bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel approach for FPGA-to-server data transmission over an Ethernet-based network using the eXpress Data Path technology
Authors: Dülsen C. , Flick T. , Göhring T. , Wagner W. , Wensing M.
Published: June 2023

In the context of the upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN for high-luminosity
operation, the particle detectors have to cope with much higher data rates and therefore need to
upgrade their data acquisition systems. This upgrade is taken as an opportunity to exchange the
currently used highly customized hardware by commercial solutions. Nevertheless, some part of the
data processing still needs to be done within Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), requiring the
transfer of data between the FPGAs and the commercial servers. This paper reports on a study of
direct data transmission from FPGAs to servers via a commercial network. Large data buffers as
required for reliable data-transmission protocols are avoided by using an emerging technique named
eXpress Data Path (XDP). Based on XDP, the transmission of 5.2 PB (i.e. 2.92 × 1012 
packets) was achieved within 168 h without a single missing packet.
Realization of high performance PZN-PT single crystal based piezoelectric flexural mode hydrophone for underwater sensor applications
Authors: Manikandan C , Varadarajan E , Vijayakumar P , Ramesh R , Roy Varsha , Sarguna R M , Amaladass Edward Prabu , Ganesamoorthy S , Vinodkumar T K , Unni Manoj N , Venkataraman Chandra Shekar Nagar , Natarajan V , Babu Sridhran Moorthy
Published: June 2023

In this article, attempts are made to grow large size PZN-PT single crystals using high temperature solution growth method by implementing novel bottom cooling technique. The grown crystals are oriented and poled along 〈001〉 direction and obtained larger piezoelectric strain coefficient (d33 > 2000 pm V−1) suitable for development of underwater acoustic sensor requirements. Flexural mode hydrophone is realized using the oriented PZN-PT single crystal discs. Finite element modeling is employed to examine the design of the flexural mode hydrophone and an equivalent circuit model is also applied to study its acoustic characteristic at two extreme boundary conditions like simply supported and clamped edge condition. The underwater acoustic response of the PZN-PT single crystal based flexural mode hydrophone is evaluated over the frequency range (100 Hz to 12 kHz) and its responses are compared with the FEM and equivalent circuit model results. The predicted results from FEM and equivalent circuit model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The receiving sensitivity of the PZN-PT single crystal-based hydrophone is 12 dB higher than the PZT 5A based hydrophone in the frequency range of 2 kHz to 6 kHz. The fabricated PZN-PT single crystal-based hydrophone offers better performance than the conventional piezo ceramic based flexural hydrophone.
Forecasting patient-specific dosimetric benefit from daily online adaptive radiotherapy for cervical cancer
Authors: Ghimire Rupesh , Moore Kevin L , Branco Daniela , Rash Dominique L , Mayadev Jyoti , Ray Xenia
Published: June 2023

Objective. Adaptive Radiotherapy (ART) is an emerging technique for treating cancer patients which facilitates higher delivery accuracy and has the potential to reduce toxicity. However, ART is also resource-intensive, Requiring extra human and machine time compared to standard treatment methods. In this analysis, we sought to predict the subset of node-negative cervical cancer patients with the greatest benefit from ART, so resources might be properly allocated to the highest-yield patients. Approach. CT images, initial plan data, and on-treatment Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) images for 20 retrospective cervical cancer patients were used to simulate doses from daily non-adaptive and adaptive techniques. We evaluated the coefficient of determination (R2) between dose and volume metrics from initial treatment plans and the dosimetric benefits to the

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from adaptive radiotherapy using reduced 3 mm or 5 mm CTV-to-PTV margins. The LASSO technique was used to identify the most predictive metrics for

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The three highest performing metrics were used to build multivariate models with leave-one-out validation for

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Main results. Patients with higher initial bowel doses were correlated with the largest decreases in Bowel

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from daily adaptation (linear best fit R2 = 0.77 for a 3 mm PTV margin and R2 = 0.8 for a 5 mm PTV margin). Other metrics had intermediate or no correlation. Selected covariates for the multivariate model were differences in the initial

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using standard versus reduced margins and the initial bladder volume. Leave-one-out validation had an R2 of 0.66 between predicted and true adaptive

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benefits for both margins. Significance. The resulting models could be used to prospectively triage cervical cancer patients on or off daily adaptation to optimally manage clinical resources. Additionally, this work presents a critical foundation for predicting benefits from daily adaptation that can be extended to other patient cohorts.
The benefits of the water diversion on a densely populated fragmented lake area — A remote sensing view
Authors: Chen Tengfei , Li Hongyi , Zhao Chunlei , Chang Yufei , Yang Yaru , Wang Jian
Published: June 2023

Water diversion is crucial for maintaining sustainable development in populated lake areas. However, there has been no clear evaluation of how water diversion affects lake health in these areas, which are often limited by scarce in situ observations. To address this issue, we selected Baiyangdian, a fragmented freshwater shallow lake in Xiongan New Area, as our study area. We conducted a time series analysis of Baiyangdian’s water level and area changes, and identified the impact of water diversion on Baiyangdian. We used laser altimetry data (ICESat, ICESat-2), remotely-sensed lake extent, water diversion data, precipitation data, and in situ lake level data. Our results show that water diversion, rather than natural precipitation, has maintained healthy water levels in Baiyangdian in recent years. Baiyangdian’s water level has risen significantly and stabilized, moving from a drying-up level to a healthy level. The intensity of water diversion has increased from 0.91 million m3 in the 2000s to 7.17 million m3 in the 2020 s, with a corresponding water level rise from 4.93 m to 7.14 m, respectively. Moreover, a positive feedback loop between economic development, policy-making, and the lake’s ecological health can promote the sustainable development of both people and nature.
Vehicle state estimation using a maximum likelihood based robust adaptive extended kalman filter considering unknown white Gaussian process and measurement noise signal
Authors: Prakash Rahul , Dheer Dharmendra Kumar
Published: June 2023

The stochastic nature of noise signals affects the vehicle’s internal states and the outputs, resulting in the difficulty in estimation. The unknown or time-varying nature of noise signals if not taken into account for estimation, the results will diverge and be highly deteriorated. In this paper, a maximum likelihood principle (MLP) based adaptive robust extended kalman filter for estimating the states of the adopted non-linear vehicle model is proposed. An observability test is done for the purpose of estimation. A covariance matching (CM) based robust adaptive high forgetting factor based fault tolerant technique is also employed on the robust adaptive extended and unscented kalman filters for comparison purpose. The Robustness of the filter is analyzed by varying the parameter of the vehicle through a local sensitivity analysis. The results show that the MLP based approach to the extended kalman filter performs well in three simulations for sinusoidal steering, Double Lance Change, J-Turn, Fishhook, Slalom maneuver in comparison to robust adaptive unscented kalman filter. Friction coefficient of 0.8 (dry road) and 0.4 (wet road) is chosen for the simulation. The sideslip angle RMSE value for MLP based estimation is obtained as 2.62e-05, 4.545e-06 for Sine and DLC maneuver.
Ammonia detection in water with balloon-like plastic optical fiber sensor
Authors: Rashid Nurfatihah Che Abd , Cholan Noran Azizan , Tay Kim Gaik , Daud Azra Munirah Mat , Jaharudin Nurul Atika Nabila , Sulaiman Nazrah Ilyana , Ngajikin Nor Hafizah
Published: June 2023

This work presents the demonstration of a plastic optical fiber (POF)-based ammonia sensor. The sensor head is formed by bending an unclad fiber optic sensor into a balloon-like structure. The bending radius of the balloon-like bent fiber optic sensor is varied from 1.0 to 2.5 cm. The performance of each sensor is tested using ammonia solution with concentration ranging from 0 to 15 mg l−1. Results show that the optimized performances of the proposed sensor occur when the bending radius is fixed at 1.5 cm. At this bending radius, the sensor illustrates the sensitivity of − 0.0024 (mg/l)−1 with linearity of 0.97 and resolution of − 4.17 mg l−1. For comparison, the bent sensor is compared to the straight sensor and performances of the former is found to be more superior. In addition, the balloon-like bent sensor is further tested with real water samples. The sensor sensitivity is found to be − 0.0022 (mg/l)−1 with linearity of 0.95 and resolution of − 4.54 mg l−1. The result shows that the sensor has comparable performance in the ammonia detection for both pure ammonia and real water samples. In essence, this balloon-like bent sensor functions without additional coating on the sensor head, making it favorable in terms of the simplicity of the design.
Language Ideologies
Authors: Gal Susan
Published: June 2023

Language ideologies are representations about the nature, structure, and use of linguistic forms in a social world. These understandings are never only about language. They are politically positioned, morally and aesthetically loaded evaluations of the situated linguistic practices to which a social group attends. Language ideologies are evident in practices and in embodied dispositions, or may be implicit in textual form and in material infrastructures. Sometimes they are explicit in discourse. Language ideologies are indispensable in social life because they mediate between aspects of language and other sociocultural phenomena such as identities, interactional stances, and hierarchies of cultural value.Speakers must draw on their presumptions about language and speech to interpret talk and thereby engage in everyday interactions, including child socialization, political debate, ritual speech, intellectual exploration, and governance. Language ideologies have considerable sociopolitical and historical consequences as metacommunications that frame the meaning of enregistered signs-in-use. Mediatingsemiotically between linguistic practices and social as well as linguistic structures, ideologies shape the direction of linguistic and social change. Semiotic concepts of indexicality, differentiation, rhematization, fractality, and erasure are essential in analysis. Language ideologies are evident in communities of all kinds. Scholars, too, have ideological presuppositions which orient their research and have political consequences. A study of a social group's language ideologies is indispensable in projects of language documentation, revitalization, poetics, and multilingual sustainability.
Gender Identity and Gender Expression
Authors: Shelton Jama
Published: June 2023

Gender identity and gender expression are aspects of personal identity that impact an individual across multiple social dimensions. As such, it is critical that social workers understand the role of gender identity and gender expression in an individual’s life. Many intersecting factors contribute to an individual’s gender identity development and gender expression, as well as their experiences interacting with individuals, communities, and systems. For instance, an individual’s race, geographic location, disability status, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, economic status, and access to gender-affirming healthcare are some of the factors that may impact experiences of gender identity and gender expression. Gender identity and expression are dimensions of diversity that social workers will interact with at all levels of practice. As such, it is important for social work educational institutions to ensure their students are prepared for practice with people of all gender identities and expression, while also understanding the historical context of the social work profession in relation to transgender populations and the ways in which the profession has reinforced the sex and gender binaries.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Profiles Among Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Examining the Effect of Comorbid Psychopathology and ADHD Presentation
Authors: Keezer Richard D , Kamm Janina M , Cerny Brian M , Ovsiew Gabriel P , Resch Zachary J , Jennette Kyle J , Soble Jason R
Published: June 2023

Objective

Despite widespread use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), it is surprisingly understudied among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is significant as ADHD is a frequent referral for neuropsychological evaluation; however, the core symptom of attention difficulty is a nonspecific sequela of many psychological disorders. This study aimed to characterize MMPI-2-RF profiles among adults with ADHD and examine the effect of comorbid psychopathology.

Method

A large, demographically diverse sample of 413 consecutive adults referred for neuropsychological evaluation to assist with differential diagnosis of ADHD who completed the MMPI-2-RF was examined. Profiles of the 145 patients diagnosed with ADHD-only were compared to 192 with ADHD and a comorbid psychological disorder and a 55-patient non-ADHD psychiatric comparison group. Among the ADHD-only group, profiles also were compared based on ADHD-presentation type (Predominantly Inattentive vs. Combined presentation).

Results

The ADHD/psychopathology and psychiatric comparison groups scored higher than the ADHD-only group across nearly all scales with widespread clinical elevations. Conversely, the ADHD-only group displayed an isolated elevation on the Cognitive Complaints scale. Comparison between ADHD presentations revealed several small-moderate significant differences, the largest of which occurred on the Externalizing and Interpersonal scales.

Conclusions

Adults with ADHD alone, and no other psychopathology have a unique MMPI-2-RF profile characterized by isolated elevation on the Cognitive Complaints scale. These results support use of the MMPI-2-RF in assessment of adults with ADHD as it can help distinguish ADHD alone from ADHD/comorbid psychopathology and identify relevant psychiatric comorbidities that may be contributing to patients’ inattention complaints.
Exploring How Sociocultural Factors Affect the Experience of Completing Neuropsychological Assessments Within Older Greek-Australians
Authors: Rizkallah Joyce , Staios Mathew , Analytis Penelope , Kosmidis Mary H , March Evrim , Stolwyk Renerus J
Published: June 2023

Objective

The field of cultural neuropsychology has grown exponentially over the last three decades. With a limited culturally informed evidence base to guide neuropsychological practice, the acceptability of existing paradigms has been called into question when applied to culturally diverse and educationally disadvantaged groups. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of Greek Australian older adults who underwent a cognitive assessment to better understand potential barriers and facilitators to engagement and to improve neuropsychological assessment outcomes.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were developed to explore cultural attitudes and contextual factors relating to neuropsychological assessment. Interviews were conducted by Greek-speaking neuropsychologists using a sample of 10 healthy elderly Greek Australians following the completion of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological design within a critical realist framework.

Results

Analysis revealed the emergence of three broad themes: sociocultural factors, experiences within the broader medical system, and the assessment experience. Engagement with cognitive assessment was influenced by several factors, including rapport building, understanding of the assessment, and use of inappropriate tests. Furthermore, level and quality of education, sex differences, language barriers, acculturation, previous experiences of prejudice, anxiety, and a preference for Greek-speaking clinicians were additional factors reported to affect the client experience and validity of assessment outcomes.

Conclusion

Neuropsychological assessment is, in part, affected by culturally reinforced attitudes. Failing to adjust the relationship between the clinician and client, test environment, style of communication, and the use of culturally inappropriate tests is likely to affect the validity of assessment outcomes.
Leveraging trans-ethnic genetic risk scores to improve association power for complex traits in underrepresented populations
Authors: Lu Haojie , Zhang Shuo , Jiang Zhou , Zeng Ping
Published: June 2023

Trans-ethnic genome-wide association studies have revealed that many loci identified in European populations can be reproducible in non-European populations, indicating widespread trans-ethnic genetic similarity. However, how to leverage such shared information more efficiently in association analysis is less investigated for traits in underrepresented populations. We here propose a statistical framework, trans-ethnic genetic risk score informed gene-based association mixed model (GAMM), by hierarchically modeling single-nucleotide polymorphism effects in the target population as a function of effects of the same trait in well-studied populations. GAMM powerfully integrates genetic similarity across distinct ancestral groups to enhance power in understudied populations, as confirmed by extensive simulations. We illustrate the usefulness of GAMM via the application to 13 blood cell traits (i.e. basophil count, eosinophil count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, monocyte count, neutrophil count, platelet count, red blood cell count and total white blood cell count) in Africans of the UK Biobank (n = 3204) while utilizing genetic overlap shared in Europeans (n = 746 667) and East Asians (n = 162 255). We discovered multiple new associated genes, which had otherwise been missed by existing methods, and revealed that the trans-ethnic information indirectly contributed much to the phenotypic variance. Overall, GAMM represents a flexible and powerful statistical framework of association analysis for complex traits in underrepresented populations by integrating trans-ethnic genetic similarity across well-studied populations, and helps attenuate health inequities in current genetics research for people of minority populations.
Theology, Medicalization, and Risk: Observations from the New Testament
Authors: Kavin Rowe C
Published: June 2023

This article reflects on the intersection of the New Testament’s witness with current questions of illness, medication, risk, luck, death, and hope. Drawing principally on the Gospel of Matthew and the letters of Paul, I argue that, for Christians, hope in the resurrection—not the ability to avoid suffering and death—provides the best context for prudential judgment in light of the inscrutability of the future and the concomitant opacity that attends medical decision-making. We do not and will not know what we would need to know in order to make decisions we can count on with surety, and we thus read Scripture in order to become the people who can make wise judgments in the meantime called hope.
Prognostic value of strain echocardiography measurements in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tao M , Despotidis G , Ghosalkar D , Tam E , Goldschmidt M , Mann N
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Speckle tracking echocardiography has been increasingly used in the evaluation of myocardial function. However, the association of reduced strain measurements with cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM).

Purpose

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic value of speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with NICM.

Methods

A literature search was conducted for studies reporting on the association of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular global circumferential strain (LVGCS), left ventricular global radial strain (LVGRS), and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) on baseline echocardiography with cardiovascular outcomes on long term follow-up in patients with NICM. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Secondary endpoints included left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA). The search included the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search was not restricted to time or publication status.

Results

A total of 17 studies with 2375 participants (640 with adverse outcomes and 1735 without adverse outcomes) met inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up duration was 33 months. Mean ejection fraction was 30%. Baseline LVGLS, LVGCS, LVGRS, and RVGLS were significantly lower in NICM patients who subsequently experienced MACE on follow-up compared to patients without MACE (SMD −0.57, 95% CI −0.82, −0.32; p<0.01; SMD −0.54, 95% CI −0.75, −0.33; p<0.01; SMD −0.51, 95% CI −0.7, −0.32; p<0.01; SMD −0.46, 95% CI −0.75, −0.18; p<0.01). Baseline LVGLS was significantly higher in patients who experienced LVRR on follow-up compared to patients without LVRR (SMD 0.36, 95% CI 0.05–0.68; p = 0.02). Baseline LVGLS was significantly lower in NICM patients who experienced VA on follow-up (SMD −1.19, 95% CI −2.12, −0.26, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Speckle tracking echocardiography may represent a useful clinical tool for risk stratification of NICM patients at risk for adverse cardiac events and poor treatment response.
Prognostic role of stress-CMR and SPECT-MPI in patients undergoing intermediate-to-high risk non-cardiac surgery
Authors: Fazzari F , Cannata F , Figliozzi S , Mantovani R , Chiarito M , Gitto M , Catapano F , Lisi C , Di Dedda E , Stefanini G , Condorelli G , Monti L , Francone M
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Data supporting the role of stress test myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) before non-cardiac surgery (NCS) are sparse and out of date. In particular, there is no specific evidence on the use of stress cardiac magnetic resonance (sCMR) in this setting. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact MPI stress test with sCMR and single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) on surgery-related cardiac events.

Method

In this single-centre retrospective study, we included all patients with CAD or at least two cardiovascular risk factors undergoing intermediate-to-high-risk non-cardiac surgery. After a pre-operative cardiological assessment, including EKG and echocardiography, the indication to perform a pre-operative MPI-stress-test relied on the clinical judgement of the cardiologist. Cardiac events occurring within 30 days from surgery were evaluated. A composite primary endpoint included myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cardiac death, cardiogenic shock and pulmonary oedema. The secondary endpoint was the rate of acute coronary syndromes.

Results

A total of 1590 patients were included, of whom 669 underwent an MPI stress test strategy (287 sCMR, 382 SPECT-MPI). The rate of 30-day cardiac events was lower in the stress test group vs. the non-stress test group (1.2% vs 3.4%; p 0,006; figure 1). Adopting a stress test strategy showed a significant reduction of composite endpoint (OR: 0.334, IC: 0.155 – 0.766, p 0.009) and acute coronary syndrome (OR: 0.414, IC: 0.174 – 0.984, p 0.046) at multivariable analysis. Stress CMR was non-inferior to SPECT in predicting cardiac events and showed a greater accuracy to predict coronary artery revascularizations (AUC for sCMR: 0.95 with a percentage of myocardial ischemia cut-point of 5.5%; figure 2).

Conclusions

A stress-test strategy is associated with a lower incidence of cardiac events in high-risk patients candidate to intermediate-to-high-risk non-cardiac surgery. The rate of cardiac complications is similarly predicted by sCMR and SPECT-MPI, although sCMR is more accurate in predicting coronary artery revascularizations.
Evaluating the feasibility of using artificial intelligence for right ventricle function analysis in a routine clinical setting
Authors: Dindane Z , Winkler A , Botan R , Linke A , Sveric K
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Evaluation of right ventricle (RV) function has clinical value when investigating patients with symptomatic heart failure. However, the assessment of RV function using two-dimensional echocardiography (Echo) is operator-dependent and is time-consuming. Technological advances have enabled the use of artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithms for functional analysis with high reproducibility, facilitated by manufacturer-neutral platform.

Purpose

We sought to determine the feasibility of using an AI-based application to measure RV function in patients referred for diagnostic evaluation of heart failure, and to compare the results with operator-generated (Human) measurements in order to assess the accuracy and efficiency of the AI.

Methods

We conducted a study on 190 consecutive patients, comparing the analysis times and accuracies of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and fractional area change (FAC) measurements using both Human and AI-based methods on three consecutive heart beats of the same Echo clip. The participants manually measured TAPSE in M-mode and FAC by tracking the RV endocardium in diastole and systole, while the AI automatically assessed these parameters in a single apical RV-centered 4-chamber view. The results of these measurements were then compared to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the AI.

Results

The measurement feasibility by the AI was 92% (n=175) on the RV clips. The main reasons for exclusion were poor image quality and insufficient representation of the RV free wall. The analysis time for TAPSE and FAC was significantly shorter for the AI compared to the Human (14±4 seconds vs. 101±21 seconds, p<0.001). Figure 1 shows that there was a significant correlation between TAPSE and FAC measurements made by AI and Human (R=0.66 and 0.64, p<0.001), but there was a mean bias of 3.3 mm (±23.7 mm) for TAPSE and 3.9% (±16.7%) for FAC between the two methods.

Conclusions

The AI-based application demonstrated good feasibility and significantly reduced analysis time for measuring TAPSE and FAC in patients referred for diagnostic evaluation of heart failure. However, the measurement bias between AI and Human was not negligible, warranting further investigation to determine the cause of this discrepancy and whether this AI-based application is an alternative to the manual method for assessing RV function.
Mechanical dyssynchrony combined with septal scarring reliably identifies responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Duchenne J , Larsen C K , Galli E , Aalen J M , Cvijic M , Klop B , Sirnes P A , Mirea O , Puvrez A , Penicka M , Hopp E , Bogaert J , Smiseth O A , Donal E , Voigt J U
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Research Foundation Flanders (FWO).

Background

The presence of mechanical dyssynchrony on echocardiography is associated with reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In contrast, recent studies suggest that presence of myocardial scarring – particularly in the septal wall – reduces the effect of CRT. Recently, a combined assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony and septal wall scarring has demonstrated high predictive power for CRT response. However, a direct comparison of different markers of mechanical dyssynchrony has not yet been performed.

Aim

This study: (I) investigated how well a combined assessment of different markers of mechanical dyssynchrony and septal scarring identifies responders to CRT, and (II) evaluated potential differences in predictive power.

Methods

In a prospective multicentre study in 170 CRT recipients, septal flash (SF) or apical rocking (ApRock), systolic stretch index (SSI) and lateral-to-septal (LW-S) work difference were assessed on echocardiography. SSI was calculated from longitudinal strain traces of the four-chamber view as the sum of the septal systolic stretch and lateral systolic pre-stretch before aortic valve closure. The LW-S work difference was calculated from the regional work of the lateral wall and septal wall - considering the averaged work from the basal- and mid-ventricular segments in the apical four-chamber view. Myocardial scarring of the septum was quantified on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images (n=125 patients), or excluded based on a coronary angiogram and clinical history (n=45 patients). Myocardial scarring was reported regionally as percentage of total amount of scarred tissue per wall. The study’s endpoint was CRT response, defined as ≥15% reduction in LV end-systolic volume 12 months after CRT implantation. AUC’s from ROC curves were used to investigate the predictive power of the different markers for CRT response.

Results

The AUC’s for the combined assessment of the markers of mechanical dyssynchrony and septal scarring as predictor of CRT-response were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.79–0.91) for presence of SF or ApRock, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.74–0.88) for SSI, and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76–0.90) for LW-S work difference (all p<0.0001). No significant difference was observed between the different markers of mechanical dyssynchrony (p>0.05 between all).

Conclusions

The combined assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony and septal scarring identified CRT responders with high predictive power. Both visual and quantitative markers demonstrated similar results. Our data demonstrates the importance of assessing LV mechanics and scarring in CRT-candidates, which can easily be achieved in clinical routine.
Calcium scoring on coronary computed angiography with photon-counting technology: predictors of performance
Authors: Vecsey-Nagy M , Varga-Szemes Á , Tilman E , Kolossvary M , Boussoussou M , Vattay B , Schmidt B , Vertes M , Balogh H , Nagy N , Kerkovits N , Simon J , Merkely B , Maurovich-Horvat P , Szilveszter B
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Spectral CT imaging and virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstruction techniques allow coronary artery calcium score (CACS) calculations from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) datasets. A novel virtual material decomposition algorithm (PureCalcium, PC) developed for photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) yields the potential of further increasing the accuracy of CCTA-based CACS measurements, however, little is known about the means of optimizing its performance for routine Agatston-scoring.

Purpose

The aim of the current study was to determine the predictors of the performance of a novel virtual non-iodine algorithm for PCD-CT.

Materials and Methods

Calcium scoring on non-enhanced scans is predominantly used as a complementary examination to CCTA increasing both acquisition time and radiation dose, thus, acquiring accurate CACS from CCTA datasets are warranted. In the current study, CACS and CAC volumes were calculated using true non-contrast (TNC) images and PC reconstructions in 139 consecutive patients (61.5 ± 10.9 years, 41.7% female) undergoing clinically indicated CCTA. Relative differences (TNC–PC/TNC) of PC-based CACS calculations from non-enhanced scans was calculated for each patient. Predictors of the degree of discrepancy were determined using linear regression analysis.

Results

Overall, BMI and heart rate did not affect the accuracy of PC measurements. However, the application of a higher tube voltage (140 kVp instead of 120 kVp) significantly decreased the relative difference of PC-based measurements from TNC values (β=-0.33 [95%CI: −0.64 – −0.03]). Furthermore, the average volume/lesion ratio also proved to be an independent predictor of performance (β=-0.01 [95%CI: −0.02 – −0.004]).

Conclusions

Spectral imaging based PC reconstructions may substitute conventional calcium scoring for a selected population of patients. It seems plausible that its performance can be improved by increased tube voltage protocols, provided spectral information gathered from CTA datasets is enhanced by using 140 kVp. It must be noted that the accuracy of PC may be hindered for smaller calcified lesions.
Differences in access to social capital across societies
Authors: Otero Gabriel , Völker Beate , Rözer Jesper , Mollenhorst Gerald
Published: June 2023

This paper explores country-level macro-structural conditions that are associated with social capital, measured as individuals’ access to social resources. To explain differences in social capital across societies, we formulate hypotheses based on welfare state generosity, cultural orientations (collectivism vs. individualism), and income inequality. We test our hypotheses using data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2017, which comprises a total sample size of 50,010 individuals living in 33 countries. We use the position generator survey instrument to build two composite measures of social capital: the diversity and the socio-economic status of social contacts. Multilevel regression models reveal that diversity of social contacts is generally greater among individuals in countries with generous welfare states, while access to contacts of a higher socio-economic status is generally better among individuals in countries with higher levels of individualism. A country’s income inequality is not associated with the social capital of its citizens. However, the association between a person’s socioeconomic status and the diversity of their social capital is moderated by income inequality. As such, our study serves to demonstrate that macro-social conditions at the country level do influence individual social capital and have different implications depending on the dimension considered.
How Does Exposure to Dementia Relate to Subjective Cognition? A Systematic Review
Authors: Turner Jennifer R , Hill Nikki L , Brautigam Leslie , Bhargava Sakshi , Mogle Jacqueline
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be indicative of future objective cognitive decline. However, factors other than objective cognitive performance may influence SCD. This review addresses whether family history or close, nonfamilial exposure to dementia is associated with self-reported SCD.

Research Design and Methods

Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Dissertations and Theses database. Eligible articles included measures of self-reported cognition for community-dwelling middle-aged or older adults (40+ years) not diagnosed with dementia, and who had either a family history of dementia, a family member, spouse, or close friend with dementia. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the LEGEND Appraisal Tool. Evidence was synthesized narratively.

Results

A total of 32 articles were included, with 28 rated as good quality. Across studies, the relationship between dementia exposure and SCD was inconsistent. A significant association between exposure and SCD was found in 6 studies; however, 17 reviewed studies found no evidence of a relationship. The remaining 9 studies found mixed associations. Modifying factors that could potentially influence these associations were exploratorily identified among studies to provide context to our results. These factors included dementia worry, emotional closeness, and measurement sensitivity.

Discussion and Implications

Findings of this review suggest that both first-degree relatives and spouses of persons with dementia may have an increased likelihood of reporting SCD, although the current heterogeneity in definitions of exposure to dementia and SCD may influence these findings. In addition to the relationship between dementia exposure and SCD, future research should examine potential modifiers, including meaning attributed to exposure, as identifying how these perceptions affect cognition may promote early intervention.
Analysis of Technical Repeat Studies in Screening Mammography
Authors: Martaindale Sarah , Moseley Tanya , Santiago Lumarie , Huang Monica , Sullivan Callie , Bassett Roland L , Whitman Gary
Published: June 2023

Objective

To identify causes of technical repeats, determine whether differences exist between mobile and fixed mammography units, and evaluate the rate of improvement on repeat imaging.

Methods

IRB approval was obtained for retrospective review of Enhancing Quality Using the Inspection Program (EQUIP) logs of screening mammography technical repeats performed from March 2017 to December 2018 at a hospital breast imaging center and from April 2017 to December 2018 on mobile mammography units. Frequency tables and Fisher’s exact tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Technical deficiencies were reported in 483 cases and reviewed by two or three auditors. Auditors identified no technical deficiencies in 31 cases, which were excluded. The remaining 452 cases were assigned a technical recall category: motion, positioning/excluded tissue, skin folds, artifacts, undercompression, or contrast (under/overexposure). Motion was the most common technical recall category (253/452, 56.0%). Positioning/excluded tissue was the second most common reason (150/452, 33.2%). Statistically significant differences in technical deficiencies were identified between mammograms performed on mobile versus fixed mammography units for motion (94/143, 65.7% vs 159/309, 51.5%, respectively, P = 0.0058), skin folds (16/143, 11.2% vs 15/309, 4.8%, respectively, P = 0.02), and positioning/excluded tissue (30/143, 21% vs 120/309, 38.8%, respectively, P = 0.00016). Most recalls improved with repeat imaging (auditor 1: 451/483, 93% and auditor 2: 387/483, 80%).

Conclusion

Motion and positioning/excluded tissue are the most common reasons for screening mammography technical recalls. The reasons for technical recall differ between patients imaged on mobile and fixed mammography units, likely because of differences in each location’s patient population.
The Medieval Prosodic Orthography of the Tiberian Masoretic Reading Tradition
Authors: Pitcher Sophia L
Published: June 2023

The medieval accentual notations of the Tiberian Masoretic Reading Tradition (TMRT), known as the ṭaʿămē hammiqrå̄, guide the reader in the proper intonement of the Hebrew Bible. Since Dresher’s groundbreaking 1994 article, scholars of the ṭaʿămē hammiqrå̄ have increasingly understood the system to exhibit features corresponding to the prosodic phrase structure of speech. However, the lack of a suitable theoretical framework for analysing and interpreting the ṭaʿămē hammiqrå̄ has greatly hindered research on the system, leaving it largely opaque. This article presents conclusions from Pitcher (2020), a study undertaken to investigate the possibility that the correspondences identified by Dresher may point to a more significant correlation between the ṭaʿămē hammiqrå̄ and modern prosodic descriptions than has been previously considered. In this article the ṭaʿămē hammiqrå̄ are introduced as a prosodic orthography of liturgical Tiberian Hebrew and a wholly linguistic model grounded in the discipline of prosodic phonology is proposed.
Tractable depth-bounded approximations to FDE and its satellites
Authors: D’Agostino Marcello , Solares-Rojas Alejandro
Published: June 2023

FDE, LP and $\mathbf {K_{3}}$ are closely related to each other and admit of an intuitive informational interpretation. However, all these logics are co-NP complete, and so idealized models of how an agent can think. We address this issue by shifting to signed formulae, where the signs express imprecise values associated with two bipartitions of the corresponding set of standard values. We present proof systems whose operational rules are all linear and have only two structural branching rules that express a generalized Principle of Bivalence. Each of these systems leads to defining an infinite hierarchy of tractable approximations to the respective logic, in terms of the maximum number of allowed nested applications of the two branching rules. Further, each resulting hierarchy admits of an intuitive 5-valued non-deterministic semantics.
The Self-Simulational Theory of temporal extension
Authors: Bellingrath Jan Erik
Published: June 2023

Subjective experience is experience in time. Unfolding in a continuous river of moments, our experience, however, consists not only in the changing phenomenological content per se but, further, in additional retrodiction and prospection of the moments that immediately preceded and followed it. It is in this way that William James’s ‘specious present’ presents itself as extending between the past and future. While the phenomenology of temporality always happens, in normal waking states, to someone, and the notions of self-representation and temporal experience have continuously been associated with each other, there has not yet been an explicit account of their relationship. In this paper, the emergence of the subjective experience of temporal extension will be conceived of as arising out of a difference-relation between counterfactual and actual self-representations. After presenting the proposed relationship on both a conceptual level and a formalized and neuronally realistic level of description using information theory, convergent empirical evidence from general findings about temporal experience and inference, altered states of consciousness, and mental illness is examined. The Self-Simulational Theory of temporal extension is able to explain systematic variations in the subjectively experienced length of the temporal Now across numerous domains and holds potentially wide implications for the neuroscience of consciousness, as well as for a deeper understanding of different forms of mental illness.
Individual glioblastoma cells harbor both proliferative and invasive capabilities during tumor progression
Authors: Ratliff Miriam , Karimian-Jazi Kianush , Hoffmann Dirk C , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Simon Matthias , Hai Ling , Mandelbaum Henriette , Schubert Marc C , Kessler Tobias , Uhlig Stefanie , Dominguez Azorin Daniel , Jung Erik , Osswald Matthias , Solecki Gergely , Maros Máté E , Venkataramani Varun , Glas Martin , Etminan Nima , Scheffler Björn , Wick Wolfgang , Winkler Frank
Published: June 2023

Background

Glioblastomas are characterized by aggressive and infiltrative growth, and by striking heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tumor cell proliferation and invasion are interrelated, or rather distinct features of different cell populations.

Methods

Tumor cell invasion and proliferation were longitudinally determined in real-time using 3D in vivo 2-photon laser scanning microscopy over weeks. Glioblastoma cells expressed fluorescent markers that permitted the identification of their mitotic history or their cycling versus non-cycling cell state.

Results

Live reporter systems were established that allowed us to dynamically determine the invasive behavior, and previous or actual proliferation of distinct glioblastoma cells, in different tumor regions and disease stages over time. Particularly invasive tumor cells that migrated far away from the main tumor mass, when followed over weeks, had a history of marked proliferation and maintained their proliferative capacity during brain colonization. Infiltrating cells showed fewer connections to the multicellular tumor cell network, a typical feature of gliomas. Once tumor cells colonized a new brain region, their phenotype progressively transitioned into tumor microtube-rich, interconnected, slower-cycling glioblastoma cells. Analysis of resected human glioblastomas confirmed a higher proliferative potential of tumor cells from the invasion zone.

Conclusions

The detection of glioblastoma cells that harbor both particularly high proliferative and invasive capabilities during brain tumor progression provides valuable insights into the interrelatedness of proliferation and migration—2 central traits of malignancy in glioma. This contributes to our understanding of how the brain is efficiently colonized in this disease.
Balancing Privacy and Competition: Evaluating the Competitive Effects of India’s Data Protection Bill
Authors: Dixit Priyansh , Sharma Sukarm
Published: June 2023

Data protection and competition law are perhaps two of the most enmeshed legal arenas in the contemporary data-driven world. This essay ingresses into this intersection, appraising the competitive implications of India’s Data Protection Bill, 2022 through key arenas of conflict such as jurisdictional tussles, data portability, the remedy of mandatory data sharing, and compliance costs. Although the intersection of privacy and competition law has been discussed in Indian scholarship, an analysis of the competitive implications of the Data Protection Bill has been absent. This is precisely the gap that this piece aims to fill, by appraising the host of new implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB) on Indian competition and providing a framework to evaluate various competition concerns such as jurisdiction, compliance, and data sharing of any subsequent data protection bill in India. It does this by first analyzing the extent to which competitive concerns can be addressed in the Indian data protection system. With this premise, it secondly considers the question of jurisdictional primacy between the Competition Commission and the Data Protection Board, arguing for the primacy of the Competition Commission. Thirdly, it discusses the questions of data portability, mandatory data sharing and compliance costs in the DPDBP which could affect India’s competition, critically discussing the trade-offs and suggesting potential solutions. The goal of the piece is to critically examine the implications of the 2022 version of the bill to suggest ways forward for its future iterations in India.