bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Cage Obliquity and the Relationship between Cage Obliquity and Radiological Outcomes in Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion at the L4-L5 Level
Authors: Jang CheolWon , Hwang SungHwan , Jin Tae Kyung , Shin Hyung Jin , Cho Byung-Kyu
Published: October 2023

Objective : This retrospective study investigated the factors that affect cage obliquity angle despite orthogonal maneuvers performed during oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) and assessed the relationship between cage obliquity angle and radiological outcomes post-surgery.Methods : Twenty-nine males who underwent L4-L5 OLIF for lumbar degenerative disease between 2019 and 2021 with a followup duration greater than 12 months were analyzed. Radiological parameters were measured including psoas muscle volume, total psoas area index (total psoas muscle area [cm2]/height squared [m2]), distance from the iliac artery to the origin of the psoas muscle (DIAPM), angle between the origin of the psoas muscle and the center of the vertebral disc (APCVD), iliac crest height, disc height, lumbar flexibility (lumbar flexion angle minus extension angle), cage location ratio, cage-induced segmental lumbar lordosis (LL) (postoperative index level segmental LL minus used cage angle), foraminal height changes, fusion grade.Results : DIAPM, APCVD, iliac crest height, postoperative index level segmental LL, and cage-induced segmental LL were significantly correlated with OLIF cage obliquity angle. However, other radiological parameters did not correlate with cage obliquity. Based on multiple regression analysis, the predictive equation for the OLIF cage obliquity angle was 13.062–0.318×DIAPM+0.325×A PCVD+0.174×iliac crest height. The greater the cage obliquity, the smaller the segmental LL compared to the cage angle used.Conclusion : At the L4-L5 level, OLIF cage obliquity was affected by DIAPM, APCVD, and iliac crest height, and as the cage obliquity angle increases, LL agnle achievable by the used cage could not be obtained.
High Energy Trauma In Relation To the Genesis of Non-Union in Tibial Shaft Fractures
Authors: LA Guzmán-Juárez , GS Galindo-González , P Hernández-Romano , J Hernández-Culebro , RM Torres-Hernández
Published: October 2023

Objective: To determine the relationship of high-energy trauma with non-union of the tibial shaft fractures. Material and Methods: Observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study that included patients with a diagnosis of tibial non-union with a history of high-energy trauma; high-energy trauma was assessed in relation to the genesis of non-union in tibial shaft fractures; the relationship between both variables was determined. Data were analyzed using measures of central tendency and X2 test. Results: A total of 201 patients were obtained in total tibial shaft fractures from 2014 to 2018 (5 years), both of high and low energy trauma, female sex 42 patients (20.89 %), male 159 patients (79.10 %), with an average of 36.9 years of age; total non-union in all patients 37 patients (18.40 %), the external fixator in non-union in 17 patients (45.94 %), patients with plaque and posterior non-union with high energy trauma in 10 patients (27.02 %). Non-union was recorded with high-energy trauma at 55.22 % and 44.77 % low energy trauma with a statistical significance of p = 0.00058 and an X2 of 11.82 (RM = 23 and 95 % CI 21.6-25.4). Conclusions: High-energy trauma is related to the genesis of non-union of any type in tibial shaft fractures.
PEMBERDAYAAN KELOMPOK USAHA SAUNG BATIK BASWET MELALUI INOVASI VARIASI MODEL DESAIN DAN TEKNOLOGI DIGITAL
Authors: Manurung Ria , Prihatmajaya Putu Samuel , Paath David Kristian
Published: October 2023

Saung Baswet's batik group business is categorized as a small and medium-sized enterprise. It is, therefore, very vulnerable to business continuity because it has several areas for improvement: weak capital, weak marketing, weak management skills, and weak innovation. Its produces and sells both written and printed batik. The objectives and benefits of this service activity are to create product design innovations with new patterns, namely Nagasari Flowers. They were creating direct marketing and expanding Saung Batik's marketing area at a lower cost, bringing Saung Batik closer to its customers by promoting products to be sold and creating two-way communication through the web and e-mail. Facilitate stock management and make displaying the latest products from Saung Batik easier. The results of service activities are that problems of its partners in field of batik innovation have been resolved. Design of this batik group has increased and is expected to characterize group's style. Marketing Batik products of the group becomes effective and efficient because the market reach is not limited. The solution offered is to provide Android-based online marketing and sales facilities. The batik marketing and sales application is named "E-Saung Baswet," which can reach the entire archipelago and global market as a new market share with one tool, namely a smartphone. The application is registered in Playstore, so all internet users can access it. Increased partner empowerment was achieved 100% through training on Android-based marketing and sales computer application programs and training on innovative batik designs.
Songs of Life: Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Desiring-Production’
Authors: Kubala Patricia
Published: October 2023

This paper argues that practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy could learn a great deal from Deleuze and Guattari’s critique of psychoanalysis in Anti-Oedipus, as well as the practice of materialist psychiatry – schizoanalysis – that they offer in its stead. Much of the clinical research on psychedelics (particularly psilocybin) over the past fifteen years has privileged mystical experience, assessed according to a quantifiable scale, as the goal of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and source of cure ( Griffiths et al. 2006 , 2016 ; Barrett and Griffiths 2018 ; Pollan 2018 ). Has ‘mystical experience’ become the ‘imperialism of Oedipus’ within the psychedelic revival, towards which all psychedelic experience and activity of the unconscious is expected to tend? Distressed patients would be better held, I contend, through a therapeutic practice that adopts Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the unconscious as a desiring-machine and the cure as a completion of the process of desiring-production that is not arrested and reduced to pre-assigned ends. In this mode of working with psychedelics, the embodied memories, visions and sensations of the patient do not in a predetermined way ‘express’ or ‘represent’ a perennial, quantifiable experience (or myth). Rather, they enable the positive task of schizoanalysis of learning what a subject’s desiring-machines are and how they work, and the negative task of identifying and destroying all that stands in the way of their functioning.
Lone Pine Resources v Canada Award: Steps towards a Recognition of Sustainable Development Principles in Energy Investment Arbitrations
Authors: Fazeli Marjan
Published: October 2023

Lone Pine Resources Inc. v. The Government of Canada 1 is the first investment arbitration case in the oil and gas sector in which the host state has taken measures to enforce its domestic sustainable development laws and regulations. In this case, the Canadian government prohibited fracking in the St. Lawrence River basin in Quebec, despite having previously issued a permit, by placing the precautionary principle, which is a principle of sustainable development, as the criterion. The tribunal did not find the host government's action to be a violation of the investor's rights, although it was unable to answer the question of whether the implementation of the precautionary principle constitutes a public purpose according to the NAFTA expropriation standard. However, it is notable that in the submissions of the parties and amicus curiae, reference has been made to the precautionary principle on the basis of applicable domestic and international law. Another feature of this case is that the arbitral tribunal decided to grant the request for participation of amicus curiae by an environmental NGO, and in distinct sections of the final award, it mentioned the views of the environmental group. The implementation of sustainable development is crucial in the field of petroleum arbitrations, given the extent of environmental degradation caused by these projects. Even though this case pertains to North America, it may mark the beginning of a global transformation that affects the petroleum producing countries throughout the world. Additionally, it may open a door for arbitration tribunals to establish compatibility between the standards of investor protection and sustainable development principles such as precaution and public participation.
Early innate cell interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in protection and pathology of tuberculosis
Authors: Sankar Poornima , Mishra Bibhuti Bhusan
Published: October 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, claiming the lives of up to 1.5 million individuals annually. TB is caused by the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which primarily infects innate immune cells in the lungs. These immune cells play a critical role in the host defense against Mtb infection, influencing the inflammatory environment in the lungs, and facilitating the development of adaptive immunity. However, Mtb exploits and manipulates innate immune cells, using them as favorable niche for replication. Unfortunately, our understanding of the early interactions between Mtb and innate effector cells remains limited. This review underscores the interactions between Mtb and various innate immune cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, granulocytes, NK cells, innate lymphocytes-iNKT and ILCs. In addition, the contribution of alveolar epithelial cell and endothelial cells that constitutes the mucosal barrier in TB immunity will be discussed. Gaining insights into the early cellular basis of immune reactions to Mtb infection is crucial for our understanding of Mtb resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms. We argue that a better understanding of the early host-pathogen interactions could inform on future vaccination approaches and devise intervention strategies.
The immunostimulatory role of an Enterococcus-dominated gut microbiota in host protection against bacterial and fungal pathogens in Galleria mellonella larvae
Authors: Upfold Jennifer , Rejasse Agnès , Nielsen-Leroux Christina , Jensen Annette Bruun , Sanchis-Borja Vincent
Published: October 2023

Understanding the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune response in insects is crucial, given its diverse impact on the pathogenesis of various microbial species. The microbiota’s modulation of the host immune system is one such mechanism, although its complete impact on immune responses remains elusive. This study investigated the tripartite interaction between the gut microbiota, pathogens, and the host’s response in Galleria mellonella larvae reared under axenic (sterile) and conventional (non-sterile) conditions. The influence of the microbiota on host fitness during infections was evaluated via two different routes: oral infection induced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae (Btg), and topical infection induced by Metarhizium robertsii (Mr). We observed that larvae without a microbiota can successfully fulfill their life cycle, albeit with more variation in their developmental time. We subsequently performed survival assays on final-instar larvae, using the median lethal dose (LD50) of Btg and Mr. Our findings indicated that axenic larvae were more vulnerable to an oral infection of Btg; specifically, a dose that was calculated to be half-lethal for the conventional group resulted in a 90%–100% mortality rate in the axenic group. Through a dual-analysis experimental design, we could identify the status of the gut microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing and assess the level of immune-related gene expression in the same group of larvae at basal conditions and during infection. This analysis revealed that the microbiota of our conventionally reared population was dominated entirely by four Enterococcus species, and these species potentially stimulated the immune response in the gut, due to the increased basal expression of two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)—gallerimycin and gloverin—in the conventional larvae compared with the axenic larvae. Furthermore, Enterococcus mundtii, isolated from the gut of conventional larvae, showed inhibition activity against Btg in vitro. Lastly, other immune effectors, namely, phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph and total reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in the gut, were tested to further investigate the extent of the stimulation of the microbiota on the immune response. These findings highlight the immune-modulatory role of the Enterococcus-dominated gut microbiota, an increasingly reported microbiota assemblage of laboratory populations of Lepidoptera, and its influence on the host’s response to oral and topical infections.
Investigating the biochemical association of gestational diabetes mellitus with dyslipidemia and hemoglobin
Authors: Akash Muhammad Sajid Hamid , Noureen Sibgha , Rehman Kanwal , Nadeem Ahmed , Khan Mohsin Abbas
Published: October 2023

Aims

To investigate the biochemical correlation of hemoglobin (Hb), dyslipidemia, and HbA1c with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Background

GDM is a condition that develops during pregnancy and is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Biochemical parameters such as hemoglobin (Hb), dyslipidemia, and HbA1c have been implicated in the development of GDM. Understanding the correlation between these biochemical parameters and GDM can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential diagnostic markers for the condition.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of various biochemical parameters, including Hb, dyslipidemia, and HbA1c, in pregnant women with and without GDM.

Method

A cross-sectional study design was used. Pregnant females attending a tertiary care hospital in Faisalabad between September 1st, 2021, and June 25th, 2022, were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: those with GDM (GDM group) and those without GDM (non-GDM group). Blood glucose, Hb, and lipid levels were compared between the two groups using statistical tests, including chi-square, independent sample t-test, and Pearson’s correlation.

Result

Out of the 500 participants, 261 were in the 2nd trimester and 239 in the 3rd trimester. Maternal age showed a significant difference between the GDM and non-GDM groups. The levels of Hb, TC, HDL, LDL, and HbA1c significantly differed (p < 0.05) between the two groups. TC (r = 0.397), TG (r = 0.290), and LDL (r = 0.509) showed a statistically significant and moderately positive correlation with GDM. HDL (r = −0.394) and Hb (r = −0.294) showed a moderate negative correlation with GDM.

Conclusion

Increased levels of HbA1c, TC, and LDL, along with decreased levels of HDL and Hb, were identified as contributing factors to GDM. The levels of TC, TG, and LDL were positively correlated with GDM, while HDL and Hb were negatively correlated. The findings of this study suggest that monitoring and managing hemoglobin, dyslipidemia, and HbA1c levels during pregnancy may be important in identifying and potentially preventing or managing GDM. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions targeting these biochemical parameters in relation to GDM.
Cocaine intake correlates with risk-taking behavior and affects estrous cycling in female Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Truckenbrod Leah M. , Cooper Emily M. , Wheeler Alexa-Rae , Orsini Caitlin A.
Published: October 2023

Navigating complex decisions and considering their relative risks and rewards is an important cognitive ability necessary for survival. However, use of and dependence on illicit drugs can result in long-lasting changes to this risk/reward calculus in individuals with substance use disorder. Recent work has shown that chronic exposure to cocaine causes long-lasting increases in risk taking in male and female rats, but there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the relationship between cocaine use and changes in risk taking. For example, it is unclear whether the magnitude of cocaine intake dictates the extent to which risk taking is altered. To address this, male and female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent cocaine (or sucrose) self-administration and, following a period of abstinence, were trained and tested in a rodent model of risky decision making. In this behavioral task, rats made discrete-trial choices between a lever associated with a small food reward (i.e., “safe” option) and a lever associated with a larger food reward accompanied by a variable risk of footshock delivery (i.e., “risky” option). Surprisingly, and in contrast to prior work in Long-Evans rats, there were no effects of cocaine self-administration on choice of the large, risky reward (i.e., risk taking) during abstinence in males or females. There was, however, a significant relationship between cocaine intake and risk taking in female rats, with greater intake associated with greater preference for the large, risky reward. Relative to their sucrose counterparts, female rats in the cocaine group also exhibited irregular estrous cycles, characterized by prolonged estrus and/or diestrus phases. Collectively, these data suggest that there may be strain differences in the effects of cocaine on risk taking and highlight the impact that chronic cocaine exposure has on hormonal cyclicity in females. Future work will focus on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying cocaine’s intake-dependent effects on risk taking in females, and whether this is directly related to cocaine-induced alterations in neuroendocrine function.
Brain language networks and cognitive outcomes in children with frontotemporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Hüsser Alejandra M. , Vannasing Phetsamone , Tremblay Julie , Osterman Bradley , Lortie Anne , Diadori Paola , Major Philippe , Rossignol Elsa , Roger Kassandra , Fourdain Solène , Provost Sarah , Maalouf Yara , Nguyen Dang Khoa , Gallagher Anne
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Pediatric frontal and temporal lobe epilepsies (FLE, TLE) have been associated with language impairments and structural and functional brain alterations. However, there is no clear consensus regarding the specific patterns of cerebral reorganization of language networks in these patients. The current study aims at characterizing the cerebral language networks in children with FLE or TLE, and the association between brain network characteristics and cognitive abilities.

Methods

Twenty (20) children with FLE or TLE aged between 6 and 18 years and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent a neuropsychological evaluation and a simultaneous functional near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography (fNIRS-EEG) recording at rest and during a receptive language task. EEG was used to identify potential subclinical seizures in patients. We removed these time intervals from the fNIRS signal to investigate language brain networks and not epileptogenic networks. Functional connectivity matrices on fNIRS oxy-hemoglobin concentration changes were computed using cross-correlations between all channels.

Results and discussion

Group comparisons of residual matrices (=individual task-based matrix minus individual resting-state matrix) revealed significantly reduced connectivity within the left and between hemispheres, increased connectivity within the right hemisphere and higher right hemispheric local efficiency for the epilepsy group compared to the control group. The epilepsy group had significantly lower cognitive performance in all domains compared to their healthy peers. Epilepsy patients’ local network efficiency in the left hemisphere was negatively associated with the estimated IQ (p = 0.014), suggesting that brain reorganization in response to FLE and TLE does not allow for an optimal cognitive development.
The brain lateralization and development of math functions: progress since Sperry, 1974
Authors: Salillas Elena , Benavides-Varela Silvia , Semenza Carlo
Published: October 2023

In 1974, Roger Sperry, based on his seminal studies on the split-brain condition, concluded that math was almost exclusively sustained by the language dominant left hemisphere. The right hemisphere could perform additions up to sums less than 20, the only exception to a complete left hemisphere dominance. Studies on lateralized focal lesions came to a similar conclusion, except for written complex calculation, where spatial abilities are needed to display digits in the right location according to the specific requirements of calculation procedures. Fifty years later, the contribution of new theoretical and instrumental tools lead to a much more complex picture, whereby, while left hemisphere dominance for math in the right-handed is confirmed for most functions, several math related tasks seem to be carried out in the right hemisphere. The developmental trajectory in the lateralization of math functions has also been clarified. This corpus of knowledge is reviewed here. The right hemisphere does not simply offer its support when calculation requires generic space processing, but its role can be very specific. For example, the right parietal lobe seems to store the operation-specific spatial layout required for complex arithmetical procedures and areas like the right insula are necessary in parsing complex numbers containing zero. Evidence is found for a complex orchestration between the two hemispheres even for simple tasks: each hemisphere has its specific role, concurring to the correct result. As for development, data point to right dominance for basic numerical processes. The picture that emerges at school age is a bilateral pattern with a significantly greater involvement of the right-hemisphere, particularly in non-symbolic tasks. The intraparietal sulcus shows a left hemisphere preponderance in response to symbolic stimuli at this age.
First use of 18F-FDG PET in TEMPI syndrome: can it be used for treatment assessment? A case report
Authors: Pasquesoone Henri , Callaud Aurélien , Carsuzaa Thibaut , Chalopin Thomas , Santiago-Ribeiro Maria-Joao
Published: October 2023

TEMPI syndrome (TEMPI) compounds telangiectasias and polycythemia with elevated erythropoietin levels, monoclonal gammopathy, perirenal fluid collections, and intrapulmonary shunt. Although the pathophysiology of this syndrome remains unclarified, prior research has been established that it is a plasma cell neoplasm, often containing less than 10% bone marrow plasma cells. 18F-FDG PET serves as a valuable instrument for initial staging and treatment monitoring in multiple myeloma management. Thus, 18F-FDG PET can be legitimately applied for TEMPI assessment. Here, we present the first 18F-FDG PET images for the initial evaluation and treatment monitoring of TEMPI in a 51-year-old woman, who exhibited polycythemia (EPO:5,448 mIU/ml) without JAK2 mutation, telangiectasias, monoclonal IgG lambda gammopathy (13.9) g/L and 7% dysmorphic plasma cells (CD38 + CD138+), occasionally clustered, in favor of tumoral plasmacytomas. The first PET scan exhibited hypermetabolic diffuse bone marrow, potentially related to polycythemia, accompanied by non-lytic bone hypermetabolic lesions in the femoral and humeral diaphysis, and ametabolic peri-renal fluid collections, brown fat, and pleural talcoma. Post-treatment 18F-FDG PET (Daratumumab Bortezomib Thalidomide Dexamethasone) revealed a completely reduced signal of bone lesions, suggesting a complete response, which was substantiated both clinically and biologically, with the concurrent disappearance of telangiectasia and the monoclonal component, and the normalization of the EPO level. In future, additional data will be required to confirm the added value of 18F-FDG PET with TEMPI. Nevertheless, 18F-FDG PET can be a preferred tool for the extension workup and therapeutic evaluation of TEMPI syndrome.
Psyllium husk gel used as an alternative and more sustainable scalding technology for wheat bread quality improvement and acrylamide reduction
Authors: Bartkiene Elena , Kungiene Giedre , Starkute Vytaute , Klupsaite Dovile , Zokaityte Egle , Cernauskas Darius , Kamarauskiene Egle , Özogul Fatih , Rocha João Miguel
Published: October 2023

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of different amounts (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) of psyllium husk gel (PHG) on wheat bread (WB) characteristics – chiefly, overall acceptability (OA), porosity, specific volume (v), mass loss after baking (ML), shape retention coefficient, crust and crumb color coordinates, bread crumb hardness during storage, saccharides content, and acrylamide (AA) concentration. PHG was prepared by mixing 100 g of psyllium husk powder with 800 mL of warm water. It was established that the amount of psyllium husk gel is a significant factor in dough redness (a*) (p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation (r) was found between acrylamide content in wheat bread and maltose concentration in dough (r = 0.567). The psyllium husk gel increased the overall acceptability and specific volume of wheat bread. Wheat bread porosity showed a moderate positive correlation with mass loss after baking (r = 0.567) and a strong positive correlation with texture hardness (r = 0.664). Lower acrylamide content was obtained in wheat bread prepared with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% of psyllium husk gel (1.53, 2.34, 3.80, 2.69, and 3.62 times lower than the control wheat bread, respectively). Acrylamide content showed a strong positive correlation with the porosity of wheat bread (r = 0.672), with crust brightness (L*), and yellowness/blueness (b*) coordinates, as well as with crumb brightness, redness, and yellowness coordinates. Overall, psyllium husk gel hydrocolloids reduced acrylamide formation in wheat bread and can be recommended for the quality improvement of wheat bread.
Outcome after proton beam therapy versus photon-based radiation therapy in childhood-onset craniopharyngioma patients—results of KRANIOPHARYNGEOM 2007
Authors: Friedrich Carsten , Boekhoff Svenja , Bischoff Martin , Beckhaus Julia , Sowithayasakul Panjarat , Calaminus Gabriele , Eveslage Maria , Valentini Chiara , Bison Brigitte , Harrabi Semi B. , Krause Mechthild , Timmermann Beate , Müller Hermann L.
Published: October 2023

Background

Proton beam therapy (PBT) is being increas16ingly used to treat residual craniopharyngioma (CP) after hypothalamus-sparing surgery. Compared to photon-based radiation therapy (XRT) with PBT, less irradiation in the penumbra reduces the scattered dose to critical organs neighboring but outside the area of treatment, minimizing the risk of sequelae.

Patients and methods

Between 2007 and 2019, 99 of 290 (34%) childhood-onset CP patients recruited in KRANIOPHARYNGEOM 2007 received external radiation therapy (RT) (65% PBT, 35% XRT). Outcome was analyzed in terms of survival, endocrinological and anthropometric parameters (BMI and height SDS), quality of life (QoL using PEDQOL), and functional capacity (FMH) with special regard to irradiation technique.

Results

PBT became predominant (used in 43% and 72% of all irradiated patients registered within the first and second halves of the recruitment period, between 2008 and 2013 and 2013 and 2018, respectively). Five-year event-free survival rates after PBT or XRT were comparable (92% ± 4% vs. 91% ± 4%, p = 0.42) and higher than for the whole cohort since diagnosis, including non-RT patients (37% ± 4%). Radiation doses to the hypothalamus and pituitary did not differ between PBT and XRT. Endocrine deficits due to disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) were already common before irradiation. During the first 5 years after CP diagnosis/RT, no differences between PBT, XRT, and non-RT CP patients concerning functional capacity and anthropometric parameters have been obtained. Only for the PEDQOL domain “physical function”, parental-assessed QoL was lower 12 months after PBT versus XRT or non-RT patients.

Conclusion

QoL, functional capacity, degree of obesity, and endocrinopathy varied over time from diagnosis, but by 5 years, there was no significant difference between PBT and XRT upfront or delayed, nor was there any compromise in historic survival rates, which remained high >90%. RT of any type is extremely effective at stabilizing disease after hypothalamic-sparing surgery. The purported specific benefits of PBT-reducing sequelae are not proven in this study where the organ of critical interest is itself diseased, increasing an urgent need to better address and treat the tumor-induced endocrine harm from diagnosis in dedicated pituitary services. Other hypothesized benefits of PBT versus XRT on vascular events and secondary cancers await longer comparison.

Clinical trial registration number

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/, identifier NCT01272622.
Development and validation of a novel anoikis-related gene signature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wu Qihang , Sun Yuxiang , Qin Xiangcheng , Li Maomao , Huang Shuaishuai , Wang Xue , Weng Guobin
Published: October 2023

Background

Despite numerous treatments available, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains a deadly and invasive cancer. Anoikis-related genes (ARGs) are essential regulators of tumor metastasis and development. However, the potential roles of ARGs in ccRCC remain unclear.

Methods

Based on the TCGA-KIRC cohort and GeneCards database, we identified differentially expressed ARGs in ccRCC. Then a 4 ARGs risk model was created by Cox regression and LASSO. The Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to verify the predictive efficacy of the prognostic signature. Subsequently, the possible molecular mechanism of ARGs was investigated by functional enrichment analysis. To assess the immune infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, and immune function in various risk groups, single sample gene set enrichment (ssGSEA) algorithm was employed. Furthermore, the low-risk and high-risk groups were compared in terms of tumor mutation burden (TMB). Ultimately, we analyzed the protein expression of these four ARGs utilizing the western blot test.

Results

Four genes were utilized to create a risk signature that may predict prognosis, enabling the classification of KIRC patients into groups with low or high risk. The reliability of the signature was examined utilizing survival analysis and ROC analysis. According to the multivariate Cox regression result, the risk score was a reliable independent prognostic predictor for KIRC patients. The novel risk model could differentiate between KIRC patients with various clinical outcomes and represent KIRC’s specific immune status. An analysis of the correlation of TMB and risk score indicated a positive correlation between them, with high TMB being potentially linked to worse outcomes.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, the prognostic signature of ARGs may be employed as an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC patients. It may introduce alternative perspectives on prognosis evaluation and serve as a prominent reference for personalized and precise therapy in KIRC.
Invasive fungal infections in pediatric patients with central nervous system tumors: novel insights for prophylactic treatments?
Authors: Dassi Natália , Cappellano Andrea Maria , Silva Adriana Maria Paixão de Sousa da , da Silva Nasjla Saba , Carlesse Fabianne Altruda de Moraes Costa
Published: October 2023

Background and aims

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) poses significant morbidity and mortality risks, especially in pediatric patients with neoplastic diseases. However, there is a notable lack of data concerning patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Considering vulnerability factors to infections such as neutropenia, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, surgical interventions, and others, this study aims to evaluate the incidence of IFD in pediatric patients with CNS tumors and determine appropriate indications for prophylactic measures. This is a single-center, retrospective study conducted between 2011 and 2022 at the Pediatric Institute of Oncology (IOP-GRAACC-UNIFESP).

Results

A total of 38 cases of IFD were diagnosed in 818 children with CNS malignancies (4,6%). The mean age was 3.5 years (0.4-28y), with 22 (57.9%) male patients. Embryonal tumors (18/38, 47.3%) were the most prevalent CNS tumors, followed by low-grade gliomas (13/38, 34.2%). All episodes met the EORTC IFD criteria, and 36/38 (94.7%) were proven. Invasive yeast infections (33/36, 91.6%), predominantly Candida (30/33, 90.9%), were the most common diagnosis. In total, 25 patients (25/38, 65.8%) were receiving chemotherapy, with 13 of them having embryonal tumors. A total of 11 infants were in the Head Start scheme, resulting in a high prevalence of IFD in these group of patients (11/58, 18.9%). In total, 13 (13/38, 34.2%) patients underwent neurosurgery, mostly ventricular-peritoneal shunts revisions (10/13, 76.9%). Nine (9/38, 23.7%) were with prolonged use of corticosteroids, eight of them associated with neurosurgery.

Conclusion

Routine systemic antifungal prophylaxis based solely on diagnosis is not recommended for low-risk cases. Evaluating patient- and treatment-specific risk factors is crucial in infants undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with expected neutropenia and in patients requiring prolonged corticosteroid therapy alongside neurosurgical procedures.
Putting the individual in the context of the organization: A Carnegie perspective on decision-making
Authors: Levinthal Daniel A. , Newark Daniel A.
Published: October 2023

The majority of decision research portrays decision-makers as largely decontextualized, separate from the institutional and social factors that influence their choosing. On the occasions when context is considered, it is rarely organizational, despite the prominence of organizations in people's lives. By contrast, the Carnegie perspective on decision-making emphasizes context, particularly that of organizations, as a central concern. We develop this contrast by first reviewing the limited role of context in neoclassical economic and psychological depictions of choice. Next, we present key elements of the organizational decision context in the Carnegie perspective: decision premises, standard operating procedures and decision rules, organizational structures, learning environments, and identity–situation interaction. We then consider the importance of interpretation to decision-making in context. In particular, rather than being given and clear, the meaning of decision context is often ambiguous and must be interpreted or constructed. The Carnegie perspective underscores the importance of this interpretive process to both decision-making and everyday life. We conclude by considering aspects of context that merit greater examination, as well as the implications for behavioral theorizing of acknowledging the contextualized nature of action.
What is critical for human-centered AI at work? – Toward an interdisciplinary theory
Authors: Mazarakis Athanasios , Bernhard-Skala Christian , Braun Martin , Peters Isabella
Published: October 2023

Human-centered artificial intelligence (HCAI) has gained momentum in the scientific discourse but still lacks clarity. In particular, disciplinary differences regarding the scope of HCAI have become apparent and were criticized, calling for a systematic mapping of conceptualizations—especially with regard to the work context. This article compares how human factors and ergonomics (HFE), psychology, human-computer interaction (HCI), information science, and adult education view HCAI and discusses their normative, theoretical, and methodological approaches toward HCAI, as well as the implications for research and practice. It will be argued that an interdisciplinary approach is critical for developing, transferring, and implementing HCAI at work. Additionally, it will be shown that the presented disciplines are well-suited for conceptualizing HCAI and bringing it into practice since they are united in one aspect: they all place the human being in the center of their theory and research. Many critical aspects for successful HCAI, as well as minimum fields of action, were further identified, such as human capability and controllability (HFE perspective), autonomy and trust (psychology and HCI perspective), learning and teaching designs across target groups (adult education perspective), as much as information behavior and information literacy (information science perspective). As such, the article lays the ground for a theory of human-centered interdisciplinary AI, i.e., the Synergistic Human-AI Symbiosis Theory (SHAST), whose conceptual framework and founding pillars will be introduced.
Eigengame: a primer to introduce wave functions and probabilities
Authors: Sabater Francesc , Calero Carles , Juliá-Díaz Bruno
Published: October 2023

We report on a quantum mechanics popularisation software, Eigengame, developed to get general audiences to play with key concepts in quantum mechanics, i.e., the wave function, the quantization of energy, the probability density and, to some extent, the measurement problem. The software is developed in python and is available online at github.
Grassroots innovation and social innovation in perspective
Authors: Maldonado-Mariscal Karina
Published: October 2023

This article provides a comprehensive review of social innovation and grassroots innovation over the last 5 years, offering a detailed analysis of both concepts. This study explores the integration of grassroots innovation and social innovation based on an extensive literature review. It examines five dimensions within the literature: key fields, disciplines, actors, geographical areas and theoretical frameworks. Despite significant research in recent decades, there is a notable gap of literature devoted to grassroots innovation and its position within discourse of social innovation. This paper explores the differences and similarities between the concepts of social innovation and grassroots innovation in order to better understand the use of both concepts, the cases in which they are used and possible complementarities. The main findings of the literature on combining the concepts of social innovation and grassroots innovation focus on social enterprises, while research on grassroots innovation as a stand-alone concept focuses on community-led initiatives, civil society organisations, cooperatives and local leaders. Geographically, India plays a very important role in grassroots and social innovation research, followed by Brazil and Spain. In terms of theoretical approach, the combination of social innovation and grassroots innovation has a strong sociological focus, emphasising theories of social practice, collective action, solidarity and community. In contrast, the theoretical frameworks of grassroots innovation are more anchored in power relations and socio-technical transitions, including, for example, resistance to innovation. Grassroots innovation offers practical insights into understanding innovation through the lenses of grassroots and community-based social change. Similarly, social innovation can contribute to the debate on grassroots innovations by understanding not only the agency of actors, but also the innovation ecosystem, actors and types of innovation. Further empirical research on the understanding and application of both concepts in the global North and South in academic discourse offers great potential, therefore potential research questions have been raised here for further investigation.
The proportional distribution of training by elite endurance athletes at different intensities during different phases of the season
Authors: Sperlich Billy , Matzka Manuel , Holmberg Hans-Christer
Published: October 2023

The present review examines retrospective analyses of training intensity distribution (TID), i.e., the proportion of training at moderate (Zone 1, Z1), heavy (Z2) and severe (Z3) intensity by elite-to-world-class endurance athletes during different phases of the season. In addition, we discuss potential implications of our findings for research in this field, as well as for training by these athletes. Altogether, we included 175 TIDs, of which 120 quantified exercise intensity on the basis of heart rate and measured time-in-zone or employed variations of the session goal approach, with demarcation of zones of exercise intensity based on physiological parameters. Notably, 49% of the TIDs were single-case studies, predominantly concerning cross-country skiing and/or the biathlon. Eighty-nine TIDs were pyramidal (Z1 > Z2 > Z3), 65 polarized (Z1 > Z3 > Z2) and 8 “threshold” (Z2 > Z1 = Z3). However, these relative numbers varied between sports and the particular phases of the season. In 91% (n = 160) of the TIDs >60% of the endurance exercise was of low intensity. Regardless of the approach to quantification or phase of the season, cyclists and swimmers were found to perform a lower proportion of exercise in Z1 (<72%) and higher proportion in Z2 (>16%) than athletes involved in the triathlon, speed skating, rowing, running, cross-country skiing or biathlon (>80% in Z1 and <12% in Z2 in all these cases). For most of the athletes their proportion of heavy-to-severe exercise was higher during the period of competition than during the preparatory phase, although with considerable variability between sports. In conclusion, the existing literature in this area does not allow general conclusions to be drawn. The methods utilized for quantification vary widely and, moreover, contextual information concerning the mode of exercise, environmental conditions, and biomechanical aspects of the exercise is often lacking. Therefore, we recommend a more comprehensive approach in connection with future investigations on the TIDs of athletes involved in different endurance sports.
Reply to Barron et al. Comment on “Cook, B.; Mulgan, N. Targeted Mop up and Robust Response Tools Can Achieve and Maintain Possum Freedom on the Mainland. Animals 2022, 12, 921”
Authors: Cook Briar , Mulgan Nick
Published: October 2023

We are pleased that our paper [...]
Experimental Investigation of Unidirectional Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics under High Strain Rates
Authors: Bieler Sören , Haller Sebastian , Brandt Robert , Weinberg Kerstin
Published: October 2023

When a vehicle leaves the road, crash barriers stop it and prevent significant damage to the vehicle, its environment, and the occupants. Typically, such protection systems are made of simple steel, but fiber-reinforced composites can efficiently absorb and dissipate the impact energy at high-risk locations. In order to design such protective systems, material parameters under dynamic loading are necessary. Here, split Hopkinson pressure bar tests with unidirectional glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy of 58% glass fiber content are performed. The elastic response at strain rates between 300/s and 700/s in the loading direction parallel and perpendicular to the fiber is determined. From the measured data, a model of the time dependence of the elastic modulus is derived to enable the design engineer to lay out protective systems made of such GFRPs.
Prediction of Changes in Blood Parameters Induced by Low-Frequency Ultrasound
Authors: Ostasevicius Vytautas , Paulauskaite-Taraseviciene Agnė , Lesauskaite Vaiva , Jurenas Vytautas , Tatarunas Vacis , Stankevicius Edgaras , Tunaityte Agilė , Venslauskas Mantas , Kizauskiene Laura
Published: October 2023

In this study, we reveal the influence of low-frequency ultrasound on erythrocyte and platelet aggregation. Furthermore, we show that the consequences of sonication of blood samples can be predicted using machine learning techniques based on a set of explicit parameters. A total of 300 blood samples were exposed to low-frequency ultrasound of varying intensities for different durations. The blood samples were sonicated with low-frequency ultrasound in a water bath, which operated at a frequency of 46 ± 2 kHz. Statistical analyses, an ANOVA, and the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis method were used to evaluate the effect of ultrasound on various blood parameters. The obtained results suggest that there are statistically significant variations in blood parameters attributed to ultrasound exposure, particularly when exposed to a high-intensity signal lasting 180 or 90 s. Furthermore, among the five machine learning algorithms employed to predict ultrasound’s impact on platelet counts, support vector regression (SVR) exhibited the highest prediction accuracy, yielding an average MAPE of 10.34%. Notably, it was found that the effect of ultrasound on the hemoglobin (with a p-value of < 0.001 for MCH and MCHC and 0.584 for HGB parameters) in red blood cells was higher than its impact on platelet aggregation (with a p-value of 0.885), highlighting the significance of hemoglobin in facilitating the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to bodily tissues.
RETRACTED: Pradeep et al. Express Data Processing on FPGA: Network Interface Cards for Streamlined Software Inspection for Packet Processing. Appl. Syst. Innov. 2023, 6, 9
Authors: Pradeep Sunkari , Sharma Yogesh Kumar , Verma Chaman , Sreeram Gutha , Hanumantha Rao Panugati
Published: October 2023

The journal retracts the article “Express Data Processing on FPGA: Network Interface Cards for Streamlined Software Inspection for Packet Processing” [...]
Harmonisation in Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Approaches to Assess Toxic Consequences in the Neighbourhood of Industrial Facilities
Authors: Lacome Jean-Marc , Leroy Guillaume , Joubert Lauris , Truchot Benjamin
Published: October 2023

In the land use planning framework in the neighbourhood of industrial facilities, the current approach to predicting the consequences of massive toxic gas releases is generally based on Gaussian or integral models. For many years, CFD models have been more and more used in this context, in accordance with the development of high-performance computing (HPC). The present paper focuses on harmonising input data for atmospheric transport and dispersion (AT&D) modelling between the widely used approaches. First, a synthesis of the practice’s harmonisation for atmospheric dispersion modelling within the framework of risk assessment is presented. Then, these practices are applied to a large-scale INERIS ammonia experimental release. For illustration purposes, the impact of the proposed harmonisation will be evaluated using different approaches: the SLAB model, the FDS model, and the Code_Saturne model. The two main focuses of this paper are the adaptation of the source term dealing with a massive release and the wind flow modelling performance using an experimental signal for CFD model inflow. Finally, comparisons between the modelling and experimental results enable checking the consistency of these approaches and reinforce the importance of the input data harmonisation for each AT&D modelling approach.