bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surge Capacity of Taipei’s Regional Emergency Medical System during COVID-19: A System Dynamics Approach
Authors: Chen Chih Chang , Hung Su Ying
Published: March 2024

Background. The community transmission of COVID-19 has caused the breakdown of the regional emergency medical system (REMS), impacting the rights and care of regional patients with acute and severe conditions. This study proposes a model for the surge capacity of REMS to plan for readiness and preparedness during challenging events that overload capacity. Methods. The surge capacity of REMS during the COVID-19 pandemic was studied. The data collection included 26 hospitals that received the data. To simulate the dynamics of Taipei’s REMS surge capacity, we observed its ability to treat COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This will involve monitoring the stock of ventilators, physicians, and nurses within the subsystem loops. Results. Healthcare managers and administrators can use the overload model and hypothetical scenarios to develop new scenarios with different demands on surge capacity. The REMS system capacity model can be used as an aid to guide planning and cross-checking for address Prepare to plan. Conclusions. We combined data regarding the availability of ventilators, physicians, nurses, specialized beds, and general acute care beds in our simulations. Thus, our simulations, with support from a well-established regional command and management structure, could help REMS achieve the optimal surge capacity.
A Practical Swelling Constitutive Model of Anhydrite and Its Application on Tunnel Engineering
Authors: Wu Jianxun , Lin Fei , Zhou Xiaohong , Zhang Zhigang , Fan Jinyang , Hou Zhenkun
Published: March 2024

Swelling of anhydrite rock causes serious damage to the tunnel and generates high additional costs in the process of tunnel construction and operation and has gradually become one of the main factors that threaten the safety of the tunnel. It is extremely difficult to predict swelling pressures and deformations accurately based on conventional swelling constitutive models. Thus, a new practical swelling constitutive model of anhydrite for tunnel engineering has been developed. First, swelling tests of natural anhydrite samples focusing on the time effect have been designed and conducted, whose test results show that swelling strain-time can be described by the S-curve model and that swelling stress-strain can be described by the quadratic model. Second, a swelling constitutive model with considering the time effect has been developed to reproduce the swelling behavior of anhydrite observed in swelling tests. This model can track the evolution of swelling activity in tunneling, which has practical significance for process simulation and process control of swelling disaster. Then, this model has been implemented within ANSYS for numerical simulation of the Lirang tunnel. Based on simulation results, useful measures have been proposed. Satisfactory results have been achieved according to the feedback from the site.
Supplemental Figure 2 from Impact of Tumor-intrinsic Molecular Features on Survival and Acquired Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in ALK-positive NSCLC
Authors: Nakazawa Mari , Harada Guilherme , Ghanem Paola , Bubie Adrian , Kiedrowski Lesli A. , Murray Joseph C. , Marrone Kristen A. , Scott Susan C. , Houseknecht Stefanie , Falcon Christina J. , Evans Patrick , Feliciano Josephine , Hann Christine L. , Ettinger David S. , Smith Kellie N. , Anagnostou Valsamo , Forde Patrick M. , Brahmer Julie R. , Levy Benjamin , Drilon Alexander , Lam Vincent K.
Published: March 2024

Distribution of tissue NGS platforms utilized in the clinical cohort. Includes 10 patients who underwent testing with more than one tissue NGS platform. Other commercial NGS platform includes other commercially available platforms. Other institutional NGS platform includes all other academic in house NGS platforms.
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infections among Vaccinated Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Outcomes and Comparison to Delta Variant
Authors: Wand Ori , Drori Idan , Einbinder Yael , Nacasch Naomi , Benchetrit Sydney , Breslavsky Anna , Cohen-Hagai Keren
Published: March 2024

Background: Infections with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variants of SARS-CoV-2 became predominant worldwide since late 2021, replacing the previously dominant B.1.617.2 variant (Delta). While those variants are highly transmissible and can evade vaccine protection, population studies suggested that outcomes from infection with Omicron variants are better compared with Delta. Data regarding prognosis of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients infected with Omicron versus Delta variants, however, are scarce. Methods: This retrospective cohort study includes all patients with end-stage kidney disease treated with MHD in Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel, that were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between June 2021 and May 2022. Results: Twenty-six subjects were diagnosed with the Delta variant and 71 with Omicron. Despite comparable age between groups and higher mean vaccine doses prior to the infection among the Omicron group (p < 0.001), SARS-CoV-2 infection severity was significantly worse among MHD infected with the Delta variant: 50% developed severe or critical COVID-19 versus 5% in the Omicron group (p < 0.001). Over half of MHD infected with Omicron (57%) were asymptomatic during their illness. The 30-day mortality rate for the whole cohort was 5.2%. It was significantly higher among MHD in the Delta group than in the Omicron group (5/26, 19.2% vs. 0/71, p < 0.001), as was the 90-day mortality rate (5/26, 19.2% vs. 3/71, 4.2%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was associated with worse outcomes compared with Omicron, among subjects on MHD. However, despite mild disease among vaccinated MHD patients, infection with Omicron variant was still associated with the significant 90-day mortality rate.
The Effectiveness of the Case Manager-Centered Collaborative Care Model with Computer-Assisted Assessment on Quality Indicators for the Care of Dementia
Authors: Chen Yen-Jen , Wang Wen-Fu , Chang Ming-Che , Jhang Kai-Ming
Published: March 2024

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the influence of case management and its corresponding computer-assisted assessment system on the quality improvement of dementia care. Methods: This observational study enrolled 2029 patients and their caregivers at Changhua Christian Hospital in Taiwan. Physicians who made the diagnosis of dementia would introduce the patient and caregiver dyad to the case manager-centered collaborative care team after obtaining agreement. The achievement rates of 11 quality indicators (QIs) comprising timely diagnostic evaluations, regular screens of cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver support, and proper medication prescriptions were counted. Different timeframes (≤4 months, 4 months–1 year, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, or ≥3 years) from diagnosis of dementia to collaborative care intervention were compared. Results: A significantly higher attainment rate was achieved for patients with earlier entry into the collaborative team model, including QIs about timely diagnosis and regular screening, and caregiver support. The QIs regarding dementia medication prescriptions and documentation of the risk of antipsychotics remained similar regardless of the time of entry into the model. The completion rates of QIs also improved after the information system was launched. Conclusions: Physician-case manager co-management in the setting of a collaborative care model with a computer-assisted assessment system helps improve QI achievement for dementia care.
Association between Marital Status and Cognitive Impairment in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population
Authors: Lee Mei Ying , Huang Xiangyuan , Hilal Saima
Published: March 2024

Objective: This study aimed to examine the potential factors associated with marital status and determine the association between marital status and cognitive impairment in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Method: This study included 2,321 participants from Singapore Multi-Ethnic Cohort revisit study (aged 40–89). Participants were classified into married and unmarried group at baseline and follow-up according to self-reported marital status. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was administered, and cognitive impairment was defined as a MMSE <26. We conducted both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to examine the association of marital status at 1 timepoint as well as marital transition with cognitive impairment. Results: Of the 2,321 participants, a total of 1,914 (82.5%) were married. The factors associated with marital status included younger age, male sex, higher household income, higher education, and higher physical activity levels. Additionally, married participants also had higher alternative healthy eating index (AHEI-2010) scores and a lower burden of hypertension and diabetes. Among those who were married, the median (Q1, Q3) MMSE score was 29 (28, 30) while among those who were unmarried it was 29 (27, 30) (p < 0.01). Participants who had never been married had the highest odds of cognitive impairment compared to their married counterparts (model III: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14). Older age (p interaction value = 0.003) and Indian ethnicity (p interaction value = 0.028) further strengthened these associations. Conclusion: Marriage was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment. Marriage provides social support, companionship, and engagement in mentally stimulating activities contributing to better cognitive health. By identifying risk factors such as marital status, interventions and support systems can be developed to promote healthy cognitive aging.
Parasit Veteriner
Authors: Yesica Reza , Kusumarini Shelly
Published: March 2024

Buku “Parasit Veteriner” ini diharapkan dapat menjadi media untuk mencapai kompetensi dan menunjang kemampuan afektif dalam pembelajaran penyakit parasit pada hewan bagi mahasiswa Kedokteran Hewan. Cakupan materi yang ditulis dalam buku telah disesuaikan dengan kurikulum Pendidikan S1 Kedokteran Hewan di Indonesia merujuk pada Asosiasi Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Indonesia (AFKHI) dan Organisasi Kesehatan Hewan Dunia (OIE) di antaranya: 1) Parasitisme pada hewan dan metode pemeriksaan penyakit parasit, 2) Helminthiasis pada hewan, 3) Penyakit protozoa, dan 4) Penyakit ektoparasit veteriner. Kandungan isi buku “Parasit Veteriner” akan menjelaskan penyakit parasit mulai dari agen infeksi dan morfologi parasit, gejala klinis, transmisi atau penularan penyakit, distribusi penyakit/ epidemiologi, cara diagnosis penyakit, masa inkubasi dan periode prepaten, pengobatan, dan pencegahan penyakit parasit. Buku Parasit Veteriner juga diharapkan dapat bermanfaat juga bagi dokter hewan di Kementerian Pertanian untuk mendiagnosis penyakit parasit, kelompok penggiat pecinta hewan, pet owner dan organisasi sosial yang bergerak di bidang perlindungan hewan dan satwa liar. Tentunya untuk memperoleh pengalaman belajar yang sempurna dibutuhkan saran dan kritik yang membangun agar buku ini semakin bermanfaat.
Dasar-Dasar Penulisan Bahasa Inggris Akademis untuk Mahasiswa Jurusan Non-Bahasa Inggris
Authors: Fatimah F , Jati Muh Suluh , Hamamah H
Published: March 2024

Bahasa Inggris Akademik, sebagaimana dijelaskan dalam buku ini, bukan hanya tentang tata bahasa dan kosakata, tetapi juga tentang cara berpikir dan mengekspresikan ide secara akademik. Bahasa Inggris akademik membantu mahasiswa untuk mengomunikasikan ide-ide dengan jelas, terorganisir, dan tepat. Ini adalah kemampuan yang sangat dibutuhkan dalam proses pembelajaran dan riset. Buku ini akan membantu mahasiswa dalam mengembangkan kemampuan menulis akademik yang kuat, sehingga mereka dapat percaya diri dalam menulis esai, laporan penelitian, dan tulisan ilmiah lainnya. Buku ini dirancang untuk menjadi panduan praktis yang dapat digunakan mahasiswa secara mandiri atau sebagai materipenunjang mata kuliah Bahasa Inggris Akademik. Materi buku ini telah kami susun secara sistematis, dengan contoh nyata, latihan praktis, dan instruksi yang jelas. Mahasiswa akan memperoleh pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang konsep dasar EAP dan memperkuat keterampilan bahasa Inggris mereka dalam setiap bab.
Circadian Influences on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Heart Failure
Authors: Eckle Tobias , Bertazzo Júlia , Khatua Tarak Nath , Fatemi Tabatabaei Seyed Reza , Moori Bakhtiari Naghmeh , Walker Lori A. , Martino Tami A.
Published: March 2024

The impact of circadian rhythms on cardiovascular function and disease development is well established, with numerous studies in genetically modified animals emphasizing the circadian molecular clock’s significance in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia and heart failure progression. However, translational preclinical studies targeting the heart's circadian biology are just now emerging and are leading to the development of a novel field of medicine termed circadian medicine. In this review, we explore circadian molecular mechanisms and novel therapies, including (1) intense light, (2) small molecules modulating the circadian mechanism, and (3) chronotherapies such as cardiovascular drugs and meal timings. These promise significant clinical translation in circadian medicine for cardiovascular disease. (4) Additionally, we address the differential functioning of the circadian mechanism in males versus females, emphasizing the consideration of biological sex, gender, and aging in circadian therapies for cardiovascular disease.
Sleepers Led by God
Authors: Davies John A.
Published: March 2024

In 1 Thess 4:14 Paul has often been understood to teach that dead believers, who have been in heaven, will return to earth with Christ at the parousia. Others understand it of believers being transported to heaven. This article proposes a fresh understanding of the passage, informed by the OT and Second Temple background of God leading his people out of the realm of death and into life in his presence.
Responses of Lower-Stratospheric Water Vapor to Regional Sea Surface Temperature Changes
Authors: Zhou Lingyu , Xia Yan , Xie Fei , Zhou Chen , Zhao Chuanfeng
Published: March 2024

The variability of stratospheric water vapor (SWV) plays a crucial role in stratospheric chemistry and Earth’s energy budget, strongly influenced by sea surface temperature (SST). In this study, we systematically investigate the response of lower-SWV (LSWV) to regional sea surface temperature changes using idealized SST patch experiments within a climate model. The results indicate that LSWV is most sensitive to tropical sea surface temperature, with the strongest response occurring in late autumn and early winter. Warming of the tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific (WP) leads to stratospheric drying, while warming of the tropical Atlantic (TA) and eastern Pacific results in stratospheric moistening. The drying impact on LSWV due to warming in the western Pacific Ocean exceeds the wet effect in the eastern Pacific Ocean by approximately 60%. The variations in tropical SST influence LSWV by modulating the temperature at the tropical tropopause layer, especially over the Indo-Pacific warm pool through Matsuno–Gill responses. Furthermore, the response of LSWV to tropical SST changes exhibits nonnegligible nonlinearity, which indicates the importance of nonlinearity in determining the LSWV response to global surface warming.

Significance Statement

In this study, we explore how changes in the temperature of the ocean’s surface can affect the amount of water vapor in the stratosphere, a layer of Earth’s atmosphere. Understanding this relationship is important because water vapor in the stratosphere can influence both our climate and the chemistry of the atmosphere. Using a climate model, we found that water vapor in the lower stratosphere is especially responsive to temperature changes in tropical ocean regions. Specifically, when the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific get warmer, the stratosphere tends to get drier. On the other hand, warming in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific leads to more moisture in the stratosphere. The way these changes add up is complex and not simply a sum of individual parts, especially in tropical warm pool regions. Our findings have implications for how we understand and predict the impacts of climate change on stratospheric water vapor.
Colorist Microaggressions and Brown Asian Americans: Implications for Behavioral Science
Authors: Sissoko D. R. Gina , Hussain Sheharyar , Arevalo Kristina , Rodriguez Wiston , Soni Saniya , Tejeda Emerson , Nadal Kevin L.
Published: March 2024

This article examines the manifestation of colorism toward Brown Asians through Microaggression Theory. Colorism has been defined as a stratification system based on skin tone, where those with the lightest skin tones are granted the most privileges, whereas those with the darkest are granted the least. Colorism impacts Asian Americans across domains, including education, employment, family relations, body image, and marital prospects. Brown Asians are particularly vulnerable to colorism and associated behaviors, as evidenced by the fact that South Asian countries house the largest skin bleaching markets. However, due to the historical aggregation of data on Asian American groups, research has traditionally focused on lighter-skinned East Asians, and experiences of darker-skinned Asians (i.e., South and Southeast Asians) remain largely obscured. This article describes the historical obscuring of colorism within Asian and American communities and utilizes Microaggression Theory to describe the potential manifestation of colorism toward Brown Asian communities. We propose five themes of colorist microaggressions Brown Asians may experience: (a) Invisibility & Exclusion, and Authenticity (b) Assumptions of Beauty and Desirability, (c) Assumptions of Inferior Status or Intellect, (d) Assumptions of Deviance and Criminality, and (e) Internalized Microaggressions. Furthermore, we discuss additional considerations in studies of Brown Asian experiences, including cultural, historical, and ethnic heterogeneity, intersectionality, and experiences within organizations and institutions.
Organized Labor, Labor Market Imperfections, and Employer Wage Premia
Authors: Dobbelaere Sabien , Hirsch Boris , Mueller Steffen , Neuschaeffer Georg
Published: March 2024

This article examines how collective bargaining through unions and workplace codetermination through works councils relate to labor market imperfections and how labor market imperfections relate to employer wage premia. Based on representative German plant data for the years 1999–2016, the authors document that 70% of employers pay wages below the marginal revenue product of labor and 30% pay wages above that level. Findings further show that the prevalence of wage markdowns is significantly smaller when organized labor is present, and that the ratio of wages to the marginal revenue product of labor is significantly larger. Finally, the authors document a close link between labor market imperfections and mean employer wage premia, that is, wage differences between employers corrected for worker sorting.
Detecting Differential Item Functioning in Multidimensional Graded Response Models With Recursive Partitioning
Authors: Classe Franz , Kern Christoph
Published: March 2024

Differential item functioning (DIF) is a common challenge when examining latent traits in large scale surveys. In recent work, methods from the field of machine learning such as model-based recursive partitioning have been proposed to identify subgroups with DIF when little theoretical guidance and many potential subgroups are available. On this basis, we propose and compare recursive partitioning techniques for detecting DIF with a focus on measurement models with multiple latent variables and ordinal response data. We implement tree-based approaches for identifying subgroups that contribute to DIF in multidimensional latent variable modeling and propose a robust, yet scalable extension, inspired by random forests. The proposed techniques are applied and compared with simulations. We show that the proposed methods are able to efficiently detect DIF and allow to extract decision rules that lead to subgroups with well fitting models.
Shared decision-making in palliative cancer care: A systematic review and metasynthesis
Authors: Rabben Jannicke , Vivat Bella , Fossum Mariann , Rohde Gudrun Elin
Published: March 2024

Background:

Shared decision-making is a key element of person-centred care and promoted as the favoured model in preference-sensitive decision-making. Limitations to implementation have been observed, and barriers and limitations, both generally and in the palliative setting, have been highlighted. More knowledge about the process of shared decision-making in palliative cancer care would assist in addressing these limitations.

Aim:

To identify and synthesise qualitative data on how people with cancer, informal carers and healthcare professionals experience and perceive shared decision-making in palliative cancer care.

Design:

A systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies. We analysed data using inductive thematic analysis.

Data sources:

We searched five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus) from inception until June 2023, supplemented by backward searches.

Results:

We identified and included 23 studies, reported in 26 papers. Our analysis produced four analytical themes; (1) Overwhelming situation of ‘no choice’, (2) Processes vary depending on the timings and nature of the decisions involved, (3) Patient-physician dyad is central to decision-making, with surrounding support and (4) Level of involvement depends on interactions between individuals and systems.

Conclusion:

Shared decision-making in palliative cancer care is a complex process of many decisions in a challenging, multifaceted and evolving situation where equipoise and choice are limited. Implications for practice: Implementing shared decision-making in clinical practice requires (1) clarifying conceptual confusion, (2) including members of the interprofessional team in the shared decision-making process and (3) adapting the approach to the ambiguous, existential situations which arise in palliative cancer care.
Opposing serial dependencies revealed for sequences of auditory emotional stimuli
Authors: Van der Burg Erik , Baart Martijn , Vroomen Jean , Zhang Huihui , Alais David
Published: March 2024

Our percept of the world is not solely determined by what we perceive and process at a given moment in time, but also depends on what we processed recently. In the present study, we investigate whether the perceived emotion of a spoken sentence is contingent upon the emotion of an auditory stimulus on the preceding trial (i.e., serial dependence). Thereto, participants were exposed to spoken sentences that varied in emotional affect by changing the prosody that ranged from ‘happy’ to ‘fearful’. Participants were instructed to rate the emotion. We found a positive serial dependence for emotion processing whereby the perceived emotion was biased towards the emotion on the preceding trial. When we introduced ‘no-go’ trials (i.e., no rating was required), we found a negative serial dependence when participants knew in advance to withhold their response on a given trial (Experiment 2) and a positive serial dependence when participants received the information to withhold their response after the stimulus presentation (Experiment 3). We therefore established a robust serial dependence for emotion processing in speech and introduce a methodology to disentangle perceptual from post-perceptual processes. This approach can be applied to the vast majority of studies investigating sequential dependencies to separate positive from negative serial dependence.
Pedicle screw pull-out testing in polyurethane foam blocks: Effect of block orientation and density
Authors: Bennie Stephen , Crowley James Douglas , Wang Tian , Pelletier Matthew Henry , Walsh William Robert
Published: March 2024

Synthetic bone models such as polyurethane (PU) foam are a well-established substitute to cadaveric bone for screw pull-out testing; however, little attention has been given to the effect of PU foam anisotropy on orthopaedic implant testing. Compressive and screw pull-out performance in three PU foam densities; 0.16 g/cm3 (PCF 10), 0.32 g/cm3 (PCF 20) and 0.64 g/cm3 (PCF 40) were performed in each of the X, Y or Z orientations. The maximum compressive force, stiffness in the linear region, maximum stress and modulus were determined for all compression tests. Pedicle screws were inserted and pulled out axially to determine maximum pull-out force, energy to failure and stiffness. One-way ANOVA and post hoc tests were used to compare outcome variables between PU foam densities and orientations, respectively. Compression tests demonstrated the maximum force was significantly different between all orientations for PCF 20 (X, Y and Z) while stiffness and maximum stress were different between X versus Y and X versus Z. Maximum pull-out force was significantly different between all orientations for PCF 10 foam. No significant differences were noted for other foam densities. There is potential for screw pull-out testing results to be significantly affected by orientation in lower density PU foams. It is recommended that a single, known orientation of the PU foam block be used for experimental testing.
Using polyethylene terephthalate bottle waste as a viable precursor for the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resin in fabrication of jute fibre reinforced composites
Authors: Nath Devarun , Das Debasish , Chattopadhyay Santanu , Mahish Sudipta Sekhar , Datta Mallika
Published: March 2024

The present research effort employs glycolysed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle waste as a precursor for the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resin (rUPR). This resin is then used for manufacturing composites that are reinforced with jute fibres using the sheet moulding compound technique. The limited crosslinking of styrene in the rUPR was elucidated using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The elevated exothermic reaction energy of 1152 kJ and the clearly identifiable peak observed at 1620 cm−1 in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum provided substantial evidence for this phenomenon. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the recycled unsaturated polyester resin (rUPR) demonstrated a higher level of amorphous nature This observation can be attributed to reduced viscosity and enhanced ductility of rUPR. The utilisation of the rUPR as a matrix material has shown significant effectiveness in enhancing the tensile and flexural properties of composites reinforced with jute fibres. Thereby, the objective of this research is to develop a thermoset resin using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rUPR) waste material for identification its suitability in manufacturing composites with jute fibres as reinforcement.
Health Care Worker Education for Palliative Care in Africa: Narrative Review
Authors: Beecher Claire , Holmes David
Published: March 2024

The demand for palliative care for terminally ill patients is rising globally. This review examines the potential of health worker education to enhance palliative care in Africa. A search of PubMed yielded 32 relevant articles published in English from 2013 to 2023 focused on African countries with WHO-categorized palliative care development and health care worker training. The findings underscore the pivotal role of health care worker education in elevating palliative care standards. Targeted initiatives equip health care workers with vital skills in pain management, symptom control, and communication. The integration of palliative care into public health systems is important for the sustainability of end-of-life care for terminally ill patients in Africa and around the world.
Selecting Technically Adequate Tests
Authors: Johnsen Susan K.
Published: March 2024

The author provides a checklist for educators who are selecting technically adequate tests for identifying and referring students for gifted education services and programs. The checklist includes questions related to how the test was normed, reliability and validity studies as well as questions related to types of scores, administration, and format. The author concludes that selecting technically adequate tests is a critical step in developing an identification procedure that will be inclusive, reliable, and valid for finding students who will benefit from the school’s gifted education services and programs.
Choroid plexus volume differentiates MS from its mimics
Authors: Levit Elle , Ren Zheng , Gonzenbach Virgilio , Azevedo Christina J , Calabresi Peter A , Cree Bruce AC , Freeman Leorah , Longbrake Erin E , Oh Jiwon , Schindler Matthew K , Sicotte Nancy L , Reich Daniel S , Ontaneda Daniel , Sati Pascal , Cao Quy , Shinohara Russell T , Solomon Andrew J
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to determine whether choroid plexus volume (CPV) could differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from its mimics. A secondary analysis of two previously enrolled studies, 50 participants with MS and 64 with alternative diagnoses were included. CPV was automatically segmented from 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by manual review to remove misclassified tissue. Mean normalized choroid plexus volume (nCPV) to intracranial volume demonstrated relatively high specificity for MS participants in each cohort (0.80 and 0.76) with an area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve of 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.55–0.87) and 0.65 (95% CI = 0.52–0.77). In this preliminary study, nCPV differentiated MS from its mimics.
Non-inferiority analysis of subcutaneous versus intravenous 300 mg monthly natalizumab administration: A post hoc analysis of the REFINE study
Authors: Mealli Fabrizia , Mattei Alessandra , Mariottini Alice , Massacesi Luca
Published: March 2024

To quantify the probability that monthly intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) natalizumab (NTZ) had similar efficacy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), non-inferiority of efficacy of NTZ-SC versus NTZ-IV on combined MRI unique active lesions number (CUAL) was explored re-analysing the REFINE data set. Non-inferiority margins were selected equal to 25%/33%/50% fractions of the effect size of NTZ-IV versus placebo observed in the AFFIRM study. Ninety-nine RRMS were included. NTZ-SC resulted not inferior to NTZ-IV on CUAL for all margins at 2.5% significance level, and, in worst-case scenario, its effect over NTZ-IV did not exceed 3.5% (or 2.8%) of the effect of NTZ-IV versus placebo.
Measurement invariance of the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in autistic adolescents
Authors: Turcan Chloe , Delamain Henry , Loke Asher , Pender Richard , Mandy Will , Saunders Rob
Published: March 2024

Mental health conditions are more prevalent in autistic people than non-autistic people. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is a commonly used screening tool for emotional and behavioural difficulties in autistic children and adolescents. However, few studies have assessed the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in populations of autistic people, especially measurement invariance, to examine whether the underlying latent structure is consistent across time or groups. Measurement invariance of the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a nationally representative cohort study was examined: longitudinal invariance (autistic 11-, 14- and 17-year-olds) and group invariance (autistic and non-autistic 17-year-olds). Differential item functioning was explored in the autistic/non-autistic group analysis. The five-factor structure showed inadequate fit, especially in the autistic group; by extension, measurement invariance could not be established. Differential item functioning was observed for several conduct problems, prosocial behaviour and peer problems subscale items, as well as reverse-coded items. Poor structural validity and item-level invariance may confound findings from research within and between populations of autistic and non-autistic adolescents, as well as screening of mental health conditions in autistic adolescents. This research calls for the development and improvement of screening tools for emotional and behavioural difficulties in populations of autistic people while accounting for their heterogeneity.

Lay abstract

Autistic people are more likely than non-autistic people to experience mental health difficulties. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is often used to screen for these difficulties and to otherwise make important decisions about mental health treatment and research in populations of autistic people. However, this study suggests that parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores may not be useful for comparing autistic and non-autistic adolescents at 11, 14 and 17 years old, as well as screening for mental health conditions in autistic adolescents. In addition, several items may be more likely to be endorsed by parents of autistic 17-year-olds than by parents of non-autistic 17-year-olds (and vice versa), which might suggest caution is needed when comparing groups on specific items.
Multi-sensor fusion based optimized deep convolutional neural network for boxing punch activity recognition
Authors: Jayakumar Brindha , Govindarajan Nallavan
Published: March 2024

Recent advancements in deep learning have significantly enhanced the recognition of player activities in sports by enabling automatic feature extraction. In our proposed work, we focus on recognizing six distinct punches in the context of boxing. We incorporate the sliding window technique during the pre-processing stage to transform the time-series data obtained from Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors in a boxing punch activity recognition system. Our approach influences a sensor fusion-based Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) classification model to identify various boxing punches accurately, achieving an impressive F1 score. The system demonstrates proficiency in distinguishing similar activities, such as jab and hook punches where the existing systems made misclassifications due to subtle variations in arm flexion that differentiate the two. Through experimentation, we identify an optimal window size for boxing punch activity recognition, which falls within the range of 15–20 frames (equivalent to 0.15–0.25 s). This window size selection results in a notable reduction in inference time. To evaluate our proposed model, we conduct comparisons with a standard DCNN and an optimized DCNN model. Our proposed optimized DCNN model demonstrates enhanced recognition accuracy, achieving an impressive 99%, coupled with an improved F1 score of 87%. Furthermore, the model displays a remarkable reduction in inference time, clocking in at less than 1 ms. Overall, our research contributes to the field of sports-related player activity recognition by employing the power of deep learning. By expertly combining these techniques, we achieve remarkable accuracy, precision, and efficiency in recognizing various boxing punches.
Lapidus Arthrodesis for Correction of Hallux Valgus Deformity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Waehner Maximilian , Klos Kajetan , Polzer Hans , Ray Robbie , Lorchan Lewis Thomas , Waizy Hazibullah
Published: March 2024

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare different fixation methods to achieve Tarsometatarsal joint I (TMT-1) arthrodesis in patients with hallux valgus regarding radiographic correction, complication profile, and clinical outcomes. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis included primary literature results of evidence level 1 to 3 studies in German and English. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established and applied, along with parameters suitable for comparison of data. Results. 16 studies with a total of 1176 participants met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Twelve evaluation criteria were compared among 3 fixation techniques; comprised of a screw-only, dorsomedial plating- and plantar plating cohort. There was no statistical difference in deformity correction (both intermetatarsal- and hallux valgus angle), or AOFAS score between the cohorts. The complication rate was 13% in the plantar-, 19.5% in the dorsomedial-, and 24.5% in the screw cohort. Nonunion was seen in 0.7% of participants in the plantar, 1.4% in the dorsomedial, and 5.3% in the screw group. The time until complete weightbearing correlated positively with the development of nonunion, with a coefficient of 0.376 (P = .009). Hardware removal was performed in 11.8% of patients in the dorsomedial cohort, 7.7% in the screw cohort, and 3.6% in the plantar cohort. Conclusion. Based on the results of meta-analysis of heterogeneous studies, plantar plating facilitated early weightbearing and patient mobilization compared to the other fixation methods, while carrying the lowest nonunion, hardware removal, and general complication risk. However, owing to the relatively small number of patients in the plantar plating group, more work is necessary to elucidate the benefits of plantar plating for a first tarsometatarsal joint arthrodesis. Development of complications appears to be largely dependent on the fixation model, rather than patient mobilization alone.

Level of Evidence: 3
Glofitamab stimulates immune cell infiltration of CNS tumors and induces clinical responses in secondary CNS lymphoma
Authors: Godfrey James K. , Gao Lei , Shouse Geoffrey , Song Joo Y. , Pak Stacy , Lee Brian , Chen Bihong T. , Kallam Avyakta , Baird John H. , Marcucci Guido , Ghoda Lucy , Vauleon Stephanie , Danilov Alexey V. , Herrera Alex F. , Kwak Larry W. , Budde Lihua E.
Published: March 2024

Although CD20×CD3 bispecific antibodies are effective against systemic B-cell lymphomas, their efficacy in central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is unknown. Here, we report the CD20×CD3 bispecific glofitamab penetrates the blood-brain barrier, stimulates immune-cell infiltration of CNS tumors, and induces clinical responses in patients with secondary CNS.
A combination of logical judging circuit and water-resistant ultrathin film PEDOT: PSS electrode for noninvasive ECG measurement
Authors: Song Kewei , Hirose Kayo , Niitsu Kioto , Sui Tsubasa , Kojima Hiroto , Fujie Toshinori , Umezu Shinjiro
Published: March 2024

Heart disease-related deaths have increased in recent decades, with most patients dying of sudden cardiac arrest. In such instances, the effect of regular electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements is minimal. Therefore, long-term ECG monitoring has become increasingly important. In this paper, we report a non-adhesive high accuracy ECG monitoring system that can be used in various scenarios without interfering with daily activities. The ECG ultra-thin film electrode is made by water-resistant material based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) electrode doped with ethylene glycol (EG) and xylitol, to improve the noise signal caused by sweat. The optimal ratio of the three ingredients of PEDOT: PSS/xylitol/EG was determined experimentally to accommodate the ECG monitoring. By using the proposed selectively closed multi-channel single-lead logic circuit, the noise of ECG signal received from the proposed film electrode can be successfully reduced during broad-area electrode measurements, thus to improve ECG measurement accuracy.
“Patchiness” in mechanical stiffness across a tumor as an early-stage marker for malignancy
Authors: Mirzakhel Zibah , Reddy Gudur Ashrith , Boman Jennifer , Manns Brianna , Veer Savannah ter , Katira Parag
Published: March 2024

Mechanical phenotyping of tumors, either at an individual cell level or tumor cell population level is gaining traction as a diagnostic tool. However, the extent of diagnostic and prognostic information that can be gained through these measurements is still unclear. In this work, we focus on the heterogeneity in mechanical properties of cells obtained from a single source such as a tissue or tumor as a potential novel biomarker. We believe that this heterogeneity is a conventionally overlooked source of information in mechanical phenotyping data. We use mechanics-based in-silico models of cell-cell interactions and cell population dynamics within 3D environments to probe how heterogeneity in cell mechanics drives tissue and tumor dynamics. Our simulations show that the initial heterogeneity in the mechanical properties of individual cells and the arrangement of these heterogenous sub-populations within the environment can dictate overall cell population dynamics and cause a shift towards the growth of malignant cell phenotypes within healthy tissue environments. The overall heterogeneity in the cellular mechanotype and their spatial distributions is quantified by a “patchiness” index, which is the ratio of the global to local heterogeneity in cell populations. We observe that there exists a threshold value of the patchiness index beyond which an overall healthy population of cells will show a steady shift towards a more malignant phenotype. Based on these results, we propose that the “patchiness” of a tumor or tissue sample, can be an early indicator for malignant transformation and cancer occurrence in benign tumors or healthy tissues. Additionally, we suggest that tissue patchiness, measured either by biochemical or biophysical markers, can become an important metric in predicting tissue health and disease likelihood just as landscape patchiness is an important metric in ecology.
Mitochondrial genome plasticity of mammalian species
Authors: Biró Bálint , Gál Zoltán , Fekete Zsófia , Klecska Eszter , Hoffmann Orsolya Ivett
Published: March 2024

There is an ongoing process in which mitochondrial sequences are being integrated into the nuclear genome. The importance of these sequences has already been revealed in cancer biology, forensic, phylogenetic studies and in the evolution of the eukaryotic genetic information. Human and numerous model organisms’ genomes were described from those sequences point of view. Furthermore, recent studies were published on the patterns of these nuclear localised mitochondrial sequences in different taxa.

However, the results of the previously released studies are difficult to compare due to the lack of standardised methods and/or using few numbers of genomes. Therefore, in this paper our primary goal is to establish a uniform mining pipeline to explore these nuclear localised mitochondrial sequences.

Our results show that the frequency of several repetitive elements is higher in the flanking regions of these sequences than expected. A machine learning model reveals that the flanking regions’ repetitive elements and different structural characteristics are highly influential during the integration process.

In this paper, we introduce a general mining pipeline for all mammalian genomes. The workflow is publicly available and is believed to serve as a validated baseline for future research in this field. We confirm the widespread opinion, on - as to our current knowledge - the largest dataset, that structural circumstances and events corresponding to repetitive elements are highly significant. An accurate model has also been trained to predict these sequences and their corresponding flanking regions.
Knowledge, perceptions, and exposure to bats in communities living around bat roosts in Bundibugyo district, Uganda: implications for viral haemorrhagic fever prevention and control
Authors: Ninsiima Lesley Rose , Nyakarahuka Luke , Kisaka Steven , Atuheire Collins GK. , Mugisha Lawrence , Odoch Terence , Romano Javier Sánchez , Klein Jörn , Mor Siobhan M. , Kankya Clovice
Published: March 2024

Background

Bats are a reservoir for many viruses causing haemorrhagic fevers. Proximity to bats is a risk factor for virus spillover to animals and humans. We conducted this study to assess knowledge, perceptions, and exposure to bats in communities living near bat roosts in Bundibugyo District, Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using mixed methods with both quantitative and qualitative data was conducted between September and December 2022. Participants for the quantitative data (survey) (n = 384) resided near bat caves and/or roost sites and were selected using multistage random sampling. The survey investigated participants’ prior exposure to bats, as well as knowledge and perceptions of bat exposure. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with bat exposure. Participants for the qualitative data (focus group discussions) (n = 10, 6–8 participants each) were purposely selected based on engagement in guano mining, hunting, and farming activities. Perceived risk associated with bat-related activities were identified and ranked in the focus group discussions using participatory epidemiology tools.

Results

In total, (214/384, 55.7%) had a history of bat exposure and (208/384, 54.2%) had poor knowledge of risk factors associated with bat exposure. Increased exposure to bats was associated with being male (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.4 p-value = 0.038), staying in urban areas (OR = 1.9; p-value = 0.010), hunting (OR = 10.9; p-value = 0.024), and positive perception to bat guano being safe as fertiliser (OR = 2.5; p-value = 0.045). During the proportional piling process, a total of 7 risk factors were identified by 10 groups with hunting during an outbreak and consumption of bats being the most frequently identified. Overall, there was a strong statistical agreement in the ranking across the 10 focus groups (W = 0.52; p < 0.01; n = 10). Based on the provided data, the adjusted odds ratio of 0.7 for the good measures (p-value = 0.112), suggests a potential protective effect on the risk of bat exposure.

Conclusion

Communities living around bat roosts frequently come into contact with bats, yet there is inadequate awareness regarding the behaviors that can lead to the transmission of bat- borne diseases to humans. It is essential to undertake educational initiatives and preventive measures to minimise the risks of bat-related infections. The need for targeted health communication and education efforts to address these knowledge gaps and promote an accurate understanding of bats and disease transmission. Understanding of diseases associated with bats will minimize bat-related health risks especially in communities engaged in wildlife hunting.