bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to Fool Your Robot: Designing Exploitable Sensory Systems
Authors: Hardman David , Iida Fumiya
Published: November 2023

Based on real-world interactions in our lives and in the lives of our ancestors, humans have developed a multitude of psychological, social, and reflexive actions for efficient living. We consider the integration of similar behaviours into embodied robots through the design of their sensory systems, evaluating their impact through a novel lens: how magicians exploit these human behaviours in order to fool their spectators into experiencing impossible events. We explore the consequences of designing agents which can experience magic effects, and argue that such design facilities lifelike actions.
Exploring Embodied Resources in Gaze in Human-Robot Collaborative Environments
Authors: Sirithunge Chapa , Boralessa Kalhan S. , Eranga W. H. , Jayasekara Buddhika P. , Chandima D. P. , Hemapala Manjula U.
Published: November 2023

Among various types of embodied resources in humans, gaze, started with mutual gaze, plays a major role in embodied cognition. In addition to establishing relationships during interactions, gaze further portrays information about the level of engagement in a dyadic interaction. Hence the gaze and gaze-related behaviors such as averted gaze can be used as cues to make decisions regarding an interaction. This holds true for a human and a robot during human-robot interaction (HRI) as well. Hence proactive robots could evaluate human gaze as a parameter to achieve situation-awareness. In this work, we present the outcomes of several experiments aimed at evaluating such gaze behavior of human-human nonverbal interactions and other behaviors initiated as a result during dyadic interactions. The possibility of evaluating situations by such behavioral responses of individuals as cues, is also examined. We further compared the relationships between gaze behavior of humans during HRI and human-human interaction (HHI). We considered the properties of existence and aversion of gaze, as gaze behaviors during this study. Results of these experiments indicate interesting tendencies in verbal and nonverbal human behavior in initiating of an interaction in both HHI and HRI. The behavioral patterns related to gaze, observed during the study were analyzed using statistical methods and critical observations are highlighted. The potential of analyzing gaze behavior in displaying messages to the outside world during HRI is discussed.
Intelligence Offloading and the Neurosimulation of Developmental Agents
Authors: Alicea B , Pang A , Parent J
Published: November 2023

Cognitive offloading occurs when environmental affordances expand cognitive capacity while facilitating spatial and social behaviors. Capacity-related constraints are also important, particularly as embodied agents come online during development. Vast differences in brain size and offloading capacity exist across the tree of life. We take from multiple perspectives to understand the proportional contributions of internal models (brain) and externalized processing (offloading) in developing embodied computational agents. As developing nervous systems scale with body size and/or functional importance, offloading is also driven by neural capacity. Cognitive capacity is ultimately determined by various innate and environmental constraints. We propose a similar model for computationally developing cognitive agents. A regulatory model of cognition is proposed as a means to build cognitive systems that interface with biologically-inspired substrates. Multiple tradeoffs result from energetic, innate, and informational constraints, and determine the proportion of internal to external information processing capacity. As growth of a biologically-inspired substrate accelerates or decelerates over developmental time, it changes the acquisitional capacity of the agent. Our agent’s capacity limitations determine externalization potential, which is characterized by three parameters and two mathematical functions. The neurosimulation approach to intelligence offloading can be applied to a broad range of agent-based models and Artificial Intelligences.
Understanding Lived Experience: Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing with Humanities and Social Sciences
Authors: Girju Roxana
Published: November 2023

True human-centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impossible without addressing the inherent and diverse aspects of humanness. Deep learning models have achieved remarkable success in some tasks in vision and language processing, and few can deny it. However, as it moves forward, the field cannot continue to pretend it can do it all by itself, especially when we advertise it as ‘human-centered AI’. It has come the time to open up the stage for methodological pluralism in the interest of critical and democratic science, and for the benefit of society. In this paper, I want to draw particular attention to the aspect of lived (subjective) experience, one research area highly misunderstood and hugely neglected in AI, and especially in Natural Language Processing (NLP). Our intensions, selfhood, autonomy, emotions, feelings, sensory knowledge, cultural history are integral components of our intelligence. Thus, the future AI and NLP models will need to more closely align with the embodied component of human intelligence. As we push the limit of creativity and innovation in AI, we need to develop a new way of looking at human experience, with a better scientific understanding of intelligence and its own practices, at the intersection of many disciplinary fields.
Between the Authentic and Artificial: From the Perspective of Contingency
Authors: Sato Maki
Published: November 2023

How to deal with a contingency? A contingent situation plays a vital role in challenges with uncertainty and unpredictability. This is because contingency requires the subject to be adaptive and flexible in the given condition. Regarding the development of robotics, soft robotics is highly anticipated to be more adaptable and flexible to contingency with its bodily inputs. In contrast, material-wise, conventional hard robotics may fit more for fixed, stable, static, or predictable situations. The latest development in new materials has opened a window for more usable and useful artificial body parts as advanced tools. This short article first highlights the types of artificial body parts and summarises the role of contingency in robotics development. In addition, it analyses the various phases of the concept of the embodied mind in link with contingency. Additionally, for further discussion, it questions ethical, moral, and legal aspects regarding the future development of artificial body parts.
Use of deep learning to segment bolus during videofluoroscopic swallow studies
Authors: Shaheen Nadeem , Burdick Ryan , Peña-Chávez Rodolfo , Ulmschneider Christopher , Yee Joanne , Kurosu Atsuko , Rogus-Pulia Nicole , Bednarz Bryan
Published: November 2023

Anatomical segmentations generated using artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to significantly improve video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFS) analysis. AI segments allow for various metrics to be determined without additional time constraints streamlining and creating new opportunities for analysis. While the opportunity is vast, it is important to understand the challenges and limitations of the underlying AI task. This work evaluates a bolus segmentation network. The first swallow of thin or liquid bolus from 80 unique patients were manually contoured from bolus first seen in the oral cavity to end of swallow motion. The data was split into a 75/25 training and validation set and a 4-fold cross validation was done. A U—Net architecture along with variations were tested with the dice coefficient as the loss function and overall performance metric. The average validation set resulted in a dice coefficient of 0.67. Additional analysis to characterize the variability of images and performance on sub intervals was conducted indicating high variability among the processes required for training the network. It was found that bolus in the oral cavity consistently degrades performance due to misclassification of teeth and unimportant residue. The dice coefficients dependence on structure size can have substantial effects on the reported value. This work shows the efficacy of bolus segmentation and identifies key areas that are detriments to the performance of the network.
Microvascular invasion is associated with poor survival in patients with dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ouyang Xiaojuan , Yan Yongqin , Zhang Sijin , Li Meidan , Li Min , Liu Qinghong
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Microvascular invasion (MVI) has previously been reported to be related to cancer prognosis; however, its significance in patients with dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) remains uncharacterized. We studied the role of MVI in the survival of patients diagnosed with DPHCC in Fujian, China, which has a high incidence of HCC.

Methods

Patients with DPHCC (n = 84) who had undergone surgical interventions at the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed using the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox model analyses were also conducted to further understand the correlation between MVI and patient survival.

Results

Our results indicated that MVI was related to poor survival. According to the univariate analysis, MVI, the number of tumor lesions, necrosis, differentiation, peripheral hepatic fibrosis, the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), and serum levels of both ɑ-fetoprotein (AFP) and cancer antigen-199 showed a strong correlation with overall survival. Necrosis and serum AFP levels were strongly related to an increased risk of death, according to the multivariate analysis. Tumor size; the number of tumor lesions; differentiation; peripheral hepatic fibrosis; liver capsule invasion; and expression of CK19, vascular endothelial growth factor, CK7, and mucin 1 showed a correlation with MVI, per the outcomes of χ2 tests.

Conclusions

Microvascular invasion may correlate with the survival of patients with DPHCC and could potentially serve as a prognostic predictor of survival.
The Brainbox—a tool to facilitate correlation of brain magnetic resonance imaging features to histopathology
Authors: Faigle Wolfgang , Piccirelli Marco , Hortobágyi Tibor , Frontzek Karl , Cannon Amelia Elaine , Zürrer Wolfgang Emanuel , Granberg Tobias , Kulcsar Zsolt , Ludersdorfer Thomas , Frauenknecht Katrin B M , Reimann Regina , Ineichen Benjamin Victor
Published: November 2023

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has limitations in identifying underlying tissue pathology, which is relevant for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or brain tumours. However, there are no standardized methods for correlating MRI features with histopathology. Thus, here we aimed to develop and validate a tool that can facilitate the correlation of brain MRI features to corresponding histopathology. For this, we designed the Brainbox, a waterproof and MRI-compatible 3D printed container with an integrated 3D coordinate system. We used the Brainbox to acquire post-mortem ex vivo MRI of eight human brains, fresh and formalin-fixed, and correlated focal imaging features to histopathology using the built-in 3D coordinate system. With its built-in 3D coordinate system, the Brainbox allowed correlation of MRI features to corresponding tissue substrates. The Brainbox was used to correlate different MR image features of interest to the respective tissue substrate, including normal anatomical structures such as the hippocampus or perivascular spaces, as well as a lacunar stroke. Brain volume decreased upon fixation by 7% (P = 0.01). The Brainbox enabled degassing of specimens before scanning, reducing susceptibility artefacts and minimizing bulk motion during scanning. In conclusion, our proof-of-principle experiments demonstrate the usability of the Brainbox, which can contribute to improving the specificity of MRI and the standardization of the correlation between post-mortem ex vivo human brain MRI and histopathology. Brainboxes are available upon request from our institution.
The punctum sign in epidermal cyst
Authors: Borg Grech Sarah , Mintoff Dillon , Scerri Lawrence
Published: November 2023

Epidermal cysts, commonly seen in everyday practice, classically present with a readily identifiable central punctum. However, this is lacking in some patients, making diagnosis more difficult. We describe how to apply pressure between index finger and thumb to the cyst, thus revealing the punctum and enabling a definitive diagnosis.
Cutaneous adverse effects induced by tebentafusp in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma: a case series and treatment insights
Authors: Rodriguez Ivan , Norman Thomas , Guenther Jana , Smart Kimberly , Kwong Andrew , Berry Jesse , In Gino K , Worswick Scott
Published: November 2023

Tebentafusp, recently approved by the FDA as an immunotherapy agent, has shown great promise in improving outcomes for metastatic uveal melanoma. In this case series, we present six patients treated with tebentafusp at our institution, focusing on the associated cutaneous adverse reactions and their management. A better understanding of the cutaneous adverse reactions associated with tebentafusp is important because, given its promising treatment outcomes, the use of tebentafusp will likely become more widespread. This study highlights the range of possible outcomes and effective treatment regimens for mild-to-severe cutaneous reactions, ensuring that patients can continue tebentafusp treatment without interruption in most cases.
A lateralized alpha-band marker of the interference of exogenous attention over endogenous attention
Authors: Landry Mathieu , da Silva Castanheira Jason , Raz Amir , Baillet Sylvain , Sackur Jérôme
Published: November 2023

Current theories of attention differentiate exogenous from endogenous orienting of visuospatial attention. While both forms of attention orienting engage different functional systems, endogenous and exogenous attention are thought to share resources, as shown by empirical evidence of their functional interactions. The present study aims to uncover the neurobiological basis of how salient events that drive exogenous attention disrupts endogenous attention processes. We hypothesize that interference from exogenous attention over endogenous attention involves alpha-band activity, a neural marker of visuospatial attention. To test this hypothesis, we contrast the effects of endogenous attention across two experimental tasks while we recorded electroencephalography (n = 32, both sexes): a single cueing task where endogenous attention is engaged in isolation, and a double cueing task where endogenous attention is concurrently engaged with exogenous attention. Our results confirm that the concurrent engagement of exogenous attention interferes with endogenous attention processes. We also found that changes in alpha-band activity mediate the relationship between endogenous attention and its effect on task performance, and that the interference of exogenous attention on endogenous attention occurs via the moderation of this indirect effect. Altogether, our results substantiate a model of attention, whereby endogenous and exogenous attentional processes involve the same neurophysiological resources.

Significance Statement

Scientists differentiate top-down from bottom-up visuospatial attention processes. While bottom-up attention is rapidly engaged by emerging demands from the environment, top-down attention in contrast reflects slow voluntary shifts of spatial attention. Several lines of research substantiate the idea that top-down and bottom-up attentional processes involve distinct functional systems. An increasing number of studies, however, argue that both attention systems share brain processing resources. The current study examines how salient visual events that engage bottom-up processes interfere with top-down attentional processes. Using neurophysiological recordings and multivariate pattern classification techniques, the authors show that these patterns of interference occur within the alpha-band of neural activity (8–12 Hz), which implies that bottom-up and top-down attention processes share this narrow-band frequency brain resource. The results further demonstrate that patterns of alpha-band activity explains, in part, the interference between top-down and bottom-up attention at the behavioral level.
Ipsilateral snare technique for the safe delivery of the Evolut PRO transcatheter aortic valve system: a case report
Authors: Fukutomi Motoki , Onishi Takayuki , Ando Tomo , Tobaru Tetsuya
Published: November 2023

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) requires several bail-out techniques for safe valve delivery and deployment. Particularly in cases of challenging aortic anatomy, the snare technique from the contralateral side of the surgical site can facilitate delivery of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) system. However, there are no previous reports of the snare technique from the ipsilateral side of the surgical site in TAVI cases.

Case summary

A 77-year-old woman presented with severe aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure. As computed tomography showed a heavily calcified aortic arch, we performed TAVI using the ipsilateral snare technique to control the direction of the Evolut THV system. There was no haematoma or excessive bleeding at the surgical site during the procedure, and the patient was discharged without complications.

Discussion

In cases with challenging anatomy of the aorta, the ipsilateral snare technique may be useful for the safe delivery of the Evolut system.
Automatic triage of twelve-lead electrocardiograms using deep convolutional neural networks: a first implementation study
Authors: van de Leur Rutger R , van Sleuwen Meike T G M , Zwetsloot Peter-Paul M , van der Harst Pim , Doevendans Pieter A , Hassink Rutger J , van Es René
Published: November 2023

Aims

Expert knowledge to correctly interpret electrocardiograms (ECGs) is not always readily available. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based triage algorithm (DELTAnet), able to support physicians in ECG prioritization, could help reduce current logistic burden of overreading ECGs and improve time to treatment for acute and life-threatening disorders. However, the effect of clinical implementation of such AI algorithms is rarely investigated.

Methods and results

Adult patients at non-cardiology departments who underwent ECG testing as a part of routine clinical care were included in this prospective cohort study. DELTAnet was used to classify 12-lead ECGs into one of the following triage classes: normal, abnormal not acute, subacute, and acute. Performance was compared with triage classes based on the final clinical diagnosis. Moreover, the associations between predicted classes and clinical outcomes were investigated. A total of 1061 patients and ECGs were included. Performance was good with a mean concordance statistic of 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.95–0.97) when comparing DELTAnet with the clinical triage classes. Moreover, zero ECGs that required a change in policy or referral to the cardiologist were missed and there was a limited number of cases predicted as acute that did not require follow-up (2.6%).

Conclusion

This study is the first to prospectively investigate the impact of clinical implementation of an ECG-based AI triage algorithm. It shows that DELTAnet is efficacious and safe to be used in clinical practice for triage of 12-lead ECGs in non-cardiology hospital departments.
Fully automated coronary artery calcium quantification on electrocardiogram-gated non-contrast cardiac computed tomography using deep-learning with novel Heart-labelling method
Authors: Takahashi Daigo , Fujimoto Shinichiro , Nozaki Yui O , Kudo Ayako , Kawaguchi Yuko O , Takamura Kazuhisa , Hiki Makoto , Sato Eisuke , Tomizawa Nobuo , Daida Hiroyuki , Minamino Tohru
Published: November 2023

Aims

To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-model which enables fully automated accurate quantification of coronary artery calcium (CAC), using deep learning (DL) on electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (gated CCT) images.

Methods and results

Retrospectively, 560 gated CCT images (including 60 synthetic images) performed at our institution were used to train AI-model, which can automatically divide heart region into five areas belonging to left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX), right coronary artery (RCA), and another. Total and vessel-specific CAC score (CACS) in each scan were manually evaluated. AI-model was trained with novel Heart-labelling method via DL according to the manual-derived results. Then, another 409 gated CCT images obtained in our institution were used for model validation. The performance of present AI-model was tested using another external cohort of 400 gated CCT images of Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence of Medical Imaging by comparing with the ground truth. The overall accuracy of the AI-model for total CACS classification was excellent with Cohen’s kappa of k = 0.89 and 0.95 (validation and test, respectively), which surpasses previous research of k = 0.89. Bland-Altman analysis showed little difference in individual total and vessel-specific CACS between AI-derived CACS and ground truth in test cohort (mean difference [95% confidence interval] were 1.5 [−42.6, 45.6], −1.5 [−100.5, 97.5], 6.6 [−60.2, 73.5], 0.96 [−59.2, 61.1], and 7.6 [−134.1, 149.2] for LM, LAD, LCX, RCA, and total CACS, respectively).

Conclusion

Present Heart-labelling method provides a further improvement in fully automated, total, and vessel-specific CAC quantification on gated CCT.
Social-emotional learning in ESOL with ninth-grade newcomers
Authors: Pentón Herrera Luis Javier
Published: November 2023

Social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives can have a positive effect on students’ emotions and well-being. However, SEL in ESOL classrooms remains underexplored. This article reports on a qualitative study which investigated ESOL learners’ perceptions of the effectiveness of SEL strategies in terms of their emotions and well-being. The study generated data using daily classroom observations, recorded classroom discussions, surveys, and artefacts. The analysis suggests students experienced positive emotions, such as happiness and feeling good and safe in the classroom as well as increased emotional awareness. The students highlighted the following strategies as being especially effective: restorative circles, letters to self, writing poetry, and classroom decorations. The findings demonstrate the need to embrace SEL practices as essential elements in ELT as they play a vital role in fostering students’ and teachers’ well-being, both within and beyond the classroom.
Personalized accelerated physiologic pacing
Authors: Meyer Markus , Infeld Margaret , Habel Nicole , Lustgarten Daniel
Published: November 2023

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly prevalent with a high socioeconomic burden. Pharmacological heart rate lowering was recommended to improve ventricular filling in HFpEF. This article discusses the misperceptions that have resulted in an overprescription of beta-blockers, which in all likelihood have untoward effects on patients with HFpEF, even if they have atrial fibrillation or coronary artery disease as a comorbidity. Directly contradicting the lower heart rate paradigm, faster heart rates provide haemodynamic and structural benefits, amongst which lower cardiac filling pressures and improved ventricular capacitance may be most important. Safe delivery of this therapeutic approach is feasible with atrial and ventricular conduction system pacing that aims to emulate or enhance cardiac excitation to maximize the haemodynamic benefits of accelerated pacing. This conceptual framework was first tested in the myPACE randomized controlled trial of patients with pre-existing pacemakers and preclinical or overt HFpEF. This article provides the background and path towards this treatment approach.
Small-scale heterogeneities at the bottom of the lower mantle beneath the northern Bay of Bengal and the northern Gulf of Mexico by the analysis of PKP precursors
Authors: Guan Yurui , Zhang Baolong , Lü Yan , Hao Jinlai , Li Juan , Ai Yinshuang
Published: November 2023

The bottom of the lower mantle is a key region for material circulation and energy exchange within the Earth, with extremely high heterogeneity and complex dynamics processes. Although tomography models have revealed the large-scale velocity structure at the bottom of the lower mantle, the nature of the small-scale lateral heterogeneity structure remains controversial due to resolution limitations. The scattering observations of PKP precursors have been widely used to constrain the small-scale structures at the bottom of the lower mantle due to their special sampling paths and arrival time characteristics. This study cross-validates the presence of scatterers at the bottom of the lower mantle in the northern Bay of Bengal and the northern Gulf of Mexico through migration and array analysis of PKP precursors sampled from seismic arrays in the Sichuan–Yunnan and adjacent areas in China. The forward modelling of the envelope of PKP precursors using the Monte Carlo seismic phonon method reveals that their P-wave velocity perturbations are 0.3 and 0.55 per cent in each area, respectively. Based on the distribution range of the small-scale scatterers, we infer that the northern Bay of Bengal scatterer lies within 200 km above the core–mantle boundary, whereas the thickness of the scattering layer in the northern Gulf of Mexico is approximately 250 km. We propose that the small-scale lateral heterogeneities observed in both regions originate from subducted slabs and may have been transitioned into post-perovskite.
Disparities in property insurance relief among socially vulnerable Texas communities after Winter Storm Uri
Authors: Hedquist Aaron , Salas Renee N , Soto Mark , Orav Endel John , Figueroa Jose F
Published: November 2023

Property insurance is an important tool for resiliency from the accelerating impacts of climate-intensified extreme weather events. However, disparities in property insurance payouts may reduce their potential protective effects. The objective of this study was to quantify disparities in insurance payouts by Texas’ insurers after the 2021 Winter Storm Uri, and to understand if any socioeconomic factors were associated with higher rates of declined relief. We extracted data from the Texas Department of Insurance on rates of denied insurance claims by zip code and county at 1 month and 13 months into the recovery period. We then linked these data to community-level socioeconomic information. Finally, we produced separate linear regressions for each predictor and covariate. Across both time points, communities with a higher proportion of Hispanic people, primary Spanish speakers, people who did not graduate high school, and people living below the federal poverty line were significantly more likely to experience denied claims. Communities with higher social vulnerability scores also experienced more denied claims. While financial security is a critical social determinant of health, findings suggest that insurers may be engaging in structurally discriminatory practices and failing to provide relief for people from socially vulnerable communities in the wake of climate-intensified events.
Characterization of PetM cytochrome b6f subunit 7 domain-containing protein in tomato
Authors: Bulut Mustafa , Nunes-Nesi Adriano , Fernie Alisdair R , Alseekh Saleh
Published: November 2023

In recent years, multiple advances have been made in understanding the photosynthetic machinery in model organisms. Knowledge transfer to horticultural important fruit crops is challenging and time-consuming due to restrictions in gene editing tools and prolonged life cycles. Here, we characterize a gene encoding a PetM domain-containing protein in tomato. The CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines of the PetM showed impairment in the chloroplastic electron transport rate (ETR), reduced CO2 assimilation, and reduction of carotenoids and chlorophylls (Chl) under several light conditions. Further, growth-condition-dependent elevation or repression of Chl a/b ratios and de-epoxidation states were identified, underlining possible impairment compensation mechanisms. However, under low light and glasshouse conditions, there were basal levels in CO2 assimilation and ETR, indicating a potential role of the PetM domain in stabilizing the cytochrome b6f complex (Cb6f) under higher light irradiance and increasing its quantum efficiency. This suggests a potential evolutionary role in which this domain might stabilize the site of the Cb6f regulating ratios of cyclic and linear electron transport and its potential importance during the conquest of terrestrial ecosystems during which plants were exposed to higher irradiance. Finally, the results are discussed with regard to metabolism and their implication to photosynthesis from an agronomic perspective.
Signalling in European Rule of Law Cases: Hungary and Poland as Case Studies
Authors: Kos Ula Aleksandra
Published: November 2023

The paper explores Hungary and Poland’s compliance signals conveyed during the European rule of law enforcement process and the responses to these signals by the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights as judicial organs and the European Commission and the Committee of Ministers as organs supervising compliance. After both states turned illiberal European institutions began condemning the condition of rule of law in both states. Yet, their endeavour—as evident from measures imposed upon Poland, but not Hungary—appears inconsistent. The paper ascribes this to states' differing expressions of commitment to comply with rule-of-law-related rulings as signalled during supervision. It argues that Hungary’s signalled conciliatory attitude compared to Poland’s overt defiance invites more deference from the European institutions and concludes that conveying conciliatory signals in the process of compliance may be used to influence the course and, ultimately, the success of rule of law enforcement.
Delayed coronary artery stenosis: a rare complication of the left atrial clipping device
Authors: Imamura Yuki , Kowatari Ryosuke , Kawamura Tomonori , Ichikawa Hiroaki
Published: November 2023

A clipping device may impinge on the coronary artery following left atrial appendage occlusion during cardiac surgery, causing rare cardiac ischaemia perioperatively. This report highlights a case of delayed severe coronary artery stenosis resulting in ventricular fibrillation 2 months after cardiac surgery with the implantation of a left atrial clipping device. Following a percutaneous coronary intervention, the patient underwent clip removal surgery. Postoperative three-dimensional heart model verification revealed that the base of the left atrial appendage was more dorsal than usual, thereby increasing the potential risk of the clip impinging on the coronary artery. We should remember that this rare complication can occur after left atrial clipping, either in the early postoperative period or later.
Higher Levels of C-reactive Protein Are Associated With Higher Cortical Surface Area and Lower Cortical Thickness in Youth With Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Shao Suyi , Zou Yi , Kennedy Kody G , Dimick Mikaela K , MacIntosh Bradley J , Goldstein Benjamin I
Published: November 2023

Background

Inflammation is implicated in the neuropathology of bipolar disorder (BD). The association of C-reactive protein (CRP) with brain structure has been examined in relation to BD among adults but not youth.

Methods

Participants included 101 youth (BD, n = 55; control group [CG], n = 46; aged 13–20 years). Blood samples were assayed for levels of CRP. T1-weighted brain images were acquired to obtain cortical surface area (SA), volume, and thickness for 3 regions of interest (ROI; whole-brain cortical gray matter, prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex [OFC]) and for vertex-wise analyses. Analyses included CRP main effects and interaction effects controlling for age, sex, and intracranial volume.

Results

In ROI analyses, higher CRP was associated with higher whole-brain SA (β = 0.16; P = .03) and lower whole-brain (β = −0.31; P = .03) and OFC cortical thickness (β = −0.29; P = .04) within the BD group and was associated with higher OFC SA (β = 0.17; P = .03) within the CG. In vertex-wise analyses, higher CRP was associated with higher SA and lower cortical thickness in frontal and parietal regions within BD. A significant CRP-by-diagnosis interaction was found in frontal and temporal regions, whereby higher CRP was associated with lower neurostructural metrics in the BD group but higher neurostructural metrics in CG.

Conclusions

This study found that higher CRP among youth with BD is associated with higher SA but lower cortical thickness in ROI and vertex-wise analyses. The study identified 2 regions in which the association of CRP with brain structure differs between youth with BD and the CG. Future longitudinal, repeated-measures studies incorporating additional inflammatory markers are warranted.
Automatic segmentation of atrial fibrillation and flutter in single-lead electrocardiograms by self-supervised learning and Transformer architecture
Authors: Yun Donghwan , Yang Hyun-Lim , Kwon Soonil , Lee So-Ryoung , Kim Kyungju , Kim Kwangsoo , Lee Hyung-Chul , Jung Chul-Woo , Kim Yon Su , Han Seung Seok
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Automatic detection of atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFL) is a significant concern in preventing stroke and mitigating hemodynamic instability. Herein, we developed a Transformer-based deep learning model for AF/AFL segmentation in single-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) by self-supervised learning with masked signal modeling (MSM).

Materials and Methods

We retrieved data from 11 open-source databases on PhysioNet; 7 of these databases included labeled ECGs, while the other 4 were without labels. Each database contained ECG recordings with durations of ≥30 s. A total of 24 intradialytic ECGs with paroxysmal AF/AFL during 4 h of hemodialysis sessions at Seoul National University Hospital were used for external validation. The model was pretrained by predicting masked areas of ECG signals and fine-tuned by predicting AF/AFL areas. Cross-database validation was used for evaluation, and the intersection over union (IOU) was used as a main performance metric in external database validation.

Results

In the 7 labeled databases, the areas marked as AF/AFL constituted 41.1% of the total ECG signals, ranging from 0.19% to 51.31%. In the evaluation per ECG segment, the model achieved IOU values of 0.9254 and 0.9477 for AF/AFL segmentation and other segmentation tasks, respectively. When applied to intradialytic ECGs with paroxysmal AF/AFL, the IOUs for the segmentation of AF/AFL and non-AF/AFL were 0.9896 and 0.9650, respectively. Model performance by different training procedure indicated that pretraining with MSM and the application of an appropriate masking ratio both contributed to the model performance. It also showed higher IOUs of AF/AFL labels than in previous studies when training and test databases were matched.

Conclusion

The present model with self-supervised learning by MSM performs robustly in segmenting AF/AFL.
Kaolin as a management alternative for insecticide-resistant navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Bush Daniel S , Demkovich Mark , Aldunate Moiravi , Siegel Joel , Berenbaum May R
Published: November 2023

The production of almonds and pistachios in California’s Central Valley employs insecticides for the management of their primary pest, navel orangeworm. The pyrethroid Bifenthrin is commonly used, and now a strain of Amyelois transitella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (R347) obtained from Kern County almond orchards with a history of Bifenthrin use has acquired >110-fold resistance toward pyrethroids. One method to improve control is to use additives and spray adjuvants, which are applied simultaneously with an insecticide to increase coverage and/or duration of control. We tested 2 levels of the naturally occurring clay Kaolin as an additive, alone and in combination with either Bifenthrin or the diamide Chlorantraniliprole, to determine if it could reduce feeding damage and decrease survival of pyrethroid-resistant A. transitella on almonds in the laboratory and improve the efficacy of Chlorantraniliprole in the field. Larval performance was measured for the strains R347 and ALM (34.7-fold resistance compared to susceptible lab strain) reared on treated almonds. Strain R347 had 1.9-fold greater survival and caused 1.3-fold more feeding damage than strain ALM across all treatments, although both strains were susceptible to the combination of Kaolin + insecticide. Kaolin synergized Bifenthrin for R347, decreasing survival by 10.0%. Kaolin did not reduce feeding damage for either strain. When combined with insecticide, feeding damage was similar to insecticide alone, but the addition of Kaolin to the insecticide generally decreased survival more than the insecticide alone. In the field, the addition of Kaolin to Chlorantraniprole during application helped retain activity against this challenging pest.
An inside “beak”: Molecular analysis of swab samples reveals the seabird diet of invasive Barn Owls in Hawai’i
Authors: Elmore Joanna W , Wilcox Taylor M , Dutcher Alex E , Reiss Yuki , Schwartz Michael K
Published: November 2023

Predation is an important species interaction to monitor when assessing an invasive species’ impact on a particular ecosystem, but it can be difficult to observe and thus, fully understand. On Kaua’i island, invasive Barn Owls (Tyto alba) predate native seabirds, but difficult terrain in this region and the cryptic nature of owl predation make traditional monitoring of predation quite challenging. Using Barn Owls collected as part of removal efforts on Kaua’i and Lehua islands, we conducted DNA metabarcoding of owl digestive tracts to detect and determine seabird species they predate. We used a seabird-targeted 12s marker to sequence 112 swabs from 55 owls and detected 6 seabird taxa, including 2 ESA-listed seabirds—Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis) and Newell’s Shearwater (Puffinus newelli), in 12 swabs from 11 owls (20% of sampled owls). Corresponding morphological assessment of owl stomach contents detected seabird species as prey items in only 2% (1/55) of sampled owls, highlighting the utility of molecular approaches for detecting diet items, especially degraded or visually absent items. Additionally, this approach has proven very useful in revealing cryptic trophic interactions in inaccessible seabird populations. For the most comprehensive analysis of diet, the use of both esophageal and cloacal swabs for metabarcoding is recommended. Supplementing metabarcoding with other methods that can provide complementary prey information, such as stable isotope analysis, would help to characterize trophic interactions more fully. The method described here has proven to be a reliable tool for investigating diet in invasive owls and may be used to investigate cryptic predation in living birds as a minimally invasive technique, as well.
Trait- and density-mediated effects of predation on fecundity and fertility of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes
Authors: Bellamy Shawna K , Paige Andrew , Alto Barry W
Published: November 2023

Prey populations that encounter predators experience density-mediated effects through lethality and associated numerical changes in the population. Prey also exhibit trait-mediated effects through nonlethal alterations in phenotypic traits associated with exposure to predators. Immature stages of mosquitoes commonly co-occur in habitats along with predators, a natural source of mortality and potential biocontrol agent. Toxorhynchites rutilus Coquillett 1896 is a natural source of mortality with potential as a biological control agent. Previous studies have shown that predation and the mere presence of Tx. rutilus (predator cues) can alter the life-history traits of Aedes aegypti (L. 1762). In addition to observed reductions in recruitment of adults (lethality), exposure to Tx. rutilus without consumption resulted in adult Ae. aegypti females with altered growth and reduced lifespan. To determine the influence of predation on the reproductive biology of Ae. aegypti, we tested the hypothesis that predation, or exposure to predator cues, will compromise the reproduction of adult survivors through reductions in fecundity (egg batch size) and fertility (hatch rate). We observed that for both female and male Ae. aegypti, survival to adulthood was the lowest and development time the shortest in treatments containing prey removal effects, attributable to predation and treatment manipulations of density reduction. There were effects of Ae. aegypti weight, but not predation treatments, on fecundity and fertility. Results suggest that predator-mediated effects on Ae. aegypti derive from lethal effects due to consumption and alterations in other phenotypic traits of survivors, including development, weight, lifespan of adults, and population growth, but not reproductive parameters measured here.
A health equity framework to support the next generation of cancer population simulation models
Authors: Chapman Christina , Jayasekera Jinani , Dash Chiranjeev , Sheppard Vanessa , Mandelblatt Jeanne
Published: November 2023

Over the past 2 decades, population simulation modeling has evolved as an effective public health tool for surveillance of cancer trends and estimation of the impact of screening and treatment strategies on incidence and mortality, including documentation of persistent cancer inequities. The goal of this research was to provide a framework to support the next generation of cancer population simulation models to identify leverage points in the cancer control continuum to accelerate achievement of equity in cancer care for minoritized populations. In our framework, systemic racism is conceptualized as the root cause of inequity and an upstream influence acting on subsequent downstream events, which ultimately exert physiological effects on cancer incidence and mortality and competing comorbidities. To date, most simulation models investigating racial inequity have used individual-level race variables. Individual-level race is a proxy for exposure to systemic racism, not a biological construct. However, single-level race variables are suboptimal proxies for the multilevel systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate inequity. We recommend that future models designed to capture relationships between systemic racism and cancer outcomes replace or extend single-level race variables with multilevel measures that capture structural, interpersonal, and internalized racism. Models should investigate actionable levers, such as changes in health care, education, and economic structures and policies to increase equity and reductions in health-care–based interpersonal racism. This integrated approach could support novel research approaches, make explicit the effects of different structures and policies, highlight data gaps in interactions between model components mirroring how factors act in the real world, inform how we collect data to model cancer equity, and generate results that could inform policy.
Investment and Patent Licensing in the Value Chain
Authors: Llobet Gerard , Neven Damien
Published: November 2023

At which stage in the production chain should patent licensing take place? In this paper we show that under realistic circumstances a patent holder would be better off by licensing downstream. This occurs when the licensing revenue can depend on the downstream value of the product either directly or through the use of ad-valorem royalties. Downstream licensing is also preferred by the patent holder when, instead, we assume that the downstream licensee is less informed about the validity of the patent. In most cases, downstream licensing increases allocative efficiency. However, it might reduce the manufacturer’s incentives to invest and, thereby, decrease welfare. We characterize the circumstances under which a conflict arises between the stage at which patent holders prefer to license their technology and the stage at which it is optimal from a social standpoint that licensing takes place.
A Biomechanical Investigation of Cervical Spine Range of Motion for UH-60 Aviators in Real and Simulated Flight Environments
Authors: Williams S. Tyler , Madison Adrienne M , Chancey Valeta Carol
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Military flight surgeons evaluating aviators for flight fitness based on the cervical spine range of motion (CROM) have no operationally relevant reference with which to make a reliable determination. The published physiological limits for the general population do not necessarily apply to military aviators. CROM requirements for rotary-wing aviators would ideally be defined by measurements taken directly within their operational environment.

Materials and Methods

Nine subjects performed the same predetermined 1-hour flight mission in a UH-60 aircraft and then, at least 2 days later, in the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) NUH-60 flight simulator. Head position was recorded using an optical-based inertial tracker attached to the night vision goggle mount of the subjects’ flight helmets. Matched-pair t-tests were implemented to compare the maximum CROM between aircraft and simulated flights and the published general population.

Results

The percent of flight time in severe flexion and lateral bending was not statistically different (P > 0.05) between real and simulated flights but was statistically lower in the simulator for severe twist rotation (P < 0.05). The maximum CROM for the advanced maneuvers was significantly lower than the norms for the general population (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The flight simulator could be a useful platform for flight surgeons determining CROM-related flight fitness if methods to increase the frequency of neck twist rotation movements during flight were implemented. The published maximum CROM values for the general population are not an appropriate reference for flight surgeons making flight fitness determinations related to CROM.