bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical management of quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts: case series and literature review
Authors: Silva Michael A. , Chang Henry , Weng John , Hernandez Nicole E. , Shah Ashish H. , Wang Shelly , Niazi Toba , Ragheb John
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

Quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts (QACs) are congenital lesions that can cause pineal region compression and obstructive hydrocephalus when sufficiently large. Management of these cysts is controversial and rates of reintervention are high. Given the limited data on the management of QACs, the authors retrospectively reviewed 20 years of cases managed at their institution and performed a literature review on this topic.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients treated for QAC at their institution between 2001 and 2021. They also performed a literature review of studies published between 1980 and 2021 that reported at least 5 patients treated for QACs. Patient characteristics, radiographic findings, management course, and postoperative follow-up data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients treated for a QAC at the authors’ institution met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Median age was 9 months, mean cyst size was 5.1 cm, and 83% of patients had hydrocephalus. Initial treatment was endoscopic fenestration in 92% of these patients, 27% of whom had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) performed concurrently. Reintervention was required in 42% of patients. Cases that required reintervention had a statistically significant lower median age at the initial intervention (5 months) than the cases that did not require reintervention (24.33 months; p = 0.018). There were no major complications. At a mean follow-up of 5.42 years, 83% of patients had improvement or resolution of their symptoms. A literature review revealed 7 studies that met the inclusion criteria, totaling 108 patients with a mean age of 8.8 years. Eighty-seven percent of patients had hydrocephalus at presentation. Ninety-two percent of patients were initially treated with endoscopic fenestration, 44% of whom underwent concurrent ETV. Complications occurred in 17.6% of cases, and reintervention was required in 30.6% of cases. The most frequent reason for reintervention was untreated or unresolved hydrocephalus after the initial procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic fenestration is the most common treatment for QACs. While generally safe and effective, there is a high rate of reintervention after initial treatment of QACs, which may be associated with a younger age at the first intervention. Additionally, identifying patients who require initial treatment of hydrocephalus is critically important, as the literature suggests that untreated hydrocephalus is a common cause of reintervention.
Intrasaccular flow disruption for brain aneurysms: a systematic review of long-term outcomes
Authors: Chen Ching-Jen , Dabhi Nisha , Snyder M. Harrison , Ironside Natasha , Abecassis Isaac Josh , Kellogg Ryan T. , Park Min S. , Ding Dale
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

The long-term safety and efficacy of intrasaccular flow disruption (IFD) for the treatment of brain aneurysms remain unclear. With accumulating experience and increasing use of IFD devices, recent studies have provided additional data regarding their outcomes. This review summarizes the long-term outcomes of IFD-treated brain aneurysms.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed on May 23, 2021, in PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE for aneurysm treatment outcomes with IFD devices. Procedural details, including use of adjunctive devices and complications, were collected. The quality of studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Angiographic outcomes were classified as complete occlusion, residual neck, and residual aneurysm. Other outcomes included need for retreatment, permanent neurological deficit, and mortality. Pooled analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The final analysis comprised 1217 patients with 1249 aneurysms from 22 studies. The mean aneurysm diameter and neck width were 6.9 and 4.5 mm, respectively, and 27.6% of aneurysms were ruptured. The complete occlusion rates at 12 months and final follow-up (pooled mean duration 15.7 months) were 50.1% and 58.2%, respectively. Adjunctive devices were used in 6.4% of cases. The rates of hemorrhage, symptomatic infarction, permanent neurological deficit, and mortality were 1.2%, 2.8%, 1.0%, and 2.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

IFD is a very safe treatment for appropriately selected brain aneurysms with low complication and neurological deterioration rates. However, complete occlusion is achieved in only half of IFD-treated aneurysms at 1 year with a modest increase beyond this time point. As the majority of the studies were single arm, the pooled data are subject to selection and reporting biases. Future device developments, increased operator experience, and direct comparisons with alternative endovascular strategies and surgical clipping may clarify the role of IFD in aneurysm management.
Clinical and radiological risk factors for rupture of vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm: significance of the stagnation sign
Authors: Lee Hyeong Jin , Choi Jai Ho , Lee Kwan Sung , Kim Bum Soo , Shin Yong Sam
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological factors associated with the rupture of a vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA) and to evaluate whether the stagnation sign is a significant risk factor for rupture of VADA.

METHODS

Clinical and radiological variables of 117 VADAs treated in a tertiary hospital from September 2008 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The stagnation sign is defined as the finding of contrast agent remaining in the lesion until the venous phase of angiography. Univariate and multivariate analyses were executed to reveal the associations between rupture status and VADA characteristics.

RESULTS

The rate of ruptured VADAs was 29.1% (34 of 117) and the stagnation sign was observed in 39.3% (46 of 117). Fusiform shape (OR 5.105, 95% CI 1.591–16.383, p = 0.006), irregular surface (OR 4.200, 95% CI 1.412–12.495, p = 0.010), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involvement (OR 3.788, 95% CI 1.288–11.136, p = 0.016), and the stagnation sign (OR = 3.317, 95% CI 1.131–9.732, p = 0.029) were significantly related to rupture of VADA in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that fusiform shape, irregular surface, PICA involvement, and the stagnation sign may be independent risk factors for the rupture of VADA. Therefore, when the potential risk factors are observed in unruptured VADA, more aggressive treatment rather than follow-up or medical therapy may be considered.
Circumferential sulcus-guided resection technique for improved outcomes of low-grade gliomas
Authors: Al-Holou Wajd N. , Suki Dima , Hodges Tiffany R. , Everson Richard G. , Freeman Jacob , Ferguson Sherise D. , McCutcheon Ian E. , Prabhu Sujit S. , Weinberg Jeffrey S. , Sawaya Raymond , Lang Frederick F.
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

Many neurosurgeons resect nonenhancing low-grade gliomas (LGGs) by using an inside-out piecemeal resection (PMR) technique. At the authors’ institution they have increasingly used a circumferential, perilesional, sulcus-guided resection (SGR) technique. This technique has not been well described and there are limited data on its effectiveness. The authors describe the SGR technique and assess the extent to which SGR correlates with extent of resection and neurological outcome.

METHODS

The authors identified all patients with newly diagnosed LGGs who underwent resection at their institution over a 22-year period. Demographics, presenting symptoms, intraoperative data, method of resection (SGR or PMR), volumetric imaging data, and postoperative outcomes were obtained. Univariate analyses used ANOVA and Fisher’s exact test. Multivariate analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Newly diagnosed LGGs were resected in 519 patients, 208 (40%) using an SGR technique and 311 (60%) using a PMR technique. The median extent of resection in the SGR group was 84%, compared with 77% in the PMR group (p = 0.019). In multivariate analysis, SGR was independently associated with a higher rate of complete (100%) resection (27% vs 18%) (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.6; p = 0.03). SGR was also associated with a statistical trend toward lower rates of postoperative neurological complications (11% vs 16%, p = 0.09). A subset analysis of tumors located specifically in eloquent brain demonstrated SGR to be as safe as PMR.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors describe the SGR technique used to resect LGGs and show that SGR is independently associated with statistically significantly higher rates of complete resection, without an increase in neurological complications, than with PMR. SGR technique should be considered when resecting LGGs.
Artificial disc replacement and adjacent-segment pathology: 10-year outcomes of a randomized trial
Authors: Kontakis Michael , Marques Catarina , Löfgren Håkan , Mosavi Firas , Skeppholm Martin , Olerud Claes , MacDowall Anna
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

Artificial disc replacement (ADR) is designed to preserve motion and thus protect against adjacent-segment pathology (ASP) and act as an alternative treatment to fusion surgery. The question remains, how well do ADR devices perform after 10 years of follow-up compared with fusion surgery in terms of patient satisfaction, sustainability, and protection against ASP?

METHODS

This was the 10-year follow-up study of 153 participants who underwent ADR or fusion surgery after anterior decompression due to cervical degenerative radiculopathy (ISRCTN registration no. 44347115). Scores on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), EQ-5D, and visual analog scale for neck and arm pain were obtained from the Swedish Spine Registry and analyzed using ANCOVA. Information about secondary surgical procedures was collected from medical records and presented as Kaplan-Meier curves. MRI and flexion-extension radiography were performed, and ASP was graded according to the Miyazaki classification system.

RESULTS

Ten participants were lost to follow-up, which left 143 participants (80 underwent ADR and 65 underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion). There were no differences between groups in terms of patient-reported outcome measures (10-year difference in NDI scores 1.7 points, 95% CI −5.1 to 8.5, p = 0.61). Nineteen (24%) participants in the ADR group compared with 9 (14%) in the fusion group underwent secondary surgical procedures. The higher reoperation rate of the ADR group was mainly due to 11 female participants with device loosening. The rates of reoperation due to ASP were similar between groups, which was confirmed with MRI assessment of ASP that also showed no differences between the groups (p = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

This was the first 10-year follow-up study to compare ADR with fusion surgery and to provide MRI information for the assessment of ASP. The authors found no benefit of ADR over fusion surgery after anterior decompression for cervical degenerative radiculopathy.
Telepractice in service delivery: A survey of perspectives and practices of speech and language therapists in Ireland during COVID-19
Authors: Farren Eilis , Quigley Duana , Lynch Yvonne
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 accelerated telepractice implementation in speech and language therapy (SLT) in Ireland. OBJECTIVE: This study documents the service delivery changes that took place in the SLT profession in Ireland during the public health crisis. METHODS: An online survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in Ireland was conducted from June-September 2020 to investigate their perceptions of telepractice. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and frequency distribution. RESULTS: 173 SLT responses were analysed. Over half of the participants worked in urban locations. Respondents’ years of experience varied from less than four years to over 20 years. Slightly over half the participants reported using telepractice, with 85% starting to use telepractice in the six months prior to the survey. Telepractice uptake was not influenced by participants’ professional experience or geographical location (p > 0.05). Almost all participants who used telepractice were trained informally (92%). Telepractice was most commonly used with school-aged children with developmental language and speech sound disorders. Respondents perceived that telepractice was not suitable for all individuals who need SLT, including those with complex needs. Clinicians reported that telepractice facilitated access to therapy for clients and opportunities to see clients in their own environments. Technology barriers were the biggest hurdle to telepractice use. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of telepractice by the SLT profession in Ireland was widespread during COVID-19, highlighting the profession’s flexibility and innovation. Respondents indicated they are likely to continue to use telepractice as a complementary service delivery model post-COVID due to the distinct benefits for clinicians and clients.
Muscle-to-Brain Signaling Via Myokines and Myometabolites
Authors: Rai Mamta , Demontis Fabio
Published: January 2022

Skeletal muscle health and function are important determinants of systemic metabolic homeostasis and organism-wide responses, including disease outcome. While it is well known that exercise protects the central nervous system (CNS) from aging and disease, only recently this has been found to depend on the endocrine capacity of skeletal muscle. Here, we review muscle-secreted growth factors and cytokines (myokines), metabolites (myometabolites), and other unconventional signals (e.g. bioactive lipid species, enzymes, and exosomes) that mediate muscle-brain and muscle-retina communication and neuroprotection in response to exercise and associated processes, such as the muscle unfolded protein response and metabolic stress. In addition to impacting proteostasis, neurogenesis, and cognitive functions, muscle-brain signaling influences complex brain-dependent behaviors, such as depression, sleeping patterns, and biosynthesis of neurotransmitters. Moreover, myokine signaling adapts feeding behavior to meet the energy demands of skeletal muscle. Contrary to protective myokines induced by exercise and associated signaling pathways, inactivity and muscle wasting may derange myokine expression and secretion and in turn compromise CNS function. We propose that tailoring muscle-to-CNS signaling by modulating myokines and myometabolites may combat age-related neurodegeneration and brain diseases that are influenced by systemic signals.
Uric acid and uric acid/creatinine ratio and their correlations with the hemorheological determinants in subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis
Authors: Caimi Gregorio , Urso Caterina , Brucculeri Salvatore , Amato Corrado , Lo Presti Rosalia , Carlisi Melania
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: we have examined the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio as well as their correlations with the main determinants of the hemorheological profile in a group of subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: we evaluated the concentration of serum uric acid and the serum uric acid/creatine ratio in 43 men and 57 women [median age 66.00 (25)] with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, subsequently divided according to the number of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and to the insulin resistance degree. RESULTS: serum uric acid, but not the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio, results strongly influenced by the number of cardiovascular risk factors and by the insulin resistance degree. In the whole group and in the subgroups of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis subjects, serum uric acid and serum uric acid/creatinine ratio show significant correlation, besides with whole blood viscosity, with plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation. The influence of the serum uric acid on the erythrocyte aggregability that is a part of the erythrocyte aggregation is to ascribe to the action carried out by serum uric acid on the erythrocyte zeta potential. CONCLUSIONS: it is reasonable to think that the treatment of the asymptomatic or symptomatic hyperuricemia with the urate-lowering therapy that reduces the serum uric acid concentration may reflect on the hemorheological profile which role on the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is well known.
Preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma based on kupffer phase radiomics features of sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SCEUS): A prospective study
Authors: Dong Yi , Zuo Dan , Qiu Yi-Jie , Cao Jia-Ying , Wang Han-Zhang , Yu Ling-Yun , Wang Wen-Ping
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVES: To establish and to evaluate a machine learning radiomics model based on grayscale and Sonazoid contrast enhanced ultrasound images for the preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: 100 cases of histopathological confirmed HCC lesions were prospectively included. Regions of interest were segmented on both grayscale and Kupffer phase of Sonazoid contrast enhanced (CEUS) images. Radiomic features were extracted from tumor region and region containing 5 mm of peritumoral liver tissues. Maximum relevance minimum redundancy (MRMR) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) were used for feature selection and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was trained for radiomic signature calculation. Radiomic signatures were incorporated with clinical variables using univariate-multivariate logistic regression for the final prediction of MVI. Receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate model’s predictive performance of MVI. RESULTS: Age were the only clinical variable significantly associated with MVI. Radiomic signature derived from Kupffer phase images of peritumoral liver tissues (kupfferPT) displayed a significantly better performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.800 (95% confidence interval: 0.667, 0.834), the final prediction model using age and kupfferPT achieved an AUROC of 0.804 (95% CI: 0.723, 0.878), accuracy of 75.0%, sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 69.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Radiomic model based on Kupffer phase ultrasound images of tissue adjacent to HCC lesions showed an observable better predictive value compared to grayscale images and has potential value to facilitate preoperative identification of HCC patients at higher risk of MVI.
Multi-task learning framework for predicting water quality using non-linear machine learning technique
Authors: Senthilkumar D. , George Washington D. , Reshmy A.K. , Noornisha M.
Published: January 2022

Predicting the quality of water is a very important issue in an ecosystem and it can be used to control the increase of water contamination. Also, water quality prediction is a prominent complex non-linear multi-target learning problem and extracting a relevant subset of features from a large number of features with multiple targets is a challenging task. Existing water quality prediction model not focused on multi-target learning process simultaneously and not identifying the non-linear relationship between the features and target variables. Therefore, this study proposes a multi-task learning method dealing with multi-target regression using non-linear machine learning technique. Finally, experiments are conducted to build a prediction model based on the proposed methods to evaluate accuracy on water quality dataset. The experimental results indicate that our method increases the overall accuracy of the experimental dataset compared with the existing methods with the reduced number of significant features.
A new contribution in fuzzy cone metric spaces by strong fixed point techniques with supportive application
Authors: Rashwan Rashwan A. , Hammad Hasanen A. , Nafea A.
Published: January 2022

In this manuscript, the concept of a cyclic tripled type fuzzy cone contraction mapping in the setting of fuzzy cone metric spaces is introduced. Also, some theoretical results concerned with tripled fixed points are given without a mixed monotone property in the mentioned space. Moreover, under this concept, some strong tripled fixed point results are obtained. Ultimately, to support the theoretical results non-trivial examples are listed and the existence of a unique solution to a system of integral equations is presented as an application.
Hybrid pooling with wavelets for convolutional neural networks
Authors: Trevino-Sanchez Daniel , Alarcon-Aquino Vicente
Published: January 2022

The need to detect and classify objects correctly is a constant challenge, being able to recognize them at different scales and scenarios, sometimes cropped or badly lit is not an easy task. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) have become a widely applied technique since they are completely trainable and suitable to extract features. However, the growing number of convolutional neural networks applications constantly pushes their accuracy improvement. Initially, those improvements involved the use of large datasets, augmentation techniques, and complex algorithms. These methods may have a high computational cost. Nevertheless, feature extraction is known to be the heart of the problem. As a result, other approaches combine different technologies to extract better features to improve the accuracy without the need of more powerful hardware resources. In this paper, we propose a hybrid pooling method that incorporates multiresolution analysis within the CNN layers to reduce the feature map size without losing details. To prevent relevant information from losing during the downsampling process an existing pooling method is combined with wavelet transform technique, keeping those details "alive" and enriching other stages of the CNN. Achieving better quality characteristics improves CNN accuracy. To validate this study, ten pooling methods, including the proposed model, are tested using four benchmark datasets. The results are compared with four of the evaluated methods, which are also considered as the state-of-the-art.
Encapsulation of anticancer drug Ibrance into the CNT(8,8-7) nanotube: A study based on DFT method
Authors: Tavakoli Ziba , Sheikhi Masoome , Shahab Siyamak , Kaviani Sadegh , Sheikhi Batool , Kumar Rakesh
Published: January 2022

In this research, a DFT calculation was performed for study to investigate the encapsulation of the anticancer drug Ibrance into CNT(8,8-7) by using M062X/6-311G* level of theory in the solvent water. TD-DFT method was used to compute the electronic spectra of the Ibrance drug, CNT(8,8-7) and complex CNT(8,8-7)/Ibrance in aqueous medium for the study of non-bonded interaction effect. The non-bonded interaction effects of Ibrance drug with CNT(8,8-7) on the electronic properties and natural charges have been also studied. The results display the change in title parameters after process adsorption. According to NBO results, the molecule Ibrance and CNT(8,8-7) play as both electron donor and acceptor at the complex CNT(8,8-7)/Ibrance. Charge transfer, on the other hand, occurs between the bonding, antibonding, or nonbonding orbitals of Ibrance drug and CNT (8,8-7). According to QTAIM analysis and the LOL and ELF values, all intermolecular bonds in the complex are non-covalent in nature. As a result, CNT(8,8-7) can be thought of as a drug delivery system for transporting Ibrance as an anticancer drug within biological systems.
DFT and TD-DFT study of adsorption behavior of Zejula drug on surface of the B12N12 nanocluster
Authors: Balali Ebrahim , Sandi Sara , Sheikhi Masoome , Shahab Siyamak , Kaviani Sadegh
Published: January 2022

The adsorption of the Zejula drug on the surface of B12N12 nanocluster has studied using DFT and TD-DFT. The quantum calculations have performed at the M062X/6–311 + + G(d,p) level of theory in the solvent water. The adsorption of the Zejula from N13 atom on the B12N12 leads to the higher electrical conductivity due to the low Eg rather. The change of DM also displays a charge transfer between Zejula and nanocluster. The UV absorption and IR spectra were calculated. The adsorption of Zejula drug over B12N12 nanocluster in the complexes Zejula/B12N12 can be considered as a bathochromic shift. According to QTAIM analysis, -G(r)/V(r) values for B-O and B-N bonds confirming the electrostatic and partial covalent character. The values of LOL and ELF confirm that the interactions are dominated by electrostatic interaction contributions. The calculated data reveal the B12N12 nanocluster can be appropriate as a biomedical system for the delivery of Zejula drug.
Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with greater anti-oxidant capacity and improved glycemic control in Iraqi patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ashor Ammar Waham , Al-Rammahi Thaer M. M. , Abdulrazzaq Vian Mohammed , Siervo Mario
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND: Healthy dietary patterns are typically associated with improved metabolic and cardiovascular health in population-based cohorts. This study aims to investigate whether a healthy dietary score, derived from UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire (UKDDQ), is significantly associated with measures of metabolic health and nutritional status in patients with T2DM. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 85 patients with T2DM (age: 51.7±9.4, BMI: 30.6±5.3) and 20 healthy volunteers (age: 48.4±8.6, BMI: 29.5±5) recruited from the Al-Hassan Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialized Center, Karbala, Iraq. Body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) and resting clinic blood pressure were measured. All participants completed the UKDDQ to assess the quality of the diet. Metabolic and nutritional biomarkers were measured in fasting blood samples. A composite nutritional heathy index score (CNHI-score) based on the sum of z-scores for plasma vitamin A, C and E concentrations was derived. RESULTS: In patients with T2DM the UKDDQ score was associated with lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) (r = –0.33; P < 0.01), hemoglobin A1C (r = –0.49; P < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (r = –0.26; P = 0.02) concentrations. In patients with T2DM, the CNHI-score significantly associated with UKDDQ (r = 0.43; P < 0.001). In addition, a higher CNHI-score was associated with FBG (r = –0.61; P < 0.001), HbA1C (r = –0.83; P < 0.001), TC (r = –0.30; P < 0.01) and triglyceride (r = –0.30; P < 0.01) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: A healthy diet is associated with a higher concentration of anti-oxidant vitamins and better glycemic and lipid profile in healthy subjects and in patients with T2DM.
Automated detection of diabetic retinopathy using custom convolutional neural network
Authors: Albahli Saleh , Ahmad Hassan Yar Ghulam Nabi
Published: January 2022

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye deficiency that affects retina as a result of the patient having diabetes mellitus caused by high sugar levels, which may eventually lead to macular edema. The objective of this study is to design and compare several deep learning models that detect severity of diabetic retinopathy, determine risk of leading to macular edema, and segment different types of disease patterns using retina images. Indian Diabetic Retinopathy Image Dataset (IDRiD) dataset was used for disease grading and segmentation. Since images of the dataset have different brightness and contrast, we employed three techniques for generating processed images from the original images, which include brightness, color and, contrast (BCC) enhancing, color jitters (CJ), and contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE). After image preporcessing, we used pre-trained ResNet50, VGG16, and VGG19 models on these different preprocessed images both for determining the severity of the retinopathy and also the chances of macular edema. UNet was also applied to segment different types of diseases. To train and test these models, image dataset was divided into training, testing, and validation data at 70%, 20%, and 10% ratios, respectively. During model training, data augmentation method was also applied to increase the number of training images. Study results show that for detecting the severity of retinopathy and macular edema, ResNet50 showed the best accuracy using BCC and original images with an accuracy of 60.2% and 82.5%, respectively, on validation dataset. In segmenting different types of diseases, UNet yielded the highest testing accuracy of 65.22% and 91.09% for microaneurysms and hard exudates using BCC images, 84.83% for optic disc using CJ images, 59.35% and 89.69% for hemorrhages and soft exudates using CLAHE images, respectively. Thus, image preprocessing can play an important role to improve efficacy and performance of deep learning models.
The Synthetic Scaffolds for Ventral Hernia Repair: Perspectives for Regenerative Surgery—Systematic Review
Authors: Licari Leo
Published: January 2022

Ventral hernia (VH) frequently affects patients after abdominal surgery. The use of a mesh is often recommended. Different materials are described, from synthetic non-resorbable meshes to biological meshes. New generation meshes, also named scaffolds, aim to combine the advantages of both materials. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the cytological, histological, biomechanical, and clinical outcomes of the use of the newest resorbable synthetic scaffolds in VH repair, based on experimental studies in a pre-clinical setting. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Report- ing Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and to the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) guidelines. Only experimental studies were included. Outcome parameters were building technique, in vitro cytocompatibility, in vivo histocompatibility, biomechanical analysis, and clinical outcomes. The articles included were nine. The total number of cases treated was 257. Materials analyzed included electrospun silk fibroin (SF)/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) hybrid scaffolds, biodegradable polyester poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) in the form of nanofibers, biodegradable mesh in poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), nanofibrous polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold with a polypropylene (PP) material to generate a sandwich-like mesh, the collagen sponge (CS) group, the hybrid scaffold (HS) containing CS and poly-L-lactide (PLLA), and the hybrid scaffold (HS) + bone marrow (HSBM). Resorbable synthetic scaffolds are new, safe, surgical materials for the treatment or prevention of ventral hernia in animal models. Scaffolds should be tested in a contaminated surgical field for emergency use. Rigorous schematic indications for data collection are needed to improve the quality of the data in order to definitively clarify the pathway involved in inflammatory induced response.

INDIAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/S12262-021-03205-2
La tormenta perfecta
Authors: Salas Humberto
Published: January 2022

Columna de opinión.
Composite photographic portrait as a tool for visualizing local anthropological variants (using the example of Bashkir men photographic materials)
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia, Maurer Andrey Markovich
Published: January 2022

Based on individual images of Bashkir men from literary sources (early 20th century) and on the basis of our own photographs of the end of the 20th century, composite photographic portraits (full-face, in profile) were compiled using the "FaceOnFace" computer program. Based on the high similarity of composite photographic portraits, two samples (from the beginning and the end of the 20th century) of initial photographs of Bashkir men were combined into a single corpus (N = 85). Individual photographs corresponding to the descriptions of the South Siberian (N = 40) and Ural (N = 20) minor races were selected from the combined sample of photographs of Bashkir men of the 20th century. Results and discussion. Based on these two subsamples, using digital technologies, 2 pairs of high-precision male composite photographic portraits (full-face and in profile) of Bashkir men were created. They represent the two racial variants prevailing in the region. One pair of photo-generalizations characterizes the softened South Siberian (N = 40), and the other, the sub-Ural (N = 20) anthropological variants. All profile composite photographic portraits of the Bashkirs were obtained for the first time. The phantom image obtained by the method is mentally compared with a certain generalized idea of a particular anthropological version of the known racial classifications. Due to the authorial nature of the various racial classifications, the subjective choice of the «typical», «most characteristic» person (or a short series of faces), presented as an illustration, is also inevitable. Conclusion. The resulting photographic portraits are no less recognizable than the illustrations given in anthropology textbooks: two clearly distinguishable anthropologically variants are visualized that occur in Bashkir populations. This result confirms the deeply entrenched opinion of anthropologists about the heterogeneity and population polytypes of the Bashkir ethno-national community. Both population-typological composite photographic portraits of an ethnic group and a typological digital high precision quality composite portrait, which achieves the effect of "personalization" of a phantom image, are cognitive tools that allow one to assess the biological reality of the existence of human populations with biologically meaningful (adequate) visual means. It is necessary to seek visual means that are isomorphic to the nature of a living, lasting composite.
About the using of Matiegka’s formulas to evaluate the fat component of body mass. Technical recommendations (short communication)
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia, Anisimova Anna V.
Published: January 2022

For this work were taken measurements of the skinfolds of Russian children and adolescents of both sexes 7-17 years old, with a total number of 1103 pupils. Was made a comparison of the mean values of the average skinfolds. Results and discussion. In the investigated group significant differences in the average thickness of the skinfolds were revealed between the initial set of Matiegka and the modification of Lutovinova et al. The revealed differences significantly influenced the final estimates of the mass of body fat. However, the estimates obtained turned out to be highly correlated and with a high level of agreement, on the basis of which conversion formulas between them were proposed. Conclusion. When using Matiegka's formulas, it is necessary to give a detailed description of the method for measuring skinfolds, taking into account the influence of the choice of skinfolds on the final estimate of the fat mass.
The relationship between demographic indicators of public health and environmental factors in Russian cities
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Plant Ecology and Geography, Leninskie Gory, 1, 12, Moscow, 119234, Russia, Budilova Elena V. , Lagutin Michail B. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Leninskie Gory, 1, Moscow, 119234, Russia
Published: January 2022

Results. Comparison of groups of cities with different levels of air pollution in terms of the total fertility rate and the birth-death ratio revealed significant differences between the groups in 2014 (significance levels are 0.018 and 0.025, respectively) and their absence in 2015 and 2016. At the same time, in groups of cities, with an increase in the level of air pollution, an increase in the median values of the total fertility rates and the birth-death rates is noted. Comparison of groups of cities according to the aging index revealed a significant heterogeneity of groups with different levels of air pollution in 2014, 2015, 2016: significance levels are equal to 0.0007; 0.005; 0.002 respectively. In urban groups, with an increase in air pollution, the median value of the aging index decreases. Conclusion. An analysis of the relationship between demographic indicators of population health and the level of air pollution showed that the most sensitive to the level of air pollution are indicators such as the total fertility rate, the birth-death ratio and the aging index. In groups of cities, with an increase in the level of air pollution, the median values of the total fertility rate and the birth-death ratio increase, while the median values of the aging index decrease. The results obtained are consistent with the provisions of the theory of life history evolution. This research was performed according to the Development program of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University “The future of the planet and global environmental change”.
Roman sculptural portrait and votive portrait of the Roman republic time (preliminary comparative data on composite portraits)
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia, Shpak Larisa Yu.
Published: January 2022

The materials for the composite portraits were images from electronic antique collections of museums, image banks and catalogs. To obtain visual images of the studied groups, the composite portrait method was used in a digital program. Results and discussion. Unlike the roman sculptural portrait of the 1st century BC, which has a specific purpose and real prototypes, prototypes of votive terracotta heads of the 3rd – 1st centuries BC can be both real people and typified model-forms. The main differences between the composite roman portraits from the etruscan-italic votives relate to the orbital part of the face, the nose width and the upper lip hight. The composite images of the roman votives of Latium are similar to the composite roman sculptural portrait in the nose width. The morphological differences between the votive portrait and the Roman republican sculptural portrait can be a reflection of really different anthropological types, which does not except the presence of the cumulative (Greeks, Etruscans, Latins) canon of morphological form in votive portraits. Conclusion. The early Roman portrait, represented by two distinctive forms of portraiture, reveals different anthropological types. The extent to which a possible morphological canon of votive heads gifts is influenced by Greek prototypes can be determined by comparison with a composite Greek portrait.
Building materials in the medieval architecture of the archaeological site of Deraheyb (Sudan)
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia, Krol Alexei Alexandrovich , Kandinov Mikhail Nikolaevitch ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Published: January 2022

The material for the article was samples of light gray rock with lighter and darker inclusions taken during the study of architectural structures of the archaeological site Deraheib (Sudan), which has been investigated since 2017 by the Nubian Archaeological and Anthropological Mission of the Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (NAAM). This rock was used for making floor in Building 3 (Mosque) and as a bonding material in the walls of the Northern Fortress. Decorative architectural elements carved from the same rock were found during the study of the interior rooms of the Northern Fortress. Samples of this rock were taken into Russia by agreement with the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) of the Republic of Sudan. The prepared thin sections were examined at the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Results. The analysis of thin sections showed that highly altered volcanic-metamorphic rocks, metamorphosed tuffs of acidic or alkaline composition, widespread in this region of Sudan, served as the material for pouring floors and for the making of a binder in the architectural structures of Deraheib, as well as for decorative architectural elements. Discussion. The conducted research indicates that the architects who erected buildings in Deraheib in the medieval period used locally available material, since it was very difficult to deliver building materials from the Nile Valley, taken into account the location of the monument almost in the center of the Nubian Desert. The tuff deposits at the site allowed the architects to build durable structures using local materials. The results of the study will allow to elaborate more accurate recommendations for the restoration of medieval architectural monuments of Deraheib.
Sarmatian burials of the kurgan semetеry
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia, Berezin Yakov B.
Published: January 2022

The discussed materials originate from burials No. 2 and 5 of mound 1 of the Nezlobnensky-6 burial mound, investigated in 2006 by the expedition of the NASLEDIE (Stavropol). The documentation stored in the archive of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as diary entries and field photography of the author were used in the publication. Results. The funeral rite of the burials and gravegoods are described in detail and analyzed in the main part of the publication. The finds were dated, their place among the archaeological cultures of the peoples who inhabited the Central Pre-Caucasus in the Early Iron Age was determined. A circle of analogies is given among synchronous archaeological sites, both in the central Pre-Caucasus and in adjacent territories. Conclusion. Burial 2 dates from the III-I centuries BC and is associated with the culture of the pre-Caucasian Sarmatians, presumably the Sirak tribal union. This type of graves was identified by archaeologists in the middle of the XX century and since then their number has been steadily increasing. Burial 5 is also dated to Sarmatian period, but earlier than burial 2. It belongs to the IV century BC and is a rather rare form of burial, a collective military grave. It is likely that all the people buried there died at the same time, as a result of a military conflict.
The Orientation Of Multiple Intelligence Framework In Learning Arabic In Digital Era
Authors: Ritonga Apri Wardana
Published: January 2022

Digital-based Arabic learning has become a necessity that must be done by every teacher in the technology era. The concept of multiple intelligences is present as an answer to some of the perceptions that reveal that there are students who are stupid in the field of language. This study intends to explore the theoretical framework of multiple intelligences in learning Arabic in the digital era. Using a qualitative approach with library research methods in describing research findings. Research data was obtained from primary and secondary sources in the form of articles, proceedings and books. The collected data is then presented using a descriptive content analysis technique deductively. This research shows that the digital era is a great opportunity for teachers in compiling multiple intelligences-based learning that is tailored to the conditions and needs of students. In addition to the above aspects, the concept of multiple intelligences adopted in Arabic learning provides room to compete with other subjects that have applied multiple intelligences first. To refine these findings, further research is needed to test the learning outcomes using multiple intelligences with conventional learning without the concept of multiple intelligences.
La gobernanza del riesgo en América Latina y la dimensión política de los desastres
Authors: Jerez-Ramírez Deysi Ofelmina , Ramos-Torres Rogelio Josué
Published: January 2022

La gobernanza para la reducción del riesgo de desastres (RRD) es un enfoque que, acuñado en el ámbito de la cooperación internacional, se ha ido extendiendo e incorporando a las diferentes agendas nacionales de los Estados miembros. Sin embargo, su génesis y difusión reflejan tensiones y vacíos desde los cuales se puede cuestionar la real efectividad de este modelo como estrategia preventiva. El presente artículo revisa los orígenes de la gobernanza del riesgo, observando las distintas acepciones a que puede ser sujeto y problematizando el concepto frente a las condiciones de vulnerabilidad que plantea el contexto latinoamericano. A partir de la mirada de la ecología política se señala que, dentro de este contexto, las relaciones de poder locales son uno de los puntos ciegos de dicha propuesta, lo cual se encuentra estrechamente vinculado con la ausencia de una concepción amplia de la política y lo político, dentro de los elementos que configuran la agenda de la gobernanza para la RRD. El método utilizado corresponde a la investigación documental.
Facets of interaction between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Culture of France in the musical and educational space
Authors:   Rostov State University of Economics, Buryakova Lyubov A. , Buryakov Alexey G. ,   Rachmaninov Rostov State Conservatory
Published: January 2022

The problem of research. The relevance of the research is due to the urgent need to find new approaches to the musical development of students in general education, which makes it significant to refer to the experience of France in connection with the existence in the country of an original model of musical education with an established system of multifaceted partnerships controlled by the bodies of the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Culture of France. The purpose of the article: scientific and practical justification of the need to develop a Russian strategy of musical development based on the interaction of educational and cultural organizations. Materials and methods. As a methodological basis, a system-structural approach was used, which made it possible to conceptualize the data obtained as a result of the analysis of sources, as well as in the process of personal communication with French colleagues. The results of the study. The mechanism of the studied interaction in various forms of educational, extracurricular and out-of-school musical activities is based on a clearly structured scheme of cooperation between schools and partner structures in the field of culture and art at the state (conceptual), academic (coordination) and local (performing) levels. The impetus for the construction of this system of partnerships was the recognition by the pedagogical community and the authorities of France of the priority of musical education as a powerful stimulant for the development of personal, intellectual and creative abilities of students necessary for successful implementation in any field of activity. Discussion and conclusion. The initial impulse to the emergence of the concept of attracting artistic and cultural structures in the musical and educational field was the introduction in the early 80s of the twentieth century of the original system of professional and amateur musical training of students in the framework of general education in college and lyceum. In the future, the experience of partnership interaction in the field under study gradually spread not only to academic, but also to extracurricular and out-of-school activities. As an important "breakthrough" of the French musical and educational project, a significant contribution to the educational activities of musical and cultural centers of global importance should be recognized. The far-sighted policy of the French authorities aimed at substantial support of artistic, especially musical culture as the basis for the development of the whole society can serve as a strategic guideline for the modernization of the music education system in Russia in terms of developing management schemes and educational technologies based on the interaction of educational institutions with cultural and art institutions.