bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is robot-assisted pedicle screw placement really superior to conventional surgery? An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Sun Wen-Xi , Qiu Ming-Wang , Gao Ze-hui , Wang Hong-Shen , Chen Bo-Lai , Lin Yong-Peng
Published: November 2024

Background

Over the past two decades, modern spine surgery has become increasingly intellectualized and minimally invasive. However, whether using robots in spine surgery results in more accurate pedicle screw placement remains a topic of debate. This study aimed to evaluate the certainty and quality of the available evidence on the efficacy of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement.

Methods

We performed an overview of reviews including systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) regarding the accuracy of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement. Regarding the SRs/MAs, five electronic databases were searched from inception to 28 April 2023. There were no restrictions on the language or population. The quality and certainty of the evidence were evaluated with PRISMA, AMSTAR-2, ROBIS, Veritas plot, and GRADE tools.

Results

Fifteen SRs/MAs were analyzed. The findings indicated that the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in the robot-assisted group was not superior to that in the freehand group. All the SRs/MAs were of low or critically low quality. The main reasons for this include missing data, lack of transparency, lack of sensitivity analysis, and measurement of heterogeneity in the included studies, registration of reporting protocols, and deficiencies in the study inclusion methods and selection criteria.

Conclusions

While there is potential for robot-assisted pedicle screw placement to offer superior accuracy compared to conventional surgery, the current evidence is limited by methodological shortcomings. The quality of the studies analyzed was insufficient to provide a robust basis for developing clinical guidelines. Further high-quality research is necessary to confirm the benefits and establish clearer recommendations.
Mixed reality applications in upper extremity surgery: the future is now
Authors: Calem Daniel B , Lubiatowski Przemysław , Trenhaile Scott , Gobbato Bruno , Wong Ivan , Alkhateeb Jawaher , Erickson John
Published: November 2024

Mixed reality refers to the integration of virtual reality into the real-world environment. This digital content can be interacted with in real time.

The emergence of mixed reality technology has been made possible by the introduction of head-mounted displays, which are being utilized across multiple surgical specialties. In upper extremity surgery, mixed reality has widespread applications in trauma, corrective surgery, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and oncology.

Preoperatively, mixed reality allows for complex 3D planning.

Intraoperatively, surgeons can access this 3D data in a sterile environment. While in its infant stages, mixed reality is likely to become a powerful tool for intraoperative guidance and navigation.

Mixed reality can change the paradigm of communication, as it allows the sharing of visual data from the surgeon’s perspective, enabling remote assistance and participation.
Pose change determination method for an on-orbit service object with an unknown shape
Authors:   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Fokov O.A.
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a method for determining the pose of an on-orbit service object (target) with an unknown surface shape based on processing target surface point clouds. It is assumed that a point cloud is obtained using a sensor in the form of a lidar-based system onboard the service spacecraft. The algorithm of the method operates with a simplified description of the cloud; it uses only the coordinates of the cloud points without identifying any surface features. The idea of the method is as follows. From all cloud points obtained at a certain time instant, select points that are close to a certain degree to a given set of planes arranged in space in a certain way. From the point cloud corresponding to the next time instant, select points that are close to the same set of planes, but moved in space in a known way. By convention, let the arrangement of the projections of the selected cloud points onto the given planes be called a pattern of the intersection of the point clouds with the planes. By varying the displacement of the set of planes, maximize the coincidence of the intersection patterns of the first and second clouds of points. The degree of coincidence of the intersection patterns is characterized by a specified objective function whose arguments are target pose parameters. The target displacement parameters are found as the arguments of the objective function that maximize it. A variant of the objective function is proposed. A test example of the application of the proposed method is considered. A global optimization method known as the direct search method was used to find the arguments of the objective function. Test calculations were performed, and they confirmed the workability of the algorithm and determined its scope of applicability. The computational burden was not considered: the goal was to verify the workability of the method in principle. The advantage of the proposed method is its ability to determine a change in the pose of an object with an unknown surface shape. The proposed method may be considered as a source of observation data for a filtering procedure when estimating the parameters of the relative motion of a target with an unknown surface shape.
Verifying an algorithm for the test particle method on the problem of rarefied axial jet flow past a cone
Authors:   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Pecherytsia L. L.
Published: November 2024

This paper is concerned with an aerodynamic calculation of supersonic gas plume flows and the determination of the forces they exert on obstacles. The paper presents a development of the test particle statistical method (TPSM) to numerically simulate supersonic gas plumes over a wide range of flow conditions. The work is based on the idea of a combined approach, i.e., the use of the gas-dynamic parameter distribution at the nozzle exit or on the conventional boundary of the dense core of the plume as input data for a TPSM algorithm adapted from homogeneous flows to plume ones. Combining methods of continual aerodynamics (inside or near the nozzle, where a continuum flow takes place) and the TPSM (where the motion is described on a molecular-kinetic level) allows one to solve supersonic plume efflux problems for arbitrarily rarefied plumes. The TPSM plume algorithm was tested to verify its reliability on the problem of axial flow past a cone. At the initial stage of the use of the combined approach, consideration was given to a rather rarefied gas flow, for which the gas-dynamic parameters at the nozzle exit can be used as TPSM input data. The force distribution over the cone surface and the static pressure upstream of the cone were calculated. The TPSM results were found to be in satisfactory agreement with the available direct simulation Monte-Carlo and experimental data. It was concluded that using the plume velocity and density distributions at the continual zone exit found from the Navier–Stokes equations as TPSM input data would significantly improve the expected results. This use of the TPSM in an aerodynamic calculation of gas plumes is the first in Ukraine. The TPM offers saving in computational resources: the TPSM running time depends on a variety of factors, but it is many times shorter than that of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method.
Influence of the Conditions of Alkaline Pretreatment of Vegetable Raw Material before Hydrolysis in a Rotor Pulsation Device on the Cellulose Conversion
Authors: BLUME Ya. , OBODOVYCH O. , SYDORENKO V.
Published: November 2024

Introduction. The growing global energy demand, limited fossil fuel resources, and increasing greenhouse gasemissions highlight the need for expanded use of renewable energy sources, particularly biomass.Problem Statement. A significant drawback in the production of bioethanol is its high cost, primarily due tothe presence of hemicellulose and lignin.Purpose. This study aims to determine the effect of treating an alkaline suspension of wheat straw in a rotary pulsation device on the degree of cellulose conversion during enzymatic hydrolysis, a critical step in the productionof fuel ethanol.Materials and Methods. The raw material is pre-crushed wheat straw. The experiments have been conductedwith the use of a rotary pulsation device in an experimental plant.Results. It has been found that the combined physical effects of the discrete pulse energy input method andreduced straw particle size significantly increase the lignin extraction, from 40.0% at an average particle size of2—1 mm to 62.0% at an average particle size of 0.4—0.1 mm. Additionally, the treatment of an alkaline suspension of wheat straw at 90 оC for one hour, at alkali concentrations ranging from 1 to 4% (wt./wt.), results in anincrease in the cellulose conversion during enzymatic hydrolysis from 38% to 65.8%. Additionally, a corresponding decrease in the lignin content, from 17.1% to 3.16% has been reported.Conclusions. Increasing alkali concentration during the alkaline pretreatment of wheat straw using the discrete-pulse energy input method in a rotary pulsation device enhances the rate of cellulose conversion duringsubsequent enzymatic hydrolysis.
An award-winning parking structure becomes an architectural beacon for Oklahoma City’s urban renaissance
Authors: McCraven Sue
Published: November 2024

The new totally precast concrete Center City Parking Facility in Oklahoma City, Okla., was constructed in the heart of the business district on a site occupied by two old and functionally obsolete parking structures. The owner, Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA), wanted to add an additional 1000 parking spaces while maintaining parking operations during construction.
Bivariate dependence, stochastic orders and conditional tails of the recurrence times in a renewal process
Authors: Losidis Sotirios , Politis Konstadinos , Psarrakos Georgios
Published: November 2024

The structure of dependence between the forward and the backward recurrence times in a renewal process is considered. Monotonicity properties, as a function of time, for the tail of the bivariate distribution for the recurrence times are discussed, as well as their link with aging properties of the interarrival distribution F. A necessary and sufficient condition for the renewal function to be concave is also obtained. Finally, some properties of the conditional tail for one of the two recurrence times, given some information on the other, are studied. The results are illustrated by some numerical examples.
The Discerning Clear Gaze of Yoga
Authors: Ifergan Gidi
Published: November 2024

Just as light reflects on a mirror, the source of awareness, the true Self, is projected onto the mind, reflecting the world of phenomena and enabling cognition. However, the mind, which carries within it the sense-of-self as the agent or ego, is wrongly convinced that it is the source of primary awareness, the true Self. Moreover, similar to a dusty and murky mirror, the mind reflects reality in a distorted manner, as its reflections become misrepresented through habitual tendencies and mental processes. And it is such distortion which produces confusion and suffering. Yoga in action redirects attention to the mind itself and seeks to remove the psychological blemishes, just like polishing a mirror. At the culmination of this process, the mind is liberated from mental processes and the causes of affliction and abides in an empty yet clear state. This is how the clear discerning gaze of yoga can be realised, by distinguishing between the source of light, which represents the true Self, and the mirror itself, which represents the mind and sense of self. Such a gaze has the power to liberate one from the misconceptions and emotions that hinder cognitive clarity. This study explores the road map of yoga as reflected in the Yogasūtra of Patañjali (third century CE) and the Sāṁkhyakārikā of Iśvarakṛṣṇa (350–450 CE) which leads to the rise of this discerning insight, evading interpretations motivated by naivety on the one hand, and excessive suspicion on the other. Inspired by the psychology of yoga, the author offers a meditation focused on the sense of self and the cultivation of a discerning clear gaze.
Wegetarianizm jako alternatywny sposób odżywiania w kontekście retardacji przekształcania zasobów
Authors: Mroczek Karolina , Janda Daria , Kot Anita , Mroczek Janusz R.
Published: November 2024

Wegetarianizm staje się w ostatnich latach coraz popularniejszym trendem żywieniowym, nie tylko na świecie, ale również w Polsce. Uznawany jest powszechnie za zdrową dietę i dla wielu osób stanowi jeden z istotniejszych filarów proekologicznej filozofii życiowej. Zasoby środowiska Ziemi są ograniczone i wyczerpywalne, nie tylko na poziomie lokalnym czy regionalnym, ale także globalnym. Konieczne jest zatem spowolnienie konsumowania zasobów, co oznacza zmiany przed którymi muszą stanąć społeczności poszczególnych krajów. Wegetarianizm, który jest wybierany przez ludzi z pobudek etycznych, zdrowotnych, bądź ekologicznych jest obecnie jedną z oznak tych zmian, a jego idea wpisuje się w koncepcję retardacji przekształcania zasobów przyrody.
Możliwości wykorzystania i zastosowania morszczynu (Fucus) w rolnictwie
Authors: Noga Teresa , Ochalska Anna , Bysiek Anna , Moryl Patrycja , Poradowska Anita
Published: November 2024

Przedstawiciele rodzaju Fucus od wieków mają zastosowanie jako źródło pożywienia dla ludzi i zwierząt, w rolnictwie oraz jako środek leczniczy w medycynie ludowej. Charakteryzują się wysokimi wartościami odżywczymi, stanowiąc dobre źródło błonnika pokarmowego i minerałów, zwłaszcza jodu. Fucus vesiculosus – najczęściej badany – zawiera znaczne ilości specyficznych związków fenolowych (florotaniny PT), barwnika fukoksantyny, minerałów (głównie I oraz Ca) a także bioaktywnych polisacharydów (fukoidanów, laminaranów i alginianów). Uważa się, że makroglony będące podstawowym pożywieniem w wielu krajach azjatyckich, mogą także stać się żywnością lub składnikiem żywności i pasz na rynkach europejskich. Świat zachodni interesuje się makroglonami i postrzega je jako „superżywność”, przede wszystkim przez zwiększone zainteresowanie zdrowym stylem życia i dietą oraz bardziej zrównoważoną produkcją żywności. Praca prezentuje przegląd najnowszego piśmiennictwa dotyczącego możliwości wykorzystania glonów z rodzaju Fucus w rolnictwie, także w kontekście retardacji niekorzystnych przemian ekosystemów.
Antidotum na bakterie chorobotwórcze - nowe spojrzenie na bakteriofagi
Authors: Ochmerak Jakub , Potocki Leszek , Kusliśkiewicz Małgorzata
Published: November 2024

Rosnąca oporność bakterii na antybiotyki stanowi coraz większe wyzwanie dla systemu opieki zdrowotnej, szczególnie w kontekście zwiększającej się liczby pacjentów z osłabioną odpornością Z tego powodu rozwój alternatywnych metod zapobiegania infekcjom stał się jednym z najwyższych priorytetów współczesnej medycyny i biotechnologii. Obecnie rozważa się terapie nieantybiotykowe w leczeniu infekcji bakteryjnych, a jedną z możliwych opcji jest terapeutyczne zastosowanie fagów, czyli wirusów atakujących bakterie. Terapia bakteriofagowa, odkryta w epoce przedantybiotykowej, zyskuje obecnie duże zainteresowanie ze względu na jej skuteczność i możliwość pozyskiwania fagów z wielu różnych środowisk, w których bytują. Ta specyfika sprawia, że terapia fagowa jest atrakcyjną alternatywą w leczeniu infekcji, szczególnie tych wywołanych przez bakterie wielolekooporne. W publikacji omówiono problem narastającej oporności bakterii na antybiotyki i potrzebę nowych metod ich zwalczania. Przedstawiono terapię fagową, w tym jej zalety jako obiecującą alternatywę dla antybiotyków. Omówiono również wyzwania związane z terapią fagową, m.in. dostępność, standaryzację, regulację i potrzebę dalszych badań klinicznych. W artykule podkreślono potencjał terapii fagowej w leczeniu zakażeń bakteryjnych i jej znaczenie dla przyszłości medycyny.
Retardacja przekształcania zasobów środowiska - koncepcja popularyzowana przez fundację "W Sercu Matki"
Authors: Pietrzak Maria
Published: November 2024

Działania popularyzujące ideę retardacji przekształcania zasobów środowiska w sposób niebezpośredni, w ramach z pozoru niezwiązanych projektów, lecz przekazujące przeciętnemu obywatelowi ważne informacje poparte badaniami naukowymi, zdają się mieć większe długofalowe oddziaływanie społeczne niż podejmowanie tematu przede wszystkim na poziomie akademickim. Podmiotem realizującym ideę retardacji jest między innymi Fundacja „W Sercu Matki”. Choć głównym celem statutowym Fundacji było stwarzanie przestrzeni do dzielenia się talentami i wspieranie ludzi w ich rozwoju, Fundacja wskazywała również fundamenty harmonijnego rozwoju człowieka w długim okresie, przy uwzględnieniu współczesnych wyzwań, prowadząc warsztaty, webinary, czy też projekty typu „Ekodzielnia”.
Perspektywy rozwoju slow tourism na Podkarpaciu
Authors: Pisarek Marta
Published: November 2024

Województwo podkarpackie ze względu na swoje położenie, potencjał przyrodniczo-kulturowy i rozwijające się potrzeby świadomego turysty (zainteresowanego także produktem turystycznym opartym o zasady slow) może w przyszłości stanowić główny kierunek destynacji wybranej grupy odbiorców turystyki. Aktualnie wielu właścicieli wiejskiej bazy noclegowej poszerza swoją ofertę o atrakcje związane z uważnością, takie jak kontemplacja w otoczeniu natury, kąpiele w saunie, możliwość noclegu pod gołym niebem. Ich oferta jest zróżnicowana, co daje perspektywę wypoczynku zarówno dla klientów preferujących agroturystykę, jak też jej nowsze formy, np. glamping. Pojawiły się także oferty turystyki zaangażowanej społecznie, w której turysta ma możliwość ścisłej interakcji z gospodarzem atrakcji lub lokalną społecznością. Opisane w artykule przykłady realizacji usług turystycznych w nurcie slow tourism stanowią wzorzec poszukiwania nowych form wypoczynku które przyczyniają się do retardacji negatywnych przemian w środowisku przyrodniczym i społeczno-kulturowym.
Zbiorniki wodne w miejsce wyrobisk pokopalnianych
Authors: Stachowski Piotr
Published: November 2024

Wodny kierunek rekultywacji zazwyczaj stwarza nowe możliwości ekspansji przyrody, szczególnie w obszarach o ubogiej sieci rzecznej, pozbawionej dużych naturalnych zbiorników wodnych. Nowy akwen może stać się istotnym wzbogaceniem środowiska przyrodniczego, podnosząc walory krajobrazowe, czy zwiększając bioróżnorodność. Wraz z budową zbiornika wzrasta lokalny poziom retencji, zwiększa się nawilgocenie gleb, korzystnej zmianie ulega mikroklimat przylegających obszarów. Godząc wymogi przyrodnicze z rekreacyjnymi tworzy się wielofunkcyjne zbiorniki wodne, wzmagając a czasem inicjując ruch turystyczny i ożywienie gospodarcze terenu. Taki kierunek prac staje się obecnie najbardziej pożądanym tak przez jednostki samorządu terytorialnego, jak i wymagania społeczne po dominujących w poprzednich latach kierunkach rekultywacji leśnej i rolniczej, odtwarzających warunki poprzedzające eksploatację. W pracy przedstawiono efekty wykonanych i planowanych prac związanych z rekultywacją wyrobisk pogórniczych w kierunku wodnym, na przykładzie odkrywek należących do dawnej Kopalni Węgla Brunatnego „Adamów”. Aktualnie łączną powierzchnię najważniejszych istniejących i planowanych zbiorników pokopalnianych ocenia się na 3710 ha. Najbardziej istotnym elementem zbiorników są zgromadzone w nich zasoby wodne. W zbiornikach gotowych wynoszą one nieco ponad 106 mln m3 a ponad 390 mln m3 w zbiornikach znajdujących się obecnie w końcowej fazie napełniania. Po zakończeniu rekultywacji terenów górniczych w kierunku wodnym we wszystkich byłych odkrywkach węgla brunatnego wschodniej Wielkopolski zostanie zgromadzonych ponad 900 mln m3 wody. Nastąpi to pod koniec trzeciej dekady obecnego wieku, zaledwie około 40 lat od czasu utworzenia pierwszego zbiornika. Świadczy to o pozytywnych i rozległych zmianach hydrologicznych, które zasadniczo zmienią ukształtowanie sieci wodnej we wschodniej części Wielkopolski, co ma także znaczenie dla odtwarzania różnorodności biologicznej.
Spalanie biomasy pozyskiwanej z owsa jako czynnik prośrodowiskowy
Authors: Tobiasz-Salach Renata
Published: November 2024

Wykorzystywanie odnawialnych źródeł energii przynosi korzyści środowiskowe. Biomasa jest jednym z podstawowych niekonwencjonalnych źródeł energii w Polsce. Spośród roślin zbożowych uprawianych w Polsce ziarno owsa może być najbardziej przydatne do wykorzystania na cele energetyczne, gdyż ma ono mniejsze znaczenie konsumpcyjne i paszowe, zaś technologia uprawy jest dobrze znana producentom. Wykorzystanie owsa na cele energetyczne jest efektywne ekonomicznie, zwłaszcza jeśli ziarno jest produkowane we własnym gospodarstwie, z wykorzystaniem własnych maszyn i technologii niskonakładowych Wykorzystanie owsa daje korzyści środowiskowe, ponieważ pozwala na ograniczenie zużycia surowców kopalnych oraz zmniejsza emisję uciążliwych gazów i pyłów do atmosfery. Dlatego też podjęto badania w celu określenia wartości opałowej ziarna i zawartość popiołu po jego spaleniu. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań pozwalają stwierdzić, że formy nieoplewione owsa są bardziej przydatne do produkcji biomasy w porównaniu do form oplewionych. Mają większą wartość kaloryczną i zawierają mniej popiołu.
Ochrona zasobów genetycznych koni rasy huculskiej elementem ochrony zasobów przyrodniczych
Authors: Topczewska Jadwiga , Krupa Wanda , Ochałek Katarzyna , Purcha Gabriela , Koziara Ewelina
Published: November 2024

Celem pracy była ocena skuteczności realizacji programu ochrony zasobów genetycznych koni rasy huculskiej jako elementu zasobów środowiska. Badania obejmowały populację utrzymywaną na terenie województwa podkarpackiego. Udział klaczy huculskich reprezentujących rodziny żeńskie w Programie ochrony zasobów genetycznych zwierząt gospodarskich wskazuje na dominację trzech rodzin tj. Polanka, Wydra oraz Wołga. Natomiast w przypadku rodów męskich stwierdzono niepokojące zjawisko braku kwalifikacji na ogiery – reproduktory osobników z rodów Polan i Prislop, co w dłuższym przedziale czasowym może skutkować spadkiem zmienności genetycznej. Ochrona zasobów genetycznych koni huculskich jest istotnym elementem działań na rzecz zachowania bioróżnorodności, w tym spowolnienia utraty bioróżnorodności na poziomie genowym i zużycia zasobów przyrodniczych.
Use of drones in the monitoring of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis in habitats of the Poleski National Park (Poland)
Authors: Wójcik Mariusz , Beeger Sławomir , Czyżowski Piotr
Published: November 2024

The study tested the suitability of consumer drones for monitoring the abundance of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis, an endangered species whose reliable monitoring is crucial for active species conservation. The widely available semi-professional DJI Mavic Air2 model was used, as it can be used to obtain 48 Mpix images or 4K videos. Until now, the species has been monitored visually with binoculars, but this method only works well in specific habitats, such as ponds and drainage ditches. It has been shown that the best method in inaccessible habitats, such as tall rushes, sedges, etc., is to plan a drone flight along a specific trajectory and take a series of photos. In addition, the size of the area can be accurately assessed, and animal density can be calculated. The research is essential for retardation of negative changes in the state of biodiversity in Poland.
Odpady z przemysłu tekstylnego jako nośnik azotu organicznego dla sektora ogrodniczego
Authors: Ciesielczuk Tomasz
Published: November 2024

Zjawisko fast fashion generuje co roku znaczne masy odpadów tekstylnych. Tylko w Europie to 12,6 mln Mg z czego ubrania i obuwie to 5,2 mln Mg. Jednym ze sposobów ich zagospodarowania jest recykling materiałowy, gdzie w procesach rozwłókniania, przędzenia i tkania powstanie nowa tkanina, jednak udział tak przetwarzanych odpadów wynosi 1% masy. Innym sposobem jest zagospodarowanie mające na celu poprawę własności gleb poprzez zastosowanie modyfikowanych fizycznie i chemicznie odpadów i wykorzystanie jako polepszacza glebowego. W pracy badano możliwość zastosowania odpadowej tkaniny bawełnianej jako nośnika organicznego nawozu azotowego o zrównoważonym działaniu. Skrawki odpadowej tkaniny bawełnianej o gramaturze 408g/m2 nasycano gorącym roztworem kolagenu, który po wysuszeniu stanowił 1/3 masy próbek. Tak przygotowane skrawki, zastosowano jako nawóz dla gleby lekkiej o składzie granulometrycznym piasku gliniastego. Zastosowano przemywanie wodą deszczową o temperaturze 20oC. Azot zawarty w kolagenie został uwolniony w ciągu 42 dni do roztworu glebowego, przy czym maksimum stężeń przypadło na okres 4-6 dnia po aplikacji. Dodatkową zaletą uzyskanego materiału jest naturalna pojemność wodna bawełny, co jest istotne z punktu widzenia gromadzenia wody w glebach lekkich. Równolegle, zaobserwowano powolną degradację tkaniny bawełnianej, która po 3 miesiącach inkubacji rozpadała się na fragmenty. Zastosowana modyfikacja odpadowej tkaniny bawełnianej daje możliwość zagospodarowania odpadów tekstylnych jako nośnik nawozu, co pozwoli na zmniejszenie masy odpadów bawełnianych kierowanych do spalania lub składowanych.
Anti-idiotypic antibodies specific to steroid hormones and proliferative activity of tumor in breast cancer patients
Authors: Glushkov A. N. , Polenok E. G. , Mun S. A. , Gordeeva L. A. , Antonov A. V. , Bairamov P. V. , Verzhbitskaya N. E. , Kolpinsky G. I.
Published: November 2024

Nongenomic effects of antibodies specific to membrane steroid receptors are well known. Autoantibodies against estrogen receptor (ER) were revealed in blood serum of breast cancer patients (BCP). Their serum levels correlated with Ki-67, a protein tumor proliferation marker,. Purified antibodies stimulated in vitro proliferation of cultured MCF-7 tumor cells. Antiidiotypic antibodies against monoclonal antibodies, specific to estradiol, showed similar agonist activity. However, the function of auto-antibodies against progesterone receptor (PR) remained unknown. The purpose of this study was to search for an association between serum antiidiotypic antibodies specific to estradiol and progesterone (IgG2-E2 and IgG2-Pg), and expression of Ki-67 tumor protein in BCP. The IgG2-E2 and IgG2-Pg were studied in 204 healthy women and 663 BCP with ER+/PR+ tumors using ELISA technique with adsorbed monoclonal antibodies against E2 and Pg. Ki-67, ER and PR were detected by immunohistochemical methods. High levels of IgG2-E2 in stage I BCP were detected more frequently than in healthy women (63.9% vs 40.2%, р < 0.001), being more common in cases with Ki-67 > 14, than with tumors with Ki-67 ≤ 14 (63.9% vs 56.9%, р = 0.03). Similar association of IgG2- Pg with Ki-67 was not revealed. The individually low levels of both IgG2-E2 and IgG2-Pg in stage I BCP with Ki-67 ≤ 14 tumors were found in 55.2%, compared to 22.4% in cases with Ki-67 > 30. The cooperatively high IgG2-E2 and IgG2-Pg levels were detected in 35.7% of stage I BCP with Ki-67 ≤ 14 tumors and in 28.6% with Ki-67 > 30 cases (p = 0.03). On the contrary, high IgG2-E2 levels in BCP II-IV stages with tumor Ki-67 > 30 were less comon, than with Ki-67 ≤ 14 (49.1% vs 64.2%, р = 0.03). Similar association was found with IgG2-Pg (47.2% vs 62.2%, р = 0.03). The cooperatively high individual IgG2- E2 and IgG2-Pg levels were detected in BCP at II-IV stages with Ki-67 ≤ 14 and Ki-67 > 30 (respectively, 38.0% and 37.0). These indices comprised 21.5% and 53.9% when the levels of studied antibodies were low (p = 0.003). In conclusion, high individual levels of both IgG2-E2 and IgG2-Pg were associated with high proliferative activity of ER+/PR+ breast cancer at initial tumor growth (stage I), and with low proliferation rates at subsequent tumor growth (stages II-IV).
Interleukin 40, a novel cytokine
Authors: Askarzadeh Monireh , Ataollahi Mohammad Reza , Shokrolahi Zahra , Atashzar Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2024

IL-40, also known as C17orf99, is an intriguing cytokine that has recently been discovered as a novel protein secreted by B cells. It is expressed in specific mammals and is derived from the bone marrow and fetal liver. While its primary role is in maintaining B cell homeostasis and promoting B cell maturation and development, IL-40 also plays a crucial role in humoral immunity, particularly in the production of antibodies, with a specific emphasis on IgA production. As well as there are relationship between IL-40 and neutrophil extracellular traps externalization (NETosis) markers. In addition to its involvement in normal B cell functions, IL-40 has been found to have significant implications in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Research has linked IL-40 to rheumatoid arthritis, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma, Sjogren’s syndrome, pSS-associated NHL, autoimmune thyroid disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, ankylosing spondylitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. This suggests that IL-40 could potentially serve as a diagnostic or treatment biomarker for these conditions. However, despite these exciting findings, there is still much to be learned about IL-40. Further research is necessary to uncover additional properties and functions of this cytokine. Ongoing studies aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which IL-40 contributes to B cell biology and humoral immunity, as well as its role in disease pathogenesis. These investigations will help determine the potential therapeutic applications of IL-40 and its utility as a diagnostic marker. In this minireview, we aim to discuss the recent findings surrounding IL-40.
New strategies for solid tumor immunotherapy based on NK cells
Authors: Vorobyova I. G. , Abakushina E. V.
Published: November 2024

A major issue in treatment of solid malignancies is associated with multiplicity and rapid adaptation of immunosuppressive effects exerted by immune cells reprogrammed by the tumor. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), neutrophils, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes lose their ability to protect healthy tissues and to destroy malignant cells by activating a number of tools causing blockage of immune surveillance and reduction of therapeutic effects. Immune cells attracted by chemokines and reprogrammed by the tumor supply the malignant cells with missing nutrients (e.g., by producing arginase), support the survival of de novo recruited cells at low pH (acidosis) around malignant tissues, produce increased amounts of angiogenic factors thus contributing to increased blood supply to the tumor. Productive inflammation, being among the main types of immune response, destroys tumor pathogens and moves into chronic inflammation with progression of the tumor, thus causing immune suppression. Restoration of inflammatory immune reactions after tumor resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is necessary to achieve remission without relapse or, at least, increases the time period until next episode of the disease progression. Transplantation of NK cells has a number of advantages over T lymphocytes in order of restored productive inflammation. However, it also requires additional therapeutic impacts, since various mechanisms of tumor immune escape block anti-tumor immunity. To achieve a pronounced therapeutic effect, the optimal ratio is important between the activity and number of NK cells, supporting therapeutic agents, with regard of aggressiveness and spread of malignant tumor. Among the developing areas of NK cells support, one may consider the NK cell “enhancers” (NKCE), engineered proteins that make cell therapy more selective and targeted. NKCE may activate the targeted migration of NK cells, along with blockage of inhibitory ligands. Currently, the blockage of inhibitory signals is studied in order to control metastatic tumors via KIR, NKG2A, TIGIT, TIM-3, EGFR, PD1 receptors, PDL1 and NKG2D ligand, as reported in a number of clinical and preclinical trials. The increased specificity of therapy is also achieved by usage of new-generation antibodies – nanoantibodies, aimed for targeted blocking of tumor-derived exosomes (TDE), as well as protein domains that enhance targeted migration of NK cells and therapeutic nanoparticles.
The Professional as Prophet: The social magic of professional knowledge
Authors: Olsen Bent
Published: November 2024

The concept of ‘profession’ is typically linked to the strength derived from its neutrality and the specialised knowledge and skills the professional is expected to possess, supported by a self-affirmative narrative of the group’s capabilities and merits. Professions have become powerful forces for conceptualisation both the world of their own, that of the general public and caring out solutions for a wide range of human challenges. This makes it obvious to examine the forms of social dominance that come with professionalisation. The inquiries are fundamentally preoccupied with the inherent contradiction between person and profession, and between the arbitrariness of subjectivity and the universalised concern of a profession. The presentation follows three steps. 1) The will of a profession comes with a false neutrality and by that with a social dominance, working explicitly as well as implicitly. 2) Goffman and Bourdieu then show how this dominance works, rooted in professional practice itself, as they point to a threshold separating the logic of theory from the logics of moral practices of professions. This all points to breaks in the knowledge-power-legitimacy chain of professions. 3) The concern of social dominance and that of the knowledge-power-legitimacy chain is now united in the symbolic order of prophecies. Evidence suggests that professions provide a surplus of meaning by virtue of some prophecies they carry with them. This symbolic resource creates an ambiguity between professional neutrality and determining the personal morale of prophecies, with consequences for both knowledge of and about professions.
Fatores de Risco para Ansiedade entre Estudantes Universitários na Pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Calves Mariana Gonçalves Rodrigues , Tucci Adriana Marcassa
Published: November 2024

Resumo: O período da graduação acarreta maior risco de desenvolvimento de problemas de saúde mental, como a ansiedade, em estudantes universitários. Este estudo buscou avaliar os fatores de risco para ansiedade entre estudantes universitários durante a pandemia de covid-19. A amostra foi por conveniência (N = 384), e os instrumentos utilizados foram: um questionário sociodemográfico e econômico; questionário sobre traumas na infância; escala de depressão, ansiedade e estresse; e um modelo de regressão logística multivariada. Os questionários e a escala foram autoaplicados online. Foram identificados como fatores de risco: gênero feminino; estudar em período não-integral; ter ingressado na universidade por meio de cotas; ter percepção de sua saúde mental durante a pandemia como média/ruim ou com uma piora em relação ao período anterior; fazer uso de automedicação; e ter histórico de abuso físico na infância e/ou adolescência. Esses fatores, que aumentaram a chance entre estudantes universitários de vivenciar sintomas de ansiedade durante a pandemia de covid-19, chamam a atenção para a necessidade de cuidado e promoção de saúde mental nessa população.
O Iberismo Instrumental no Estado Novo: sobre o corporativismo utópico, conservadorismo estadista e democracia cristã de Oliveira Vianna
Authors: Martins Piccoli Francisco Matheus
Published: November 2024

O presente artigo investiga por bases históricas a teoria e prática do corporativismo desde Mihal Manoïlesco no início do século XX e a discussão que dela gerou na Ciência Política ocidental e a sua recepção no Brasil. Assim, para compreender como o regime autoritário do Estado Novo, por influência de Oliveira Vianna e sua visão do conservadorismo estadista, ou autoritarismo instrumental, instaurou práticas corporativas em um país em descompasso com os países anglo-saxões. Analisar como o corporativismo foi utilizado sob uma perspectiva ibérica e originalidade da sua sustentação ao se desassociar dos regimes totalitários através da democracia cristã. Por fim, situar o passo em que o Brasil se encontra em relação as continuidades corporativas do associativismo nacional.
A Black-Box Watermarking Modulation for Object Detection Models
Authors: Lansari Mohammed , Mattioli Lucas , Addad Boussad , Raffi Paul-Marie , Kapusta Katarzyna , Gonzalez Martin , Ibn Khedher Mohamed
Published: November 2024

Training a Deep Neural Network (DNN) from scratch comes with a substantial cost in terms of money, energy, data, and hardware. When such models are misused or redistributed without authorisation, the owner faces significant financial and intellectual property (IP) losses. Therefore, there is a pressing need to protect the IP of Machine Learning models to avoid these issues. ML watermarking emerges as a promising solution for model traceability. Watermarking has been well-studied for image classification models, but there is a significant research gap in its application to other tasks like object detection, for which no effective methods have been proposed yet. In this paper, we introduce a novel black-box watermarking method for object detection models. Our contributions include a watermarking technique that maps visual information to text semantics and a comparative study of fine-tuning techniques’ impact on watermark detectability. We present the model’s detection performance and evaluate fine-tuning strategies’ effectiveness in preserving watermark integrity.
Datamodel Distance: A New Metric for Privacy
Authors: Lintilhac Paul , Scheible Henry , Bastian Nathaniel D.
Published: November 2024

Recent work developing Membership Inference Attacks has
demonstrated that certain points in the dataset are often in-
trinsically easier to attack than others. In this paper, we intro-
duce a new pointwise metric, the Datamodel Distance, and show
that it is empirically correlated to and establishes a theoreti-
cal lower bound for the success probability for a point under the
LiRA Membership Inference Attack. This establishes a
connection between the concepts of Datamodels and Member-
ship Inference, and also gives new intuitive explanations for
why certain points are more susceptible to attack than others. We then use datamodels as a lens through which to investigate the Privacy Onion Efect.
S-RAF: A Simulation-Based Robustness Assessment Framework for Responsible Autonomous Driving
Authors: Omeiza Daniel , Somaiya Pratik , Pattison Jo-Ann , Ten-Holter Carolyn , Jirotka Marina , Stilgoe Jack , Kunze Lars
Published: November 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, ensuring the robustness and safety of AI-driven systems has become paramount. However, varying perceptions of robustness among AI developers create misaligned evaluation metrics, complicating the assessment and certification of safety-critical and complex AI systems such as autonomous driving (AD) agents. To address this challenge, we introduce Simulation-Based Robustness Assessment Framework (S-RAF) for autonomous driving. S-RAF leverages the CARLA Driving simulator to rigorously assess AD agents across diverse conditions, including faulty sensors, environmental changes, and complex traffic situations. By quantifying robustness and its relationship with other safety-critical factors, such as carbon emissions, S-RAF aids developers and stakeholders in building safe and responsible driving agents, and streamlining safety certification processes. Furthermore, S-RAF offers significant advantages, such as reduced testing costs, and the ability to explore edge cases that may be unsafe to test in the real world.
Mitigating Large Vision-Language Model Hallucination at Post-hoc via Multi-agent System
Authors: Yu Chung-En (Johnny) , Jalaian Brian , Bastian Nathaniel D.
Published: November 2024

This paper addresses the critical issue of hallucination in Large Vision-Language Models (LVLMs) by proposing a novel multi-agent framework. We integrate three post-hoc correction techniques: self-correction, external feedback, and agent debate, to enhance LVLM trustworthiness. Our approach tackles key challenges in LVLM hallucination, including weak visual encoders, parametric knowledge bias, and loss of visual attention during inference. The framework employs a Plug-in LVLM as the base model to reduce its hallucination, a Large Language Model (LLM) for guided refinement, external toolbox models for factual grounding, and an agent debate system for consensus-building. While promising, we also discuss potential limitations and technical challenges in implementing such a complex system. This work contributes to the ongoing effort to create more reliable and trustworthy multimodal multi-agent systems.
Designing AI for Partnership in Care
Authors: Hsu Long-Jing , Šabanović Selma
Published: November 2024

As the global population ages, promoting active aging and enabling older adults to age in place has become increasingly important. This paper explores the role of technology in this process, particularly in helping older adults identify and pursue meaningful activities and provide care for loved ones. Through two example projects -- the design of a social robot that supports older adults' experience of a sense of meaning and purpose (ikigai), and an exploration of how technology can assist with caregiving -- we demonstrate how technology can enhance the care for older adults. This short paper highlights how technology can create a more fulfilling and supportive active aging experience, empowering older adults to engage with what and who they care about and enhancing their caring relationships.
Understanding the Daily Lives of Older Adults: Integrating Multi-modal Personal Health Tracking Data through Visualization and Large Language Models
Authors: Li Jiachen , Steinberg Justin , Li Xiwen , Yao Bingsheng , Wang Dakuo , Mynatt Elizabeth , Mishra Varun
Published: November 2024

Understanding the daily lives and routines of older adults is crucial to facilitate aging in place. Ubiquitous computing technologies like smartphones and wearables that are easy to deploy and scale, have become a popular method to collect comprehensive and longitudinal data for various demographics. Despite their popularity, several challenges persist when targeting the older adult population such as low compliance and hard to obtain feedback. In this work-in-progress paper, we present the design and development of a multi-modal sensing system that includes a phone, watch, and voice assistant. We are conducting an initial longitudinal study with one older adult participant over 30 days to explore how various types of data can be integrated through visualization techniques and large language models (LLMs). As a work-in-progress, we discussed our preliminary insights from the collected data, and conclude with a discussion of our future plans and directions for this research.
Supporting Aging in Place with the Introduction of Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Authors: Moon Tracy
Published: November 2024

As our growing population ages, there is a stronger push to age in place. Adults want to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible despite degenerative health issues. With adequate education and support, the growing desire for adults to age in their homes can be met with the strategic integration of AI technologies to maximize safety and bolster engagement in meaningful activities. This seemingly simple solution is complicated by the intersection of unique learning styles and the complexities that come with a generation that is cautious of even the simplest technology. Adopting a person-centered framework is vital for the success of AI-supported aging in place. As an occupational therapist, with experience across geriatric populations and a special interest in adaptive technology, I provide unique insight into effectively introducing AI technologies into the daily lives of older adults throughout this experiential report.
Knowledge Aware Automated Health Claims Processing with Medical Ontologies and Large Language Models
Authors: Lui Sheng Jie , Xiang Cheng , Krishnaswamy Shonali
Published: November 2024

One of the major challenges in automating health insurance claims processing lies in the complexity involved in validating an incoming claim's medical diagnoses against its policy Underwriting (UW) exclusions. Termed UW Exclusion Detection, this process ensures claims are only paid out if their diagnoses are not medically associated with conditions excluded under the policy. Medical diagnoses in health insurance claims are typically represented by the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes, established by the World Health Organization. For example, given a policy that excludes "all respiratory illness". A claim with the ICD code J45 (Asthma) will be subject to rejection as J45 is a respiratory-related diagnosis that falls within the scope of the policy's UW exclusion. The key challenge in automating this process lies in the wide range of available ICD codes. The ICD-10-CM coding scheme consists of over 40,000 codes, which often results in scenarios where codes encountered during inference are absent from the training data. These unseen ICD codes limit the effectiveness of data-driven approaches, which depend on the training data to discern medically relevant associations between UW exclusions and ICD codes. This underscores the need to supplement data-driven approaches with additional domain knowledge. We hypothesize that integrating implicit medical domain knowledge inherent in Large Language Models (LLMs) with explicit domain knowledge from medical ontologies, will enhance data-driven approaches for UW Exclusion Detection. Thoroughly validated on real-world health insurance claims data, our proposed approach proved effective in accurately establishing medically relevant associations between UW exclusions and ICD codes.
LLMasMMKG: LLM Assisted Synthetic Multi-Modal Knowledge Graph Creation For Smart City Cognitive Digital Twins
Authors: Mandal Sukanya , O'Connor Noel E.
Published: November 2024

The concept of a Smart City (SC) Cognitive Digital Twin (CDT) presents significant potential for optimizing urban environments through sophisticated simulations, predictions, and informed decision-making. Comprehensive Knowledge Representations (KRs) that effectively integrate the diverse data streams generated by a city are crucial to realizing this potential. This paper addresses this by introducing a novel approach that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate the construction of synthetic Multi-Modal (MM) Knowledge Graphs (KGs) specifically designed for a SC CDT. Recognizing the challenges in fusing and aligning information from disparate sources, our method harnesses the power of LLMs for natural language understanding, entity recognition, and relationship extraction to seamlessly integrate data from sensor networks, social media feeds, official reports, and other relevant sources. Furthermore, we explore the use of LLM-driven synthetic data generation to address data sparsity issues, leading to more comprehensive and robust KGs. Initial outputs demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in constructing semantically rich and interconnected synthetic KGs, highlighting the significant potential of LLMs for advancing SC CDT technology.