bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bleeding pattern and consumption of factor VIII concentrate in adult patients with haemophilia A without inhibitors in the Czech Republic between 2013 and 2021 (Czech National Haemophilia Programme registry data)
Authors: Romanová Gabriela , Smejkal Petr , Ovesná Petra , Drbohlavová Eva , Dulíček Petr , Hajšmanová Zdeňka , Hluší Antonín , Hrdličková Radka , Ullrychová Jana , Vonke Ivan , Blatný Jan , Čermáková Zuzana , Zápotocká Ester , Penka Miroslav
Published: September 2023

The manuscript provides an overview of treatment and its changes in adult patients with haemophilia A without inhibitors in the Czech Republic between 2013 and 2021 using data from the registry of the Czech National Haemophilia Programme (CNHP). Over a 9-year period, we focused on the reduction in the annual bleeding rate (ABR), joint bleeding rate (AJBR) and factor VIII consumption when patients with severe haemophilia A switched from on-demand treatment to prophylaxis. The ABR and AJBR include both patient-reported home treatment and treated hospitalisation episodes. All adult patients with severe haemophilia A were categorised into three groups according to the therapeutic regimen. The first group was patients on prophylaxis during the follow-up period, the second group consisted of patients on on-demand treatment, and the third group was patients who received both treatment regimens during follow-up. With an increase in the proportion of patients with severe haemophilia A on prophylaxis from 37 to 74% between 2013 and 2021, the ABR for all patients with severe haemophilia A decreased approximately 6.9-fold, and the AJBR decreased 8.7-fold. Expectedly, the factor consumption increased by approximately 68.5%. In the group of patients with severe haemophilia A who had switched from an on-demand to a prophylactic regimen, the total number of bleeding events decreased 3.5-fold, and the number of joint bleeding episodes decreased 3.9-fold. Factor VIII consumption increased by 78.4%. Our study supports a previously reported positive effect of prophylaxis on bleeding control. We believe that the substantial improvement in ABR justifies the increased treatment costs.
The effects of hydroxychloroquine and its promising use in refractory obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Fierro Juan J. , Velásquez-Berrío Manuela , Ospina Alexandra , Henning Svenja , de Leeuw Karina , Cadavid J Ángela P.
Published: September 2023

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is obtained by hydroxylation of chloroquine (CQ) and the first indication was malaria. Nowadays, HCQ is commonly used in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with favorable results. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity and persistent positivity of antiphospholipid antibodies. Around 20–30% of pregnant women with APS develop adverse pregnancy outcomes despite conventional treatment with aspirin and heparin, called refractory obstetric APS. Interestingly, HCQ has shown positive effects on top of the standard of care in some refractory obstetric APS patients. HCQ mechanisms of action in APS comprise its ability to bind sialic acid present in cell membranes, its capacity to block the binding of antiphospholipid antibodies to the cell and the induced increase of pH in extracellular and intracellular compartments. However, the precise mechanisms of HCQ in the specific situation of refractory APS still need to be fully clarified. Therefore, this review summarizes the known modulating effects of HCQ and CQ, their side effects and use in APS and different pathologies to understand the benefit effects and the mechanism of action of HCQ in refractory obstetric APS.
Recent advances in the genomic resources for sheep
Authors: Woolley Shernae A. , Salavati Mazdak , Clark Emily L.
Published: September 2023

Sheep (Ovis aries) provide a vital source of protein and fibre to human populations. In coming decades, as the pressures associated with rapidly changing climates increase, breeding sheep sustainably as well as producing enough protein to feed a growing human population will pose a considerable challenge for sheep production across the globe. High quality reference genomes and other genomic resources can help to meet these challenges by: (1) informing breeding programmes by adding a priori information about the genome, (2) providing tools such as pangenomes for characterising and conserving global genetic diversity, and (3) improving our understanding of fundamental biology using the power of genomic information to link cell, tissue and whole animal scale knowledge. In this review we describe recent advances in the genomic resources available for sheep, discuss how these might help to meet future challenges for sheep production, and provide some insight into what the future might hold.
Projections of winter polynyas and their biophysical impacts in the Ross Sea Antarctica
Authors: DuVivier Alice K. , Molina Maria J. , Deppenmeier Anna-Lena , Holland Marika M. , Landrum Laura , Krumhardt Kristen , Jenouvrier Stephanie
Published: September 2023

This study investigates winter polynyas in the southern Ross Sea, Antarctica where several polynyas are known to form. Coastal polynyas are areas of lower sea ice concentration and/or thickness along the coast that are otherwise surrounded by more extensive, thicker sea ice pack. Polynyas are also locations where organisms can exploit both the ice substrate and pelagic resources. Using a self organizing map algorithm, we identify polynya events in the Community Earth System Model Version 2 Large Ensemble (CESM2-LE). The neural network algorithm is able to identify polynya events without imposing an ice concentration or thickness threshold, as is often done when identifying polynyas. The CESM2-LE produces a wintertime polynya feature comparable in size and location to the Ross Sea polynya, and during polynya events there are large turbulent heat fluxes and export of sea ice from the Ross Sea. In the CESM2-LE polynya event frequency is projected to decrease sharply in the later twentyfirst century, leading to increasing sea ice concentrations and thicknesses in the region. The drivers of the polynya frequency decline are likely both large scale circulation changes and local atmosphere and ocean feedbacks. If declines in wintertime polynya frequency over the twentyfirst century do occur they may impact Antarctic Bottom Water formation and local net primary productivity. Thus, better understanding potential local and unexpected sea ice changes in the Ross Sea is important for both assessing climate system impacts and ecological impacts on the Ross Sea ecosystem, which is currently protected by an internationally recognized marine protected area.
Common pathogenesis of early and late preeclampsia: evidence from recurrences and review of the literature
Authors: Arbuzova Svitlana
Published: September 2023

Objective

To investigate whether there is an association between the gestational age at the onset of preeclampsia in recurrent cases and the gestational age at the onset of preeclampsia in previous pregnancies.

Methods

This retrospective nested case–control study was designed to investigate whether gestational age at diagnosis and at delivery in recurrent cases of preeclampsia correlates with gestational age at diagnosis and delivery in the previous cases of preeclampsia in the same individuals. The database of a Ukrainian research network was used to find patients with the diagnosis of preeclampsia between 2019 and 2021. The database was further queried to identify those with a history of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. The comparison was made using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results

One hundred and three patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia were identified. Of those, 15 had recurrent preeclampsia, 2 of whom had preeclampsia in 2 previous pregnancies. There was no statistically significant correlation: based on gestational age at delivery R = − 0.28 (P = 0.30; 95% confidence interval (− 0.69 to 0.28) and based on gestational age at the time of diagnosis R = − 0.14 (P = 0.62; − 0.60 to 0.41).

Conclusion

Our data do not find an association between the gestational age of recurrent preeclampsia and preeclampsia diagnosed in a previous pregnancy. This supports the idea that there is single pathogenesis for preeclampsia regardless of the gestational age. It suggests that there are variations in the course of preeclampsia that may be determined by the capacity of the compensatory mechanisms.
Dystonia and Parkinsonism in COA7-related disorders: expanding the phenotypic spectrum
Authors: Higuchi Yujiro , Ando Masahiro , Kojima Fumikazu , Yuan Junhui , Hashiguchi Akihiro , Yoshimura Akiko , Hiramatsu Yu , Nozuma Satoshi , Fukumura Shinobu , Yahikozawa Hiroyuki , Abe Erika , Toyoshima Itaru , Sugawara Masashiro , Okamoto Yuji , Matsuura Eiji , Takashima Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

Background and objective

Biallelic mutations in the COA7 gene have been associated with spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 3 (SCAN3), and a notable clinical diversity has been observed. We aim to identify the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of COA7-related disorders.

Methods

We conducted comprehensive genetic analyses on the COA7 gene within a large group of Japanese patients clinically diagnosed with inherited peripheral neuropathy or cerebellar ataxia.

Results

In addition to our original report, which involved four patients until 2018, we identified biallelic variants of the COA7 gene in another three unrelated patients, and the variants were c.17A > G (p.D6G), c.115C > T (p.R39W), and c.449G > A (p.C150Y; novel). Patient 1 presented with an infantile-onset generalized dystonia without cerebellar ataxia. Despite experiencing an initial transient positive response to levodopa and deep brain stimulation, he became bedridden by the age of 19. Patient 2 presented with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, as well as parkinsonism, and showed a slight improvement upon levodopa administration. Dopamine transporter SPECT showed decreased uptake in the bilateral putamen in both patients. Patient 3 exhibited severe muscle weakness, respiratory failure, and feeding difficulties. A haplotype analysis of the mutation hotspot in Japan, c.17A > G (p.D6G), uncovered a common haplotype block.

Conclusion

COA7-related disorders typically encompass a spectrum of conditions characterized by a variety of major (cerebellar ataxia and axonal polyneuropathy) and minor (leukoencephalopathy, dystonia, and parkinsonism) symptoms, but may also display a dystonia-predominant phenotype. We propose that COA7 should be considered as a new causative gene for infancy-onset generalized dystonia, and COA7 gene screening is recommended for patients with unexplained dysfunctions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Comparison of functional and morphologic changes between brolucizumab and faricimab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Maruyama-Inoue Maiko , Yanagi Yasuo , Inoue Tatsuya , Kadonosono Kazuaki
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to compare functional and morphologic changes in the loading phase between patients with treatment-naïve macular neovascularization (MNV) due to neovascular age–related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with either intravitreal brolucizumab (IVBr) or intravitreal faricimab (IVF) injections in a clinical setting.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 92 consecutive eyes of 90 patients with neovascular nAMD who were scheduled to receive IVBr (42 eyes of 41 patients) or IVF (50 eyes of 49 patients) injections between October 2021 and December 2022. All patients received three consecutive monthly injections of 6.0 mg/0.05 mL brolucizumab or 6.0 mg/0.05 mL faricimab. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and central choroidal thickness (CCT) at baseline and 1, 2, and 4 months after the initial treatment were measured and compared between the groups.

Results

Thirty-seven eyes in IVBr group and forty-seven eyes in IVF group who finished treatments in the loading phase were assessed at the follow-up examination. The BCVA, CFT, and CCT changed significantly after loading phase in both groups (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The IVBr group had more rapid improvement of the BCVA (P = 0.037) at 1 month than the IVF group, but there was no difference at 4 months (P = 0.367). The CFT and CCT decreases tended to be greater in the IVBr group than in the IVF group throughout the follow-up period. Of the five eyes excluded from the IVBr group, one eye (2.4%) each had intraocular inflammation (IOI) and was a non-responder, and two eyes (4.8%) had retinal pigment epithelial tears after treatment. Of the three eyes excluded from the IVF group, two eyes (4.0%) did not respond to the treatment.

Conclusions

Both IVBr and IVF injections were well-tolerated and improved the VA in treatment-naïve patients with MNV due to nAMD after a loading phase, although IVBr caused a trend toward faster visual improvements in the BCVA. The IVBr group also had greater reductions of the CFT and CCT than the IVF group. However, the potential for adverse events and no response to treatment with each drug are considerations.
An asymptotic formula for the variance of the number of zeroes of a stationary Gaussian process
Authors: Assaf Eran , Buckley Jeremiah , Feldheim Naomi
Published: September 2023

We study the variance of the number of zeroes of a stationary Gaussian process on a long interval. We give a simple asymptotic description under mild mixing conditions. This allows us to characterise minimal and maximal growth. We show that a small (symmetrised) atom in the spectral measure at a special frequency does not affect the asymptotic growth of the variance, while an atom at any other frequency results in maximal growth.
Cross-cultural adaptation of the Skin Cancer Index into Brazilian Portuguese for patients with cervicofacial nonmelanoma skin cancer
Authors: Hora Evânia Curvelo , Lima Marcela Sampaio , Siqueira Hianga Fayssa Fernandes , Marques Adriane Dórea , de Abreu Costa Brito Érika , Lessa Arthur Leite , Lima Carlos Anselmo
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to translate the Skin Cancer Index (SCI) into Portuguese, adapt it for Brazilian culture, and clinically validate it.

Methods

A five-stage cross-cultural adaptation model was followed, with subsequent clinical validation. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using the content validity index (CVI). The hypothesis of the non-inferiority of the CVI at 80% probability level was evaluated using an exact binomial test. We used Spearman’s rank-order and Pearson’s product–moment correlation analysis, internal consistency using McDonald’s ω and Cronbach’s α metric, and construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis. The factorial model was validated using the chi-squared test, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), comparative fit index (CFI), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR).

Results

The first stage yielded two independent translations. After synthesis, back-translation, and review, the prefinal version was tested on 40 patients. Inter-rater agreement indices on content validity were significantly higher than 80% (p < 0.05). The SCI remained stable, and the Spearman’s rank-order (rs), Pearson product–moment (r), and intraclass correlation coefficients were > 0.9, indicating excellent reliability. The reliability of McDonald’s ω was considered ideal (> 0.8) in all subdimensions and scale. Cronbach’s α was considered ideal in the “Emotional” and “Social” subdimensions and scale. Construct validity was observed in all subdimensions and scale through the criteria (χ2) p value > 0.05, RMSEA < 0.08, CFI ≥ 0.9, and SRMR ≤ 0.08.

Conclusion

The cross-cultural adaptation of the SCI to Portuguese for Brazilian culture showed content validity and reliability, contributing to quality of life assessment in patients with NMSC.
The indication of fusion to the pelvis in neuromuscular scoliosis is based on the underlying disease rather than on pelvic obliquity
Authors: Geiger Florian , Eberl Johanna , Wirries André , Forth Andreas , Hammad Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The decision to instrument to L5 or ilium, in NMS, is usually based on radiologic factors, including pelvic obliquity (PO) > 15°, apex of curvature < L3, and Cobb angle > 60°. Since scoliosis in these patients is caused by a neurologic disease, we based our decision to stop at L5 on the presence of spasticity or flaccidity.

Patients & Methods

The senior author did 109 primary fusions in NMS. Of those with DMD or SMA only 16% were instrumented to the ilium. The main factor for our decision was the correction potential of the truncal shift and PO in the supine traction radiographs and the absence of severe spasticity.

Results

The 57 patients with DMD/SMA had a mean preoperative curvature of 68°, PO of 17°, and truncal shift of 20°. 74% should have been instrumented to the pelvis, but only 16% were. Those instrumented shorter as the rule, were corrected from 74° to 26° and had a postoperative PO of 8°. There was no significant difference in postoperative correction and PO compared to those instrumented to L5 on standard protocol. Subsequent extension to the pelvis was needed in 1 CP patient. There were no significant changes after 2 years. Of the 20 patients instrumented to the pelvis 11 had cerebral palsy and a preop curvature of 89°, a PO of 21° and a truncal shift of 25°.

Discussion

The decision on instrumentation length should take flexibility and disease into consideration. If the trunk is centred over the pelvis, deterioration will not occur in absence of spasticity.
Can metacognitive accuracy be altered through prompting in biology text reading?
Authors: Elsner Stefanie , Großschedl Jörg
Published: September 2023

Metacognitive accuracy is understood as the congruency of subjective evaluation and objectively measured learning performance. With reference to the cue utilisation framework and the embedded-processes model of working memory, we proposed that prompts impact attentional processes during learning. Through guided prompting, learners place their attention on specific information during the learning process. We assumed that the information will be taken into account when comprehension judgments are formed. Subsequently, metacognitive accuracy will be altered. Based on the results of this online study with pre-service biology teachers, we can neither confirm nor reject our main hypothesis and assume small effects of prompting on metacognitive accuracy if there are any. Learning performance and judgment of comprehension were not found to be impacted by the use of resource- and deficit-oriented prompting. Other measurements of self-evaluation (i.e. satisfaction with learning outcome and prediction about prolonged comprehension) were not influenced through prompting. The study provides merely tentative evidence for altered metacognitive accuracy and effects on information processing through prompting. Results are discussed in light of online learning settings in which the effectiveness of prompt implementation might have been restricted compared to a classroom environment. We provide recommendations for the use of prompts in learning settings with the aim to facilitate their effectiveness, so that both resource-oriented and deficit-oriented prompts can contribute to metacognitive skill development if they are applied appropriately.
The use of ultrasonography as an effective screening tool for chronic posterior cruciate ligament injuries
Authors: Kimura Mitsuhiro , Nakase Junsuke , Yoshimizu Rikuto , Kanayama Tomoyuki , Yanatori Yusuke , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: September 2023

Purpose

We aimed to explore the applicability and validity of ultrasonography for diagnosing chronic posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries.

Methods

PCL thickness was measured at 2 cm proximal to the tibia insertion site. Using the same ultrasonography image, the angle tangent to the PCL from the tibia insertion site was also measured. These data were analyzed by plotting the receiver operating curve (ROC), and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to the optimal cut-off point. Ultrasonography data from the PCLinjured knee were compared with those from the contralateral uninjured knee of the same patient.

Results

Twelve men and six women, with a mean age of 28.8 ± 14.0 years, were included in this study. The mean time from injury to medical examination was 10.0 ± 6.7 months. The mean thickness of the PCL was 8.1 ± 1.9 mm on the affected side and 5.8 ± 1.2 mm on the uninjured side, with the affected side being significantly thicker. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for the thickness of chronic PCL injuries was 6.5 mm (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 77.8%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.87). The optimal cut-off value for the angle was 20° (sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 94.4%, AUC = 0.96).

Conclusion

Ultrasonography is useful as a screening tool for chronic PCL injuries. The optimal cut-off point was 6.5 mm for thickness and 20° for angle.

Level of evidence

IV.
Behavioral and demographic responses of the predatory rotifer Asplanchna sieboldii (Leydig, 1854) fed prey (Plationus patulus (Müller, 1786)) previously exposed to cadmium and microplastics
Authors: Hernández-Lucero José Antonio , Sarma S. S. S. , Nandini S.
Published: September 2023

We quantified the feeding behavior (encounter, attack, capture and ingestion) and demographic parameters (survival and reproduction) of the predatory rotifer Asplanchna sieboldii fed on the prey Plationus patulus previously exposed to microplastics (MPs), Cd or their combination. As compared to controls, capture and ingestion rates of P. patulus by A. sieboldii decreased by 71 and 61%, respectively, with prey previously exposed to mixed MPs and Cd treatment. Life table data showed that the predator died earlier in controls than when fed on prey exposed to both Cd and microplastics. Regardless of the prey treatment, the offspring production by A. sieboldii increased as the available prey numbers increased (from 1 to 4 ind. ml−1). Compared to controls, the fecundity rate of the predator decreased when contaminated prey was offered as food.
Patients’ and Therapists’ Experiences of Standardized Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Needs for a Personalized Approach
Authors: Gryesten Jasmin Rejaye , Poulsen Stig , Moltu Christian , Biering Elisabeth Belmudez , Møller Kirsten , Arnfred Sidse Marie
Published: September 2023

Personalizing psychotherapy can be challenging within standardized group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in which sessions are structured according to a protocol and must accommodate the needs and preferences of multiple patients. In the current study, we aimed to examine patients’ and therapists’ experiences of standardized group CBT and identify their perceptions of different patient needs. Furthermore, we explored how these needs can inform possible content of add-on interventions for patients who are not improving as expected during group CBT.

We conducted 21 individual in-depth interviews with patients with depression and their therapists about their experiences during group CBT with Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) and feedback. Interviews were analyzed by using a hermeneutic-phenomenological thematic analysis. Five themes, representing different patient needs, were identified: (1) Individual attention, (2) Psychological exploration, (3) A focus on the patient’s life outside of therapy, (4) Extended assessment, and (5) Agreement on therapeutic tasks.

The study supports that “one size does not fit all” when it comes to psychotherapy. Patients have varying needs when they are not making progress in therapy, and these needs, when unmet, can negatively impact the overall experience of group CBT. By acknowledging the unique needs of each patient and providing additional individual sessions as necessary, we can move towards a more personalized approach that maximizes the benefits of group psychotherapy.
Overall evaluation of the replacement of fermented soybean to fish meal in juvenile white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei diet: growth, health status, and hepatopancreas histomorphology
Authors: Abd El-Naby Asmaa S. , Eid A. E , Gaafar Alkhateib Y. , Sharawy Zaki , Khattaby A. A , El-sharawy Mohamed S. , El Asely Amel M.
Published: September 2023

This study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing fishmeal (FM) with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) for 12 weeks on the growth performance, feed utilization, immunological parameters, antioxidant enzyme assays and lipid peroxidation, digestive enzymes, and histopathological analysis of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei). By substituting 0.0%, 20%, 30%, and 40% FSBM for fishmeal (w/w), four isonitrogenous diets were generated. A total of 300 juvenile L. vannamei (1.59 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allocated to the experimental fiber tanks at a rate of fifteen shrimp per tank, with three replicates for each treatment. Growth performance and feed utilization decline considerably (P < 0.05) with increasing amounts of FM replacement with FSBM in diets. In comparison to the juveniles fed the other experimental diets, the diet containing a moderate level of FM replacement (20% FSBM) considerably enhanced growth performance and feed consumption during the feeding trial. The 20% FSBM-fed group had the highest protein content. In contrast, raising FSBM levels significantly increased lipid content (P < 0.05) compared to the control. However, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) across FSBM treatments. Hemolymph plasma total protein (TP) concentration and lysozyme activity were substantially greater (P < 0.05) in 20% FSBM compared to 40% FSBM (P < 0.05). In addition, 20% FSBM exhibits a substantial (P < 0.05) increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT SOD, GPX, and GR). In contrast, the control and 30% FSBM groups had considerably more lipid peroxidation markers (MDA) than the 20% and 40% FSBM groups. Hepatopancreas amylase activity was considerably elevated (P < 0.05) in the control group and with 40% FSBM. In addition, hepatopancreas and intestinal protease and lipase activity increased significantly by 20% FSBM. Considerably, more B cells were present in the 40% FSBM diet than in the control diet; however, they were significantly less prevalent in the 20% and 30% FSBM diets (P < 0.05).
FuseBot: mechanical search of rigid and deformable objects via multi-modal perception
Authors: Boroushaki Tara , Dodds Laura , Naeem Nazish , Adib Fadel
Published: September 2023

Mechanical search is a robotic problem where a robot needs to retrieve a target item that is partially or fully-occluded from its camera. State-of-the-art approaches for mechanical search either require an expensive search process to find the target item, or they require the item to be tagged with a radio frequency identification tag (e.g., RFID), making their approach beneficial only to tagged items in the environment. We present FuseBot, the first robotic system for RF-Visual mechanical search that enables efficient retrieval of both RF-tagged and untagged items in a pile. Rather than requiring all target items in a pile to be RF-tagged, FuseBot leverages the mere existence of an RF-tagged item in the pile to benefit both tagged and untagged items. Our design introduces two key innovations. The first is RF-Visual Mapping, a technique that identifies and locates RF-tagged items in a pile and uses this information to construct an RF-Visual occupancy distribution map. The second is RF-Visual Extraction, a policy formulated as an optimization problem that minimizes the number of actions required to extract the target object by accounting for the probabilistic occupancy distribution, the expected grasp quality, and the expected information gain from future actions. We built a real-time end-to-end prototype of our system on a UR5e robotic arm with in-hand vision and RF perception modules. We conducted over 200 real-world experimental trials to evaluate FuseBot and compare its performance to a state-of-the-art vision-based system named X-Ray (Danielczuk et al., in: 2020 IEEE/RSJ international conference on intelligent robots and systems (IROS), IEEE, 2020). Our experimental results demonstrate that FuseBot outperforms X-Ray’s efficiency by more than 40% in terms of the number of actions required for successful mechanical search. Furthermore, in comparison to X-Ray’s success rate of 84%, FuseBot achieves a success rate of 95% in retrieving untagged items, demonstrating for the first time that the benefits of RF perception extend beyond tagged objects in the mechanical search problem.
Differential response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for Black/African American and White women in NCDB
Authors: Jones Veronica , Schroeder Mary C. , Roberson Mya L. , De Andrade James , Lizarraga Ingrid M.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Compared to White women, there are higher mortality rates in Black/African American (BAA) women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR + BC) which may be partially due to differences in treatment resistance. We assessed factors associated with response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET).

Methods

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for women with clinical stage I–III HR + BC diagnosed 2006–2017 and treated with NET. Univariate and multivariate analyses described associations between the sample, duration of NET, and subsequent treatment response, defined by changes between clinical and pathological staging.

Results

The analytic sample included 9864 White and 1090 BAA women. Compared to White women, BAA women were younger, had more co-morbidities, were higher stage at presentation, and more likely to have > 24 weeks of NET. After excluding those with unknown pT/N/M, 3521 White and 365 BAA women were evaluated for NET response. On multivariate analyses, controlling for age, stage, histology, HR positivity, and duration of NET, BAA women were more likely to downstage to pT0/Tis (OR 3.0, CI 1.2–7.1) and upstage to Stage IV (OR 2.4, CI 1.002–5.6). None of the women downstaged to pT0/Tis presented with clinical stage III disease; only 2 of the women upstaged to Stage IV disease presented with clinical Stage I disease.

Conclusion

Independent of NET duration and clinical stage at presentation, BAA women were more likely to experience both complete tumor response and progression to metastatic disease. These results suggest significant heterogeneity in tumor biology and warrant a more nuanced therapeutic approach to HR + BC.
‘It could have been us’. Peer responses to money-laundering violations in the Dutch banking industry
Authors: Merz Anna
Published: September 2023

Much literature has focused on societal responses to corporate scandals, either by authorities or the public. However, there is little research on responses to corporate deviance by peers (corporations in the same industry). As corporations face a Zeitgeist characterised by increased attention to, and disapproval of, corporate deviance, they are compelled to respond to the external ‘labelling’ of their behaviour, as well as that of their peers. In this context of increasing public scrutiny, this article explores how (employees at) corporations respond to deviant peer behaviour. To examine this question, the case study of non-compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations in the Dutch banking industry is utilised. Six stages of peer interactions were identified, namely, panic and fear, comparing practices, distancing, investing, and cooperation and defiance. In these six stages, condemnation between peers is incidental and mainly functions as a tool to guard their reputation (defence mechanism). Peer responses are determined by characteristics of the act (severance of the violation), actor (comparability and identification as peers), the audience (type of enforcement and public attention), and the situation (knowledge on the violation). As AML cases spread become more frequent across the industry, defence mechanisms also expand, thereby resulting in cooperation between banks and defiance of regulators.
Digital modes of interpretation of Pictish sculpture
Authors: Pisani Sharon , Miller Alan , Hall Mark
Published: September 2023

Cultural heritage is no longer something that can only be experienced in a museum exhibition. Digital tools have facilitated the distribution of material relating to artefacts, both in its representation and in presenting its context. This paper describes how digital modelling techniques can be synthesised with 3D scanning to digitally restore artefacts and create authentic replicas of their original states. The digital artefacts can then be used to assist the process of interpreting these artefacts in diverse forms, both in the museum and outside the museum. The study looks at Pictish sculpture as a case-study, restoring 3D models of two stones, and creating varying opportunities for their interpretation. As part of this study, new interactive tools, a virtual reality environment, and a virtual tour are built to assist immersive interpretation of the Pictish sculpture. The application of these digitised objects serves as an opportunity for informal learning. These applications were evaluated during a drop-in session. Findings show that all participants enjoyed the immersive mode of learning with 89% also showing a willingness to learn more about the topic.
Grasping hold of functional trade-offs using the diversity of foot forms in Australian birds
Authors: Martin Ellen M. , Sherratt Emma
Published: September 2023

The remarkable diversity of ecological niches that birds have evolved to inhabit have resulted in their status as model organisms to study how the same morphological features can adapt to different environments. Not least of these features is the avian foot, which has diversified into a wide range of forms suited to several different ecological functions. In this investigation, we examine how a potential trade-off between two such functions is expressed in the foot morphology of the Australian avifauna; namely, the impact that specialising for either walking or grasping has on the proportions of the phalanges. The lengths of the body, foot, third digit and its phalanges, and the hallux were recorded from 106 preserved skins belonging to 22 species. Our analysis of these data shows that this functional specialisation presents a similar morphological gradient in Australian birds as has been previously observed in American species, with a few unique exceptions. Generally, species that are reliant on the foot to grasp (e.g., perching and gripping prey) display greater distal phalanx and hallux lengths than species that are specialised for walking or wading. However, the terrestrial Megapodes of Australia demonstrate a more intermediate morphology, potentially as a result of the unique mound construction behaviour occurring in this clade. These findings have relevance not only for use in identifying the ecology of cryptic or extinct species from morphology, but also for determining future evolutionary changes in different avian groups.
Raw water transfers: why a global freshwater invasion pathway has been overlooked
Authors: Waine Ava , Robertson Peter , Pattison Zarah
Published: September 2023

Zhu et al. (Science 380:1230, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi6022) recently reported in Science that ‘water diversions’ carry a range of freshwater invasive non-native species (INNS) in China, and make calls for the Chinese government to take actions to monitor this invasion pathway and prevent future spread. This issue is not confined to China however. Water diversions, more commonly known internationally as ‘water transfers’ or ‘raw water transfers’, exist globally in large numbers. Despite worldwide occurrence, this major invasion pathway has received little attention within the field of freshwater ecology or invasion ecology, beyond a limited number of regional studies which offer little context regarding the global nature of the pathway. We discuss the factors contributing to the widespread lack of awareness of this uniquely complex invasion pathway, and emphasise the importance of future collaboration and knowledge sharing in this emerging field. Transdisciplinary research is needed to develop effective management techniques for this invasion pathway and ensure that the threat to global freshwater biodiversity posed by INNS is dealt with comprehensively.
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree? Paranoia and Safety Behaviours in Adolescent-Parent-Dyads
Authors: Schönig Sven N. , Thompson Elizabeth , Kingston Jessica , Gaudiano Brandon A. , Ellett Lyn , Krkovic Katarina
Published: September 2023

Paranoia is a common experience in adolescence that may entail the use of safety behaviours (e.g. avoidance), which are assumed to maintain paranoia in the long run. As the development of paranoia and related safety behaviours in youth may be influenced by their caregivers, we aimed to investigate the associations of paranoia and safety behaviours in adolescents and their parents. Adolescents from the general population aged 14–17 and one of their parents (N = 142 dyads) were recruited via Qualtrics to complete online surveys including measures of paranoia, safety behaviour use, anxiety, and demographics. We fitted an Actor-Partner-Interdependence Model (APIM) for testing dyadic parent–child interaction by using structural equation modelling and controlled for adolescents’ and parents’ anxiety. Results indicated that paranoia positively predicted safety behaviour use in adolescents and in parents. There were significant positive intra-dyad (i.e. parent-adolescent) correlations for both paranoia and safety behaviour use. One partner effect was significant: parental paranoia positively predicted the safety behaviour use of their adolescent child. Conversely, adolescents’ paranoia did not predict their parents’ safety behaviour use. Our findings corroborate prior research demonstrating an association between paranoia and safety behaviours among adults, and extend this association to adolescents. Children of parents experiencing paranoia are at increased risk of developing paranoia and safety behaviours, which indicates the need for interventions that target paranoia and safety behaviours in family systems.
Generalized Pitchfork Bifurcations in D-Concave Nonautonomous Scalar Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Dueñas Jesús , Núñez Carmen , Obaya Rafael
Published: September 2023

The global bifurcation diagrams for two different one-parametric perturbations ($$+\lambda x$$

+
λ
x

and $$+\lambda x^2$$

+
λ

x
2

) of a dissipative scalar nonautonomous ordinary differential equation $$x'=f(t,x)$$

x
′

=
f

(
t
,
x
)

are described assuming that 0 is a constant solution, that f is recurrent in t, and that its first derivative with respect to x is a strictly concave function. The use of the skewproduct formalism allows us to identify bifurcations with changes in the number of minimal sets and in the shape of the global attractor. In the case of perturbation $$+\lambda x$$

+
λ
x

, a so-called generalized pitchfork bifurcation may arise, with the particularity of lack of an analogue in autonomous dynamics. This new bifurcation pattern is extensively investigated in this work.
Implicit Integration of Nonlinear Evolution Equations on Tensor Manifolds
Authors: Rodgers Abram , Venturi Daniele
Published: September 2023

Explicit step-truncation tensor methods have recently proven successful in integrating initial value problems for high-dimensional partial differential equations. However, the combination of non-linearity and stiffness may introduce time-step restrictions which could make explicit integration computationally infeasible. To overcome this problem, we develop a new class of implicit rank-adaptive algorithms for temporal integration of nonlinear evolution equations on tensor manifolds. These algorithms are based on performing one time step with a conventional time-stepping scheme, followed by an implicit fixed point iteration step involving a rank-adaptive truncation operation onto a tensor manifold. Implicit step truncation methods are straightforward to implement as they rely only on arithmetic operations between tensors, which can be performed by efficient and scalable parallel algorithms. Numerical applications demonstrating the effectiveness of implicit step-truncation tensor integrators are presented and discussed for the Allen–Cahn equation, the Fokker–Planck equation, and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.
Implementation of a Patient Summary Web Application According to the International Patient Summary and Validation in Common Use Cases in Japan
Authors: Song Chong , Nakayama Masaharu
Published: September 2023

Background

The application of standardized patient summaries would reduce the risk of information overload and related problems for physicians and nurses. Although the International Patient Summary (IPS) standard has been developed, disseminating its applications has challenges, including data conversion of existing systems and development of application matching with common use cases in Japan. This study aimed to develop a patient summary application that summarizes and visualizes patient information accumulated by existing systems.

Methods

We converted clinical data from the Standardized Structured Medical Information eXchange version 2 (SS-MIX2) storage at Tohoku University Hospital into the Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) repository. Subsequently, we implemented a patient summary web application concerning the IPS and evaluated 12 common use cases of the discharge summary.

Results

The FHIR resources of seven of the necessary IPS sections were successfully converted from existing SS-MIX2 data. In the main view of the application we developed, all the minimum necessary patient information was summarized and visualized. All types of mandatory or required sections in the IPS and all structured information items of the discharge summary were displayed. Of the discharge summary, 75% of sections and 61.7% of information items were completely displayed, matching 12 common use cases in Japan.

Conclusions

We implemented a patient summary application that summarizes and visualizes patient information accumulated by existing systems and is evaluated in common use cases in Japan. Efficient sharing of the minimum necessary patient information for physicians is expected to reduce information overload, workload, and burnout.
Equity, Imagination and Contested Narratives
Authors: Kirk-Smith Adam
Published: September 2023

Justice and the idea of the moral good pervade legal philosophy and underlie much of legal practice in different contexts. They are particularly resonant in the law of equity and the remedies it makes available. This article uses equity and conceptions of justice explores the role of narratives, fairness and values through the lens of the constructive trust, science fiction, temporality, the counterfactual imagination and creativity. This special edition’s theme of intersectionalities within law is a central analytical thread. Power dynamics and the place of equity in social dialogues around justice and fairness are set alongside socioeconomic vulnerability and othering in understanding how the law succeeds and fails in managing emerging inequalities. A lack of autonomy and voicelessness is often revealed through constrained access to law and legal services, as well as a more vulnerable relationship with time. Engaging the constructive trust provides interesting opportunities to examine the role of the trust within law, and through that explore wider discussions about the nature of legal systems and the remedies they may give rise to. Science fiction has always provided opportunities to create counterfactual worlds and engage hypothetical questions, many of which might illuminate contemporary debates or resonate forward to emerging concerns. Imagination is a central tenet of these worlds, as well as, increasingly, within law when faced with emerging technologies and the issues they present. The article concludes with an acknowledgement that such narratives and opportunities to question social norms can be a valuable tool in grounding societal change.
Terahertz imaging technology for localization of cancer tumours: a technical review
Authors: Gezimati M. , Singh Ghanshyam
Published: September 2023

Currently, cancer is a large contributing factor in the increased mortality rates and at present the predictions are estimating an increased trend. The conventional medical cancer imaging modalities, for example X-Ray and Computed Tomography use ionizing radiation which is not tissue friendly for repeated assessments. The Terahertz (THz) cancer imaging offers novel opportunities for non-ionizing, non-invasive and early cancer detection, or diagnosis as well as improved cancer patient treatment follow-ups. In this review, a broad overview is given on the potential of THz radiation-based imaging and sensing as a technique for detection of various cancers cells. The THz radiation dynamics and interaction mechanisms with biological systems as well as parameter extraction and modelling for the observed THz image contrast are studied. The experimental studies on THz imaging and sensing are investigated with the goal approach to investigate the ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo observations. The use of advanced analytic algorithms, specifically deep learning, is proposed for improved detection, discrimination of complex tissue with overlapping dielectric properties and development of clinical decision support systems. Research gaps in the THz imaging studies are identified based on recent trends, latest strategies suggested and the roadmap for future research direction provided.
XCovNet: An optimized xception convolutional neural network for classification of COVID-19 from point-of-care lung ultrasound images
Authors: Madhu G. , Kautish Sandeep , Gupta Yogita , Nagachandrika G. , Biju Soly Mathew , Kumar Manoj
Published: September 2023

Global livelihoods are impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, which mostly affects the respiratory system and spreads via airborne transmission. The disease has spread to almost every nation and is still widespread worldwide. Early and reliable diagnosis is essential to prevent the development of this highly risky disease. The computer-aided diagnostic model facilitates medical practitioners in obtaining a quick and accurate diagnosis. To address these limitations, this study develops an optimized Xception convolutional neural network, called "XCovNet," for recognizing COVID-19 from point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) images. This model employs a stack of modules, each of which has a slew of feature extractors that enable it to learn richer representations with fewer parameters. The model identifies the presence of COVID-19 by classifying POCUS images containing Coronavirus samples, viral pneumonia samples, and healthy ultrasound images. We compare and evaluate the proposed network with state-of-the-art (SOTA) deep learning models such as VGG, DenseNet, Inception-V3, ResNet, and Xception Networks. By using the XCovNet model, the previous study's problems are cautiously addressed and overhauled by achieving 99.76% accuracy, 99.89% specificity, 99.87% sensitivity, and 99.75% F1-score. To understand the underlying behavior of the proposed network, different tests are performed on different shuffle patterns. Thus, the proposed "XCovNet" can, in regions where test kits are limited, be used to help radiologists detect COVID-19 patients through ultrasound images in the current COVID-19 situation.