OUD treatment trajectories. Our findings indicate potential targets in the development of personalized treatment plans for patients with co-morbid insomnia and OUD. To inform the development of novel treatment strategies, more research is needed to understand the potential mechanistic links between sleep disturbances and substance use.
Novel real number representations in Ising machines and performance evaluation: Combinatorial random number sum and constant division
Authors: Endo Katsuhiro , Matsuda Yoshiki , Tanaka Shu , Muramatsu Mayu
Published: June 2024

Quantum annealing machines are next-generation computers for solving combinatorial optimization problems. Although physical simulations are one of the most promising applications of quantum annealing machines, a method how to embed the target problem into the machines has not been developed except for certain simple examples. In this study, we focus on a method of representing real numbers using binary variables, or quantum bits. One of the most important problems for conducting physical simulation by quantum annealing machines is how to represent the real number with quantum bits. The variables in physical simulations are often represented by real numbers but real numbers must be represented by a combination of binary variables in quantum annealing, such as quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO). Conventionally, real numbers have been represented by assigning each digit of their binary number representation to a binary variable. Considering the classical annealing point of view, we noticed that when real numbers are represented in binary numbers, there are numbers that can only be reached by inverting several bits simultaneously under the restriction of not increasing a given Hamiltonian, which makes the optimization very difficult. In this work, we propose three new types of real number representation and compared these representations under the problem of solving linear equations. As a result, we found experimentally that the accuracy of the solution varies significantly depending on how the real numbers are represented. We also found that the most appropriate representation depends on the size and difficulty of the problem to be solved and that these differences show a consistent trend for two annealing solvers. Finally, we explain the reasons for these differences using simple models, the minimum required number of simultaneous bit flips, one-way probabilistic bit-flip energy minimization, and simulation of ideal quantum annealing machine.
Perinatal deaths attributable to congenital heart defects in Hunan Province, China, 2016–2020
Authors: Zhou Xu , He Jian , Kuang Haiyan , Fang Junqun , Wang Hua
Published: June 2024

Objective

To explore the association between demographic characteristics and perinatal deaths attributable to congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Methods

Data were obtained from the Birth Defects Surveillance System of Hunan Province, China, 2016–2020. The surveillance population included fetuses and infants from 28 weeks of gestation to 7 days after birth whose mothers delivered in the surveillance hospitals. Surveillance data included demographic characteristics such as sex, residence, maternal age, and other key information, and were used to calculate the prevalence of CHDs and perinatal mortality rates (PMR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Multivariable logistic regression analysis (method: Forward, Wald, α = 0.05) and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were used to identify factors associated with perinatal deaths attributable to CHDs.

Results

This study included 847755 fetuses, and 4161 CHDs were identified, with a prevalence of 0.49% (95%CI: 0.48–0.51). A total of 976 perinatal deaths attributable to CHDs were identified, including 16 (1.64%) early neonatal deaths and 960 (98.36%) stillbirths, with a PMR of 23.46% (95%CI: 21.98–24.93). In stepwise logistic regression analysis, perinatal deaths attributable to CHDs were more common in rural areas than urban areas (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.76–2.78), more common in maternal age <20 years (OR = 2.40, 95%CI: 1.05–5.47), 20–24 years (OR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.46–3.11) than maternal age of 25–29 years, more common in 2 (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.18–2.18) or 3 (OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.01–2.02) or 4 (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.21–2.78) or > = 5 (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.28–3.18) previous pregnancies than the first pregnancy, and more common in CHDs diagnosed in > = 37 gestional weeks (OR = 77.37, 95%CI: 41.37–144.67) or 33–36 gestional weeks (OR = 305.63, 95%CI: 172.61–541.15) or < = 32 gestional weeks (OR = 395.69, 95%CI: 233.23–671.33) than diagnosed in postnatal period (within 7 days), and less common in multiple births than singletons (OR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.28–0.80).

Conclusions

Perinatal deaths were common in CHDs in Hunan in 2016–2020. Several demographic characteristics were associated with perinatal deaths attributable to CHDs, which may be summarized mainly as economic and medical conditions, severity of CHDs, and parental attitudes toward CHDs.
Automated detection of early signs of irreversible ischemic change on CTA source images in patients with large vessel occlusion
Authors: Mak Adrian , Matouk Charles C. , Avery Emily W. , Behland Jonas , Haider Stefan P. , Frey Dietmar , Madai Vince I. , Vajkoczy Peter , Griessenauer Christoph J. , Zand Ramin , Hendrix Philipp , Abedi Vida , Sanelli Pina C. , Falcone Guido J. , Petersen Nils , Sansing Lauren H. , Sheth Kevin N. , Payabvash Seyedmehdi , Malhotra Ajay
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To create and validate an automated pipeline for detection of early signs of irreversible ischemic change from admission CTA in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke.

Methods

We retrospectively included 368 patients for training and 143 for external validation. All patients had anterior circulation LVO stroke, endovascular therapy with successful reperfusion, and follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We devised a pipeline to automatically segment Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) regions and extracted their relative Hounsfield unit (rHU) values. We determined the optimal rHU cut points for prediction of final infarction in each ASPECT region, performed 10-fold cross-validation in the training set, and measured the performance via external validation in patients from another institute. We compared the model with an expert neuroradiologist for prediction of final infarct volume and poor functional outcome.

Results

We achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.69±0.13, 0.69±0.09, 0.61±0.23, and 0.72±0.11 across all regions and folds in cross-validation. In the external validation cohort, we achieved a median [interquartile] AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.71 [0.68–0.72], 0.70 [0.68–0.73], 0.55 [0.50–0.63], and 0.74 [0.73–0.77], respectively. The rHU-based ASPECTS showed significant correlation with DWI-based ASPECTS (rS = 0.39, p<0.001) and final infarct volume (rS = -0.36, p<0.001). The AUC for predicting poor functional outcome was 0.66 (95%CI: 0.57–0.75). The predictive capabilities of rHU-based ASPECTS were not significantly different from the neuroradiologist’s visual ASPECTS for either final infarct volume or functional outcome.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the feasibility of an automated pipeline and predictive model based on relative HU attenuation of ASPECTS regions on baseline CTA and its non-inferior performance in predicting final infarction on post-stroke DWI compared to an expert human reader.