bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric body composition based on automatic segmentation of computed tomography scans: a pilot study
Authors: Samim Atia , Spijkers Suzanne , Moeskops Pim , Littooij Annemieke S. , de Jong Pim A. , Veldhuis Wouter B. , de Vos Bob D. , van Santen Hanneke M. , Nievelstein Rutger A. J.
Published: August 2023

Background

Body composition during childhood may predispose to negative health outcomes later in life. Automatic segmentation may assist in quantifying pediatric body composition in children.

Objective

To evaluate automatic segmentation for body composition on pediatric computed tomography (CT) scans and to provide normative data on muscle and fat areas throughout childhood using automatic segmentation.

Materials and methods

In this pilot study, 537 children (ages 1–17 years) who underwent abdominal CT after high-energy trauma at a Dutch tertiary center (2002–2019) were retrospectively identified. Of these, the CT images of 493 children (66% boys) were used to establish normative data. Muscle (psoas, paraspinal and abdominal wall) and fat (subcutaneous and visceral) areas were measured at the third lumbar vertebral (L3) level by automatic segmentation. A representative subset of 52 scans was also manually segmented to evaluate the performance of automatic segmentation.

Results

For manually-segmented versus automatically-segmented areas (52 scans), mean Dice coefficients were high for muscle (0.87–0.90) and subcutaneous fat (0.88), but lower for visceral fat (0.60). In the control group, muscle area was comparable for both sexes until the age of 13 years, whereafter, boys developed relatively more muscle. From a young age, boys were more prone to visceral fat storage than girls. Overall, boys had significantly higher visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratios (median 1.1 vs. 0.6, P<0.01) and girls higher fat-to-muscle ratios (median 1.0 vs. 0.7, P<0.01).

Conclusion

Automatic segmentation of L3-level muscle and fat areas allows for accurate quantification of pediatric body composition. Using automatic segmentation, the development in muscle and fat distribution during childhood (in otherwise healthy) Dutch children was demonstrated.
When nets meet environmental DNA metabarcoding: integrative approach to unveil invertebrate community patterns of hypersaline lakes
Authors: Campbell Matthew A. , Laini Alex , White Nicole E. , Allentoft Morten E. , Saccò Mattia
Published: August 2023

Saline and hypersaline wetlands account for almost half of the volume of inland water globally. They provide pivotal habitat for a vast range of species, including crucial ecosystem services for humans such as carbon sink storage and extractive resource reservoirs. Despite their importance, effective ecological assessment is in its infancy compared to current conventional surveys carried out in freshwater ecosystems. The integration of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and traditional techniques has the potential to transform biomonitoring processes, particularly in remote and understudied saline environments. In this context, this preliminary study aims to explore the potential of eDNA coupled with conventional approaches by targeting five hypersaline lakes at Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) in Western Australia. We focused on the invertebrate community, a widely accepted key ecological indicator to assess the conservational status in rivers and lakes. The combination of metabarcoding with morphology-based taxonomic analysis described 16 taxa belonging to the orders Anostraca, Diptera, Isopoda, and Coleoptera. DNA-based diversity assessment revealed more taxa at higher taxonomic resolution than the morphology-based taxonomic analysis. However, certain taxa (i.e., Ephydridae, Stratyiomidae, Ceratopogonidae) were only identified via net surveying. Overall, our results indicate that great potential resides in combining conventional net-based surveys with novel eDNA approaches in saline and hypersaline lakes. Indeed, urgent and effective conservational frameworks are required to contrast the enormous pressure that these ecosystems are increasingly facing. Further investigations at larger spatial-temporal scales will allow consolidation of robust, reliable, and affordable biomonitoring frameworks in the underexplored world of saline wetlands.
Relationship between vitamin D, iron, and hepcidin in premenopausal females, potentially confounded by ethnicity
Authors: Greenwood Anya , von Hurst Pamela Ruth , Beck Kathryn Louise , Mazahery Hajar , Lim Kimberley , Badenhorst Claire Evelyn
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To investigate the associations between vitamin D, hepcidin, and iron status in premenopausal females of different ethnic cohorts residing in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ).

Methods

A total of 160 females aged 18–45 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Demographics, body composition, serum 25(OH)D, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, IL-6), and iron biomarkers (serum ferritin, haemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptor, and hepcidin) were measured. Comparisons between parametric, non-parametric, and categorical variables were completed by using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Chi-squared tests, respectively. ANCOVA was used to compare serum 25(OH)D across iron parameter categories.

Results

Of the 160 participants, 60 were NZ European, 67 were South Asian, and 33 were from the ‘other’ ethnic groups. South Asians had significantly higher body fat percentage (BF%) and IL-6 concentration (38.34% and 1.66 pg·mL−1, respectively), compared to NZ Europeans (27.49% and 0.63 pg·mL−1, respectively, p < 0.001). South Asians had significantly lower 25(OH)D concentrations compared to NZ Europeans (33.59 nmol·L−1 vs 74.84 nmol·L−1, p < 0.001). In NZ Europeans, higher 25(OH)D concentration was seen in those with lower (≤ 3.5 nM) hepcidin concentration, p = 0.0046. In South Asians, higher 25(OH)D concentration was seen in those with higher (> 3.5 nM) hepcidin concentrations, p = 0.038. There were no associations between serum 25(OH)D and serum ferritin.

Conclusion

Within South Asian women, an unexpected positive relationship between 25(OH)D and hepcidin concentration was observed which may be due to significantly higher IL-6 concentrations, BF%, and lower 25(OH)D concentrations. Future research is required to confirm these observations in this ethnic cohort.
A history of asthma is associated with susceptibility to hidradenitis suppurativa: a population-based longitudinal study
Authors: Kridin Khalaf , Shihade Wesal , Weinstein Orly , Zoller Lilach , Onn Erez , Cohen Arnon , Solomon-Cohen Efrat
Published: August 2023

The association of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and asthma remains to be investigated. To assess the bidirectional association between HS and asthma. A population-based study was conducted to compare HS patients (n = 6779) with age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 33,259) with regard to the incidence of new onset and the prevalence of preexisting asthma. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The prevalence of preexisting asthma was higher in patients with HS relative to controls (9.6% vs. 6.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). The odds of HS were 1.4-fold greater in patients with a history of asthma (fully adjusted OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.27–1.55; P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset asthma was estimated at 9.0 (95% CI 6.3–12.7) and 6.2 (95% CI 5.1–7.5) cases per 10,000 person-years among patients with HS and controls, respectively. The risk of asthma was not statistically different in patients with HS and controls (fully adjusted HR 1.53; 95% CI 0.98–2.38; P = 0.062). Relative to other patients with HS, those with HS and comorbid asthma were younger at the onset of HS (30.7 [14.7] vs. 33.3 [15.1], respectively; P < 0.001) and had a comparable risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.44–1.68; P = 0.660). A history of asthma confers susceptibility to subsequent development of HS. This observation is of importance for clinicians managing both patients with HS and asthma. Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathomechanism underlying this finding.
Real-world accuracy of computed tomography in patients admitted with small bowel obstruction: a multicentre prospective cohort study
Authors: Nielsen L. B. J. , Ærenlund M. P. , Alouda M. , Azzam M. , Bjerke T. , Burcharth J. , Dibbern C. B. , Jensen T. K. , Jordhøj J. Q. , Lolle I. , Malik T. , Ngo-Stuyt L. , Nielsen E. Ø. , Olausson M. , Skovsen A. P. , Tolver M. A. , Smith H. G.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common surgical emergency. Previous studies have shown the value computed tomography (CT) scanning in both confirming this diagnosis and identifying indications for urgent surgical intervention, such as strangulated bowel or closed loop obstructions. However, most of the literature is based on retrospective expert review of previous imaging and little data regarding the real-time accuracy of CT reporting is available. Here, we investigated the real-world accuracy of CT reporting in patients admitted with SBO.

Methods

This was a multicentre prospective study including consecutive patients admitted with SBO. The primary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning for bowel obstruction with ischaemia and closed loop obstruction. Data were retrieved from the original CT reports written by on-call radiologists and compared with operative findings.

Results

One hundred seventy-six patients were included, all of whom underwent CT scanning with intravenous contrast followed by operative management of SBO. Bowel obstruction with ischaemia was noted in 20 patients, with a sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning of 40.0% and 85.5%, respectively. Closed loop obstructions were noted in 26 patients, with a sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning of 23.1% and 98.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

The real-world accuracy of CT scanning appears to be lower than previously reported in the literature. Strategies to address this could include the development of standardised reporting schemas and to increase the surgeon’s own familiarity with relevant CT features in patients admitted with SBO.
Successful long-term control of poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) infestations in floor-kept laying hens via integrated pest management—a case report
Authors: Rüster Vanessa , Lückemann Alina Kathrin , Wittmann Margareta , Strube Christina , Bartels Thomas
Published: August 2023

This case report describes the successful control of poultry red mite [PRM] (Dermanyssus gallinae) infestations in an experimental laying hen house via a combined use of cleaning and disinfection measure, the preventive application of a synthetic silica-based acaricide and frequent mite monitoring. The high number of PRM in the laying hen house was reduced by 99.8% by treatment with fluralaner (Exzolt®, MSD Animal Health Unterschleißheim, Germany; 0.5 mg/kg body weight via drinking water twice, 7 days apart). After the laying hens were removed, the hen house was dry-cleaned, wet-cleaned and disinfected. After drying, synthetic amorphous silica (Fossil Shield® instant white, Bein GmbH, Eiterfeld, Germany) was applied as a preventive measure before the hen house was restocked with pullets for two housing periods of 58 and 52 weeks. Over these periods (i.e. more than 2 years), no PRM was detected during mite monitoring at two-week intervals via tube traps and visual monitoring. This result therefore suggests that the combined use of appropriate chemical and physical prevention measures within an integrated pest management regime can be successfully used for the long-term control of PRM. This could reduce the use of acaricidal drugs, thereby helping maintain their efficacy.
The three-dimensional conformation and activity of mitochondria in syncytial male germ line-cysts of medicinal leeches
Authors: Diak Natalia , Śliwińska Małgorzata Alicja , Student Sebastian , Świątek Piotr
Published: August 2023

We studied the spatial conformation and activity of mitochondria in the developing syncytial male germline cysts during spermatogenesis of the medicinal leeches using light, fluorescent, transmission electron microscopy, and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. In cysts with spermatogonia and spermatocytes, mitochondria form networks and are in a dynamic hyperfusion state, while in cysts with spermatids, a single huge mitochondrion is observed. As spermiogenesis progresses, this huge mitochondrion is finally located in the future midpiece. The highest activity, in terms of membrane potential, of the mitochondria in H. medicinalis germline cysts was observed in cysts with spermatocytes; the lowest was in cysts with late elongated spermatids.
Emotionen bei chronifiziertem Schmerz
Authors: Körner Anne Juliane , Sabatowski Rainer , Kaiser Ulrike
Published: August 2023

Fragestellung

In der vorliegenden Studie wurde untersucht, inwiefern sich das emotionale Erleben und die emotionale Kompetenz (EK) bei Menschen mit chronifizierten Schmerzen während einer interdisziplinären multimodalen Schmerztherapie (IMST) verändern.

Methoden

Die Untersuchung fand an N = 184 erwachsenen deutschsprachigen Personen mit nichttumorbedingten chronifizierten Schmerzen statt. Sie absolvierten eine tagesklinische IMST. Die Häufigkeit spezifischer Emotionen und die EK wurden zu drei Messzeitpunkten mittels des Fragebogens zur emotionsspezifischen Selbsteinschätzung emotionaler Kompetenzen (SEK-ES) und des Emotionale-Kompetenz-Fragebogens (EKF) erfasst. Die Verlaufsergebnisse wurden deskriptiv, inferenzstatistisch und mittels linearer Regression ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Positive Emotionen wurden nach der Therapie häufiger (Effektstärke r = 0,40; p < 0,001) und negative Emotionen seltener (r = 0,39; p < 0,001) erlebt. Das Erleben von Ärger verringerte sich besonders stark (r = 0,52; p < 0,001). Die selbst eingeschätzte EK änderte sich nicht während der IMST (χ2EKF_gesamt (2) = 0,09; p = 0,956). EK erklärt in großem Ausmaß die Varianz des Häufigkeitserlebens positiver (R2 = 0,468) und negativer Emotionen (R2 = 0,390).

Diskussion

Es konnten Verbesserungen der von den Patient*innen berichteten Häufigkeiten positiver und negativer Emotionen während der IMST nachgewiesen werden. Weiterführende Forschung sollte die Ergebnisse mittels Kontrollgruppe validieren. Auch wenn für die untersuchten Personen kein expliziter Kompetenzzuwachs wahrnehmbar war, hatte die EK einen hohen prädiktiven Wert für die Emotionshäufigkeit. Zukünftige Therapiekonzeptionen und -evaluierungen sollten die Veränderungen des emotionalen Erlebens stärker fokussieren.

Graphic abstract
Dead Time-Free Detection of NMR Signals Using Voltage-Controlled Oscillators
Authors: Kern Michal , Klotz Tobias , Spiess Maximilian , Mavridis Petros , Blümich Bernhard , Anders Jens
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we introduce voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) as a new type of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detector, enabling dead time-free detection of NMR signals after an excitation pulse as well as the real-time inductive detection of Rabi oscillations during the pulse. Together with the theory of operation, we present the details of a custom-designed prototype implementation of a VCO-based NMR detector with an operating frequency around 62 MHz. The proof-of-concept measurements obtained with this prototype clearly demonstrate the possibility of performing dead time-free NMR experiments with coherent spin manipulation. Moreover, we also experimentally verified the capability of VCO-based detectors for performing real-time inductive detection of Rabi oscillations during the excitation pulse.
Clustering alternatives in preference-approvals via novel pseudometrics
Authors: Albano Alessandro , García-Lapresta José Luis , Plaia Antonella , Sciandra Mariangela
Published: August 2023

Preference-approval structures combine preference rankings and approval voting for declaring opinions over a set of alternatives. In this paper, we propose a new procedure for clustering alternatives in order to reduce the complexity of the preference-approval space and provide a more accessible interpretation of data. To that end, we present a new family of pseudometrics on the set of alternatives that take into account voters’ preferences via preference-approvals. To obtain clusters, we use the Rankedk-medoids (RKM) partitioning algorithm, which takes as input the similarities between pairs of alternatives based on the proposed pseudometrics. Finally, using non-metric multidimensional scaling, clusters are represented in 2-dimensional space.
Fungicide Sensitivity in the European Canker Fungus, Neonectria ditissima
Authors: Wesche Johanna , Weber Roland W. S.
Published: August 2023

Neonectria ditissima is one of the most serious pathogens of apple trees in temperate climatic zones, causing bark canker as well as pre- and post-harvest fruit rots. Control of fruit rots in particular is hampered by uncertainty about the sensitivity to, and efficacy of, available fungicides. Using 43 N. ditissima isolates from Germany and South Tyrol, the effective concentrations causing a 50% inhibition of germ-tube growth (EC50) were determined for fludioxonil (0.009–0.046 ppm), trifloxystrobin (0.018–0.43 ppm), thiophanate-methyl (2.05–15.9 ppm), dodine (0.61–6.33 ppm), cyprodinil (5.04–83.7 ppm), pyrimethanil (22.0–500 ppm), fluopyram (1.35–140 ppm) and boscalid (> 500 ppm). In a detached-fruit assay based on artificial wound inoculation of apples previously dipped in fungicides at commercial dosages, fludioxonil and, to a lesser extent, fluopyram and dodine significantly reduced the fruit rot lesion size, whereas trifloxystrobin, cyprodinil and boscalid did not. Lesion size was also directly correlated to the amount of conidial inoculum, whereby wounds inoculated with 5000 conidia gave rise to larger lesions than those with 500 or 50 conidia. In a field trial of apple trees artificially inoculated with N. ditissima conidia at flowering, fludioxonil gave good control of blossom-end rot, and trifloxystrobin gave limited control, whereas cyprodinil was ineffective. Therefore, the efficacies of different fungicides were broadly in line with the EC50 values determined under laboratory conditions.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Utilization of HIV Testing and Linkage Services in Sierra Leone: Experience from Three Public Health Facilities in Freetown
Authors: Lakoh Sulaiman , Bangura Moses M. , Adekanmbi Olukemi , Barrie Umu , Jiba Darlinda F. , Kamara Matilda N. , Sesay Daniel , Jalloh Abdulai Tejan , Deen Gibrilla F. , Russell James B. W. , Egesimba Ginika , Yendewa George A. , Firima Emmanuel
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the delivery of essential health services globally. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on HIV testing and linkage services at three public health facilities in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the impact of COVID-19 on HIV testing and linkage to treatment services (HTS) at Connaught Hospital (CH-tertiary), Lumley Government Hospital (LGH-secondary) and George Brooke Community Health Center (GBC-primary) in Freetown. Statistical analyses were conducted in Stata (16.1, StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Intra-pandemic HTS (2020) and HTS during recovery (2021) were compared with pre-pandemic HTS (2019). Of the 8538 people tested for HIV in the three facilities, 4929 (57.5%) visited CH. Only 2249 people were tested for HIV in 2020 compared to 3825 in 2019 (difference: − 41.2%, P < 0.001). Fewer people were also tested in 2021 (difference: − 35.6% P < 0.001). The largest reductions in testing in 2020 occurred in women (− 47.7%), children under 15 (− 95.2%), married people (− 42.6%), and CH (− 46.2%). Overall, 1369 (16.0%) people were positive for HIV; CH (878, 17.9%), LGH (469, 15.6%) and GBC (22, 3.5%). The likelihood of a positive HIV test was 26% lower in 2020 than 2019 (PR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64–0.85; P < 0.001), but 16% higher in 2021 than 2019 (PR 1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.30; P < 0.05). Of the 1369 HIV diagnosis, 526 (38.4%) were linked to care. We found significant disruptions in HIV testing and linkage services at different levels of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need to strengthen essential health services during public health emergencies.
Elevated CDC45 Expression Predicts Poorer Overall Survival Prognoses and Worse Immune Responses for Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma via Single-Cell and Bulk RNA-Sequencing
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Zhou Jianhua , Wang Yong , Wang Xing , Zhu Bingye , Xing Qianwei
Published: August 2023

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the prognostic and immunological value of CDC45 in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) using single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing approaches. The expression of CDC45 in KIRC was evaluated by the HPA database, the TCGA-KIRC dataset and verified by PCR analysis and single-cell RNA-sequencing. The ability of CDC45 to independently predict prognosis in KIRC was confirmed by univariate/multivariate regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed to explore CDC45-related pathways in KIRC. In addition, Relationships between CDC45 and immunity were also examined. Elevated CDC45 expression in KIRC was demonstrated at mRNA and protein levels. The results of the correlation analysis showed that as CDC45 expression increased, so did the histological grade, clinical stage, and TNM stage of the patients (p < 0.05). Univariate/multivariate regression analysis suggested CDC45 as an independent prognostic factor for KIRC. Seven pathways related to CDC45 were screened through GSEA. Meanwhile, we found that CDC45 was correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) but not tumor neoantigen burden (TNB). Regarding immunity, CDC45 exhibited correlations with the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoints. Besides, low CDC45 expression was shown to be associated with a better response to immunotherapy. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that CDC45 was differently expressed in T cells (p < 0.05). CDC45 showed potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for KIRC. Meanwhile, the CDC45 low expression group was more sensitive to immunotherapy.
An eye-tracking-with-EEG coregistration corpus of narrative sentences
Authors: Frank Stefan L. , Aumeistere Anna
Published: August 2023

We present the Radboud Coregistration Corpus of Narrative Sentences (RaCCooNS), the first freely available corpus of eye-tracking-with-EEG data collected while participants read narrative sentences in Dutch. The corpus is intended for studying human sentence comprehension and for evaluating the cognitive validity of computational language models. RaCCooNS contains data from 37 participants (3 of which eye tracking only) reading 200 Dutch sentences each. Less predictable words resulted in significantly longer reading times and larger N400 sizes, replicating well-known surprisal effects in eye tracking and EEG simultaneously. We release the raw eye-tracking data, the preprocessed eye-tracking data at the fixation, word, and trial levels, the raw EEG after merger with eye-tracking data, and the preprocessed EEG data both before and after ICA-based ocular artifact correction.
Hidden messages: mapping nations’ media campaigns
Authors: Erhardt Keeley , Pentland Alex
Published: August 2023

Powerful actors have engaged in information control for centuries, restricting, promoting, or influencing the information environment as it suits their evolving agendas. In the Digital Age, information control has moved online, and information operations now target the online platforms that play a critical role in news engagement and civic debate. In this paper, we use a discrete-time stochastic model to analyze coordinated activity in an online social network, representing the behaviors of accounts as interacting Markov chains. From a dataset of 31,521 tweets posted by 206 accounts, half of which were identified by Twitter as participating in a state-linked information operation, we evaluate the coordination, measured by the apparent influence, between pairs of state-linked accounts compared to unaffiliated accounts. Our analysis reveals that state-linked actors demonstrate significantly higher levels of coordination among themselves compared to their coordination with unaffiliated accounts. Furthermore, the degree of coordination observed between state-linked accounts is more than seven times greater than the coordination observed between unaffiliated accounts. Moreover, we find that the account that represented the most coordinated activity in the network had no followers, demonstrating the power of our modeling approach to unearth hidden connections even in the absence of explicit network structure.
Modeling and analysis of switching max-plus linear systems with discrete-event feedback
Authors: Mohamadkhani Alireza , Geilen Marc , Voeten Jeroen , Basten Twan
Published: August 2023

Switching max-plus linear system (SMPLS) models are an apt formalism for performance analysis of discrete-event systems. SMPLS analysis is more scalable than analysis through other formalisms such as timed automata, because SMPLS abstract pieces of determinate concurrent system behavior into atomic modes with fixed timing. We consider discrete-event systems that are decomposed into a plant and a Supervisory Controller (SC) that controls the plant. The SC needs to react to events, concerning e.g. the successful completion or failure of an action, to determine the future behavior of the system, for example, to initiate a retrial of the action. To specify and analyze such system behavior and the impact of feedback on timing properties, we introduce an extension to SMPLS with discrete-event feedback. In this extension, we model the plant behavior with system modes and capture the timing of discrete-event feedback emission from plant to SC in the mode matrices. Furthermore, we use I/O automata to capture how the SC responds to discrete-event feedback with corresponding mode sequences of the SMPLS. We define the semantics of SMPLS with events using new state-space equations that are akin to classical SMPLS with dynamic state-vector sizes. To analyze the extended models, we formulate a transformation from SMPLS with events to classical SMPLS with equivalent semantics and properties such that performance properties can be analyzed using existing techniques. Our approach enables the specification of discrete-event feedback from the plant to the SC and its performance analysis. We demonstrate our approach by specifying and analyzing the makespan of a flexible manufacturing system.
On the sociology of cartels
Authors: Haucap Justus , Heldman Christina
Published: August 2023

We analyze 15 German cartels, focusing on the personal characteristics of the individual participants, the methods and frequency of communication as well as the internal organizational structures within the cartels and their eventual breakup. Our results indicate that cartel members are highly homogeneous and often rely on existing networks within the industry, such as trade associations. Most impressively, only two of the 158 individuals involved in these 15 cartels were female, suggesting that gender plays a role for cartel formation. We further identify various forms of communication and divisions of responsibilities and show that leniency programs are a powerful tool in breaking up cartels. Based on these results we discuss implications for competition policy and further research.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area
Authors: Zahorodny Walter , Shenouda Josephine , Sidwell Kate , Verile Michael G. , Alvarez Cindy Cruz , Fusco Arline , Mars Audrey , Waale Mildred , Gleeson Tara , Burack Gail , Zumoff Paul
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Almost all epidemiologic studies estimating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence have focused on school-age children. This study provides the first population-based data on the prevalence and expression of ASD among adolescents in a large US metropolitan region.

Methods

Active multiple source ASD surveillance of adolescents aged 16-years was conducted according to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network method in a four-county New Jersey metropolitan region. Prevalence estimates are provided, characteristics are described and comparison of the distribution and characteristics of ASD is offered for this cohort, at 8 and 16-years.

Results

ASD prevalence was 17.7 per 1000 (95% CI: 16.3–19.2)]. One-in-55 males and one in 172 females were identified with ASD. High-SES was positively associated with ASD and White adolescents had higher ASD prevalence (22.2 per 1000) than Hispanic adolescents (13.1 per 1000). One in four study-confirmed individuals with ASD did not have an ASD diagnosis. A majority of ASD adolescents (58.8%) had a co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorder. White and High-SES individuals had greater likelihood of co-occurring disorder. The demographic distribution and functional profile of ASD was similar in this cohort at 8 and 16-years.

Conclusion

Approximately one-in-55 adolescents in our area had ASD, in 2014, and one-in-4 16-year-olds with ASD was not diagnosed. A majority (3-in-5) of the adolescents with ASD had a co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorder. ASD under-identification and the high frequency of co-disorders in adolescents with ASD pose significant challenges to care and support.
How do Individuals With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury Interpret Emoji? Similarities and Differences in Perceived Valence, Arousal, and Emotion Representation
Authors: Clough Sharice , Tanguay Annick F. N. , Mutlu Bilge , Turkstra Lyn S. , Duff Melissa C.
Published: August 2023

Impaired facial affect recognition is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and linked to poor social outcomes. We explored whether perception of emotions depicted by emoji is also impaired after TBI. Fifty participants with TBI and 50 non-injured peers generated free-text labels to describe emotions depicted by emoji and rated their levels of valence and arousal on nine-point rating scales. We compared how the two groups’ valence and arousal ratings were clustered and examined agreement in the words participants used to describe emoji. Hierarchical clustering of affect ratings produced four emoji clusters in the non-injured group and three emoji clusters in the TBI group. Whereas the non-injured group had a strongly positive and a moderately positive cluster, the TBI group had a single positive valence cluster, undifferentiated by arousal. Despite differences in cluster numbers, hierarchical structures of the two groups’ emoji ratings were significantly correlated. Most emoji had high agreement in the words participants with and without TBI used to describe them. Participants with TBI perceived emoji similarly to non-injured peers, used similar words to describe emoji, and rated emoji similarly on the valence dimension. Individuals with TBI showed small differences in perceived arousal for a minority of emoji. Overall, results suggest that basic recognition processes do not explain challenges in computer-mediated communication reported by adults with TBI. Examining perception of emoji in context by people with TBI is an essential next step for advancing our understanding of functional communication in computer-mediated contexts after brain injury.
The Two Forms of Legal Time: Pierre Legendre’s “La Durée Poignardée”: Remarques sur la Structure et le Temps
Authors: Rahmatian Andreas
Published: August 2023

In his Leçons VII (Le désir politique de dieu) Pierre Legendre applies the idea or expression of ‘instituting time’ (‘instituer le temps’), that is, working with time as a malleable material, but at the same time conceptualising time as dogmatic time, especially in the interpretation of law. As an example of this concept he refers to the English Common Law, a ‘style’ of ‘governing by solving cases’. This text will analyse the notion of two times of law—inaugural/mythological and historical—and how it applies to Common Law judgments, as well as to Institutional Writers that are characteristic of Scots Law in particular.
Barrier Discharges in Science and Technology Since 2003: A Tribute and Update
Authors: Brandenburg Ronny , Becker Kurt H. , Weltmann Klaus-Dieter
Published: August 2023

An update to the article “Dielectric-barrier Discharges: Their History, Discharge Physics, and Industrial Applications” by Ulrich Kogelschatz from 2003 is given. The research and applications of barrier discharges of the last decades are summarized. In particular, the latest developments in ozone generation, radiation sources, environmental applications and surface treatment are discussed. Topics, which appeared with growing attention after 2003, such as plasma medicine, carbon dioxide chemistry, liquid treatment and airflow control, are also summarized to provide an outlook into the coming years.

It can be stated, that this type of gas discharge is still of high scientific and technological relevance. Its wide range of applications made the research more inter- and cross-disciplinary while modern diagnostic and modeling enabled deeper insights in the complex physical and chemical processes. In this sense, the contribution of Ulrich Kogelschatz, who introduced and inspired several generations of researchers in the field, cannot be overstated.
All losses are not alike: Real versus accounting-driven reported losses
Authors: Gu Feng , Lev Baruch , Zhu Chenqi
Published: August 2023

We examine the value relevance of accounting-driven losses that result from the immediate expensing of firms’ internally generated intangible investments versus losses occurring irrespective of intangible investments. Contrary to the long-held view that losses are less relevant than profits for valuation, we find that once the accounting bias of intangibles-expensing is undone, earnings of firms reporting intangibles-driven losses are as informative as earnings of profitable firms. Furthermore, contrary to the view that persistent losses decrease earnings relevance, our evidence shows no decrease in the relevance of earnings for firms reporting persistent intangibles-driven losses. We also find that firms reporting intangibles-driven losses subsequently outperform other loss firms and even profitable firms in value creation from investments in technological innovation and human capital. Our evidence further shows that firms reporting intangibles-driven losses have stronger future performance than other firms. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the fundamental differences between losses driven by the immediate expensing of internally generated intangible investments and losses reflecting genuine business performance shortfalls. Standard accounting performance measures, however, do not properly reflect these operational differences and their implications.
Tertiary Education, Changing One’s Educational Decision and the Role of Parental Preferences
Authors: Christoph Bernhard , Spangenberg Heike , Quast Heiko
Published: August 2023

Unequal access to university and the decision processes that give rise to it are important factors in the accumulation of educational inequalities. In this paper, we investigate a specific aspect of such decision processes by focusing on those students who change their original plans to start a (nontertiary) vocational education and decide to pursue a tertiary degree instead. In doing so, we find that more than one-fifth of the students in our sample who originally planned to pursue a vocational education change their original decision in this way. Moreover, while students from a more advantaged background are more likely to go to university in the first place, those among them that initially opted for a vocational education are also more likely to change their decision and go to university instead. We also find that parental preferences for tertiary education play an important role in the process of changing one’s mind, even for adult children. Moreover, we find that differential parental preferences contribute to both the emergence of social background effects and—as a result—the perpetuation of educational inequalities.
Lower partial pubicectomy for postoperative complicated posterior urethral stricture
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Wang Wei , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Lei , Yang Chenglin , Zhang Hui
Published: August 2023

Objective

To report the experience of partial inferior pubicectomy in the treatment of complex posterior urethral stricture after trauma.

Methods

A total of 46 patients with post-traumatic posterior urethral stricture admitted to the Department of Urology of our Hospital from January 2013 to September 2021 were selected as the research objects and underwent urethroplasty (including nine patients who had failed previous perineal repair surgery and adopted partial inferior pubicectomy approach). Retrograde urethrograph (RUG) and urine flow measurement were performed at 1, 3, 12 and 18 months after operation, and follow-up was performed when necessary. The clinical data during treatment were statistically analyzed.

Results

All 46 patients underwent urethroplasty successfully, of which nine were treated with partial pubicectomy, accounting for 19.57% of the total. The causes of the disease were motor vehicle accident in 4 cases, falling collision injury in 2 cases, and rolling injury of military exercise tank in 3 cases. Among the 9 patients, 2 were children (22.22%), aged 8 and 12 years, and 7 were adults (77.78%), aged 19–44 (28.42 ± 1.56) years. Among the 9 patients, 6 had erectile dysfunction, accounting for 66.67%. The length of posterior urinary tract stenosis was (5.12 ± 0.57) cm. The operation time was (290.34 ± 12.35) min from anesthesia induction to skin closure. Five patients received 2 U blood transfusion during operation and three patients received 3 U blood transfusion after operation. The average hospital stay was 12–16 (14.24 ± 1.25) days, and the follow-up was 12–24 (18.24 ± 1.35) months. After surgery, one patient developed HIP abscess, which was successfully treated conservatively. One patient had dysuria 1 month after operation and was successfully treated by transurethral dilatation. One case had postoperative infection and recovered after intravenous administration of potent antibiotics. Cystourethrography was performed 3 months after operation, and there was no difference between patients with wide, long or short anastomotic stretch defects. All patients met the criteria for surgical success.

Conclusion

Partial inferior pubicectomy is a good surgical procedure for the repair of complicated posterior urethral stricture after operation. It is safe and reliable, can better display the prostatic apex and surgical field, shorten the length of reconstructed urethra, and has good postoperative effect. It has no direct or long-term effect on the stability of pelvis or bladder. However, further studies in a larger cohort of patients with complex posterior urethral strictures after repair are needed to demonstrate the specific indications for partial pubicectomy.
Association of sleep duration and risk of mental disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Jinhe , He Mengyang , Wang Xuan , Jiang Hairong , Huang Jinchang , Liang Sixiang
Published: August 2023

Background

The effects of sleep duration on the development of mental illness remain controversial. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the effects of long or short sleep duration on psychological disorders, which could reveal new ways for preventing and treating mental health conditions cheaply.

Methods

Identifying published papers was accomplished by using the following five English databases on March 16, 2022: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science databases, and Scopus. Cross-sectional and cohort studies were considered if they evaluated the association of sleep duration with all kinds of mental illness in adults. We excluded case reports, editorials, narrative reviews, and studies without detailed information on sleep duration. Summary effect-size estimates were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals and were evaluated using random-effect models. Mantel-Haenszel’s random-effects model was used to estimate the inconsistency index (I2) and Tau2 index (measurement of heterogeneity).

Results

A total of 52 studies were included in this analysis, consisting of 14 cohort studies and 38 cross-sectional studies. These studies involved a combined sample size of 1,407,891 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Cohort (adjusted RR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.26–1.60, P < .001, I2 = 37.6%, Tau2 = 0.014) and cross-sectional studies (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.57–1.77, P < .001, I2 = 79.7%, Tau2 = 0.060) concluded that short sleep duration increased mental disorder risks. The same conclusions were acquired in the subgroup analysis, especially for depression (adjusted RR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.24–1.65, P < .001, I2 = 80.4%, Tau2 = 0.082), anxiety (adjusted RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04–1.63, P = .002, I2 = 0.0%, Tau2 = 0.000), and PTSD (adjusted RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.04–1.76, P = .022, I2 = 24.1%, Tau2 = 0.013) in cohort studies. The results of subgroup analysis indicated that long sleep duration was not a risk factor for depression (adjusted RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.98–1.34, P = .088, I2 = 63.4%, Tau2 = 0.045) and anxiety (adjusted RR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.93–2.03, P = .114, I2 = 0.0%, Tau2 = 0.000).

Conclusions

Short sleep duration, not long sleep duration, is an independent predictor of developing mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depression.
A zero-thickness interface element incorporating hydro-chemo-mechanical coupling and rate-dependency
Authors: Ghalamzan Esfahani Farzaneh , Gajo Alessandro
Published: August 2023

The interfaces play a key role in many engineering problems involving geologic materials. In particular, slope stability analyses of ancient landslides (that were subjected to large displacements along a slip surface) need the formulation of ad hoc interface elements. The mechanical response of slip surfaces in clays is affected by hydro-chemo-mechanical interactions and by rate effects and this paper presents the formulation of an innovative zero-thickness interface element for dealing with these kinds of effects. The proposed interface element is an extension of the modified zero-thickness element proposed by Goodman et al. (J Soil Mech Found Div ASCE 94:637–659, 1968). In addition to solid displacement, we consider the flow of water and the diffusion of a single salt in the fluid phase. Terzaghi’s effective stress principle is used leading to the usual hydro-mechanical coupling within the interface element. The fluxes of water and salt are considered in the longitudinal and in transversal directions of the interface element. For the constitutive relation, we propose an innovative nonlinear elastic energy that improves the numerical convergence in the occurrence of interface opening. The Mohr–Coulomb yield surface is used for the plastic regime in which we considered the effects of strain rate and salt concentration on the shearing behaviour of the interface element. The proposed element has been implemented in a user-defined subroutine of ABAQUS. The typical effects of salt concentration and displacement rate and the typical model responses for the longitudinal and transversal fluxes of salt and pore fluid are discussed in detail. Finally, the proposed interface element is validated through the comparison with experimental results.
Intelligent recognition of drill cores and automatic RQD analytics based on deep learning
Authors: Xu Shuai , Ma Jun , Liang Ruiyu , Zhang Chengguo , Li Binghao , Saydam Serkan , Canbulat Ismet
Published: August 2023

Rock quality designation (RQD), as a well-accepted and appliable rock quality index, is crucial in geotechnical engineering. Current RQD estimation mainly relies on either manual statistics or the image binarisation method, while the former approach surrenders high labour intensity and low efficiency and the latter one is constrained by image acquisition. Considering the above-mentioned limitations in RQD estimation, this study proposed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) approach to automatically perform core recognition and RQD cataloguing with significant improvement in accuracy and efficiency. Firstly, the proposed neural network automatically identified the prefabricated round markers to distinct drilling rounds. To maximumly strengthen the engineering capability of CNN without losing generality, we considered image inversion, rotation, noise addition, and RGB conversion of 200 core box samples in total. Secondly, replacing the unstable image binarisation method, the advanced YOLO V2 object detection model, a single-stage real-time object detection model, was adopted in this study. We also proposed the modified four-layer downsampling structure as our CNN, and then developed an automatic recognition approach for both cores and the round markers, resulting in a 93.1% accuracy according to the validation set. Thirdly, this study proposed an auto-ranking algorithm to sequence the core sample according to the confidence of core recognition by the CNN and row-scanning results for subsequent RQD cataloguing. In addition, the optimal scan width was proved to be 1.33 times larger than the average core width. Finally, a quick cataloguing platform for drill cores was developed. Compared with manual measurement and visual statistics, intelligent RQD cataloguing is characterised by its unparalleled accuracy and efficiency, which is merited by the low relative error (1.84%) and fast processing time (around 0.2 s). Moreover, the application presented in this paper is applicable to most geotechnical engineering scenarios. This is attributed to its low requirements in image acquisition, high efficiency, precise recognition, and robustness.
Impact of radiation dose on patient-reported acute taste alteration in a prospective observational study cohort in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC)
Authors: Morelli Ilaria , Desideri Isacco , Romei Andrea , Scoccimarro Erika , Caini Saverio , Salvestrini Viola , Becherini Carlotta , Livi Lorenzo , Bonomo Pierluigi
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Taste alteration (TA) is a frequent acute side effect of radiation treatment in HNSCC patients. Principal aim of our study was to investigate dosimetric parameters in relation to patient-assessed taste impairment in a prospective cohort treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Methods

All patients with locally advanced HNSCC and amenable to radical treatment were included. Chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale (CITAS), EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN43 questionnaires at baseline (T0), 3 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after radiotherapy conclusion were used to assess taste impairment. Base of tongue, submandibular glands (SG), parotid glands (PG) and taste buds, along with anterior and medium third of the tongue, were considered as organs at risk and thus delineated according to consensus guidelines. The mean dose to the above-mentioned structures was correlated with patient-reported outcomes.

Results

Between September 2019 and November 2020, 33 patients were recruited, 31 of which analyzed. 71% had oropharyngeal carcinoma, mostly HPV-related (60%). All were treated with tomotherapy. 77.4% had concurrent cisplatin. Mean scores of general taste alterations, global health status and dry mouth and sticky saliva were assessed. The mean doses to the anterior third, medium third and base of the tongue were 23.85, 35.50 and 47.67 Gy, respectively. Taste buds received 32.72 Gy; right and left parotid 25 and 23 Gy; right and left submandibular glands 47.8 and 39.4 Gy. At univariate analysis, dysgeusia correlated with SG mean dose (95% CI 0–0.02 p = 0.05) and PG mean dose (95% CI 0–0.02 p = 0.05); dry mouth with mean dose to anterior (95% CI 0.03–1.47 p = 0.04) and medium third (95% CI 0.02–0.93 p = 0.04) of the tongue, to taste buds (95% CI 0.06–0.96 p = 0.03) and to SGs (95% CI 0.06–0.63 p = 0.02); pain mouth with mean dose to taste buds (95% CI 0–0.02 p = 0.04), to SGs (95% CI 0–0.03 p = 0.03) and to base tongue (95% CI 0–0.02 p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our analysis supports the influence of dose distribution on the development of TA in HNSCC patients. The contribution of dose to taste buds and tongue subvolumes remains unclear and worthy of further investigation.