bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorder Symptoms After Whiplash Trauma—A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Häggman‐Henrikson Birgitta , Lövgren Anna , Wu Wendy Yi‐Ying , Peck Christopher , Westergren Hans , List Thomas
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is an umbrella term for pain and dysfunction involving jaw muscles and/or the temporomandibular joint, with whiplash trauma suggested to be one risk factor. The aim was to evaluate prevalence and relative risk of TMDs in the acute and chronic stages after whiplash trauma.

Databases and Data Treatment

This review was registered in Prospero (CRD42023407091) and followed the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science on 10 March 2023 and updated 29 April 2024 identified studies reporting prevalence of TMD after whiplash trauma. Risk of bias was assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool. A random effect meta‐analysis was performed for prevalence of TMD pain.

Results

After screening of 671 identified studies, 96 articles were assessed in full text. Fourteen studies, with 840 cases in the acute and 8293 cases in the chronic stage (i.e., > 3 months post‐trauma) were included in a qualitative analysis together with 1591 controls. Nine studies, including 449 cases in the acute and 7912 individuals in the chronic stage after trauma, together with 515 controls, were included in the meta‐analysis. Mean prevalence for TMD pain was 18.9% (95% CI 9.71–29.98) in the acute case group, 26.8% (95% CI 15.07–38.79) in the chronic case group, and 5.7% (95% CI 3.08–8.96) in the control group.

Conclusions

The higher prevalence of TMD pain already in the early stage after whiplash trauma, emphasises the need for early comprehensive clinical assessment as well as targeted research to understand underlying mechanisms.

Significance

The prevalence of Temporomandibular disorder pain was high already in the acute stage after whiplash trauma, and there was no evidence of any decrease from the acute to the chronic stage. This finding suggests that early assessment and management rather than a 'wait‐and see' approach should be recommended when patients present with orofacial pain related to whiplash trauma.
Modeling and Experimental Researches on Redox Reactions of Iron Ore Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping
Authors: Hui Wang , Liu Lei , Li Kexin , Zhong Di
Published: February 2025

Developing a reliable kinetic model for these redox reactions is crucial for understanding and improving oxygen carriers practical in chemical looping applications. The traditional pore model assumes that the solid product forms a continuous layer uniformly covering the solid reactant surface during the gas–solid reactions, in the result the model fails to capture the kinetic transitions caused by the actual solid structure change. We integrated product island growth theory into random pore model (RPM). The model assumes the oxygen carrier has randomly distributed and overlapped pores, involving surface chemical reactions, product island growth, product layer diffusion, internal gas diffusion, and external gas diffusion to the particle surface. The model was verified using data of a natural iron ore from micro‐fluidized bed thermogravimetric analysis (MFB‐TGA) experiments. The kinetic parameters include chemical reaction rate constant (), critical product layer thickness (), and product layer diffusion coefficient (). The reduction reaction rate is primarily governed by the chemical reaction, while both surface chemical reactions and product layer diffusion significantly influence the oxidation reaction. The reduction reaction, with an activation energy of 84.2 kJ/mol, is more temperature‐sensitive than the oxidation reaction, which has an activation energy of 41.88 kJ/mol. Reaction temperature, particle size, and reactant gas concentration significantly impact the reaction rate and conversion of iron ore oxygen carriers. The model effectively predicts and analyzes the redox behavior of natural iron ore oxygen carrier, providing insights to optimize its performance.
Relay‐Assisted Communication Over FTR/IFTR Channels
Authors: Mehdi Haider , Hussain Zakir , Rabbani Muhammad Junaid , Saleem Syed Muhammad Atif , Ahmed Syed Areeb
Published: February 2025

This work presents an analysis of decode and forward (DF) relay‐assisted device‐to‐device (D2D) communication over a novel fluctuating two‐ray (FTR) faded channel affected by co‐channel interference (CCI). CCI fading condition is assumed to follow a novel independent fluctuating two‐ray (IFTR) model. The FTR model consists of dominant components that jointly fluctuate, plus a diffuse component. The IFTR model complements the FTR model by allowing the dominant components to fluctuate independently. Both models are typically incorporated in various environments because of their generalized nature. The contributions of this paper include analyses of relay‐assisted D2D FTR/IFTR system with two cases. These cases are considered based on diversity schemes at the relay and D2D receiver: (A) Selection combining (SC) at relay and D2D receiver and (B) Maximal ratio combining (MRC) at relay and D2D receiver. Also, the expressions for outage probability, success probability and capacity with outage over Terahertz (THz) communication channels are derived by the help of characteristic function (CF). These expressions are functions of THz channel conditions, distances between various communication nodes of the system, diversity scheme parameters and various FTR/IFTR fading channel parameters. It is observed that the variation in CCI IFTR parameters slightly effect the overall performance of the D2D system. Furthermore, by increasing pointing errors of D2D signals system performance degrades. However, performance is improved when CCI pointing errors are increased.
Improved Conjugate Gradient Methods for Unconstrained Minimization Problems and Training Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Hassan Bassim A. , Moghrabi Issam A. R. , Ibrahim Alaa Luqman , Jabbar Hawraz N.
Published: February 2025

This research introduces two conjugate gradient methods, BIV1 and BIV2, designed to enhance the efficiency and performance of unconstrained optimization problems with only first derivative vectors. The study explores the derivation of new conjugate gradient parameters and investigates their practical performance. The proposed BIV1 and BIV2 methods are compared with the traditional Hestenes‐Stiefel (HS) method through a series of numerical experiments. These experiments evaluate the methods on various test problems sourced from the CUTE library and other unconstrained problem collections. Key performance metrics, including the number of iterations, function evaluations, and CPU time, demonstrate that both BIV1 and BIV2 methods offer superior efficiency and effectiveness compared to the HS method. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these methods is illustrated in the context of training artificial neural networks. Experimental results show that the new methods achieve competitive performance in terms of convergence rate and accuracy.
An examination of the grid‐tied solar photovoltaic energy system installed at the B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology in India
Authors: Kaliluthin A. K. , Vimala M. , Kumar M. Ram , Manokar A. Muthu
Published: February 2025

A 300 kW power polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) power plant installed at an educational institution was analyzed. The efficiency of PV panel is influenced by environmental factors like solar intensity, ambient temperature, and wind speed. Additionally, factors like the temperature of the panels, dust accumulation, hotspots, and shadow effects can also impact their performance. The effect of climate on a 300 kW power polycrystalline PV power plant installed at B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology was studied in Chennai, India, by comparing the annual performance. For the studied 300 kW power PV system, April month was a better energy generation month than the other months during the year 2022. Enviroeconomic analysis gives information regarding the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) mitigation possible from the proposed plant. The maximum Enviroeconomic cost obtained by considering the system's life as 20 years was 133,723.79 $/annum during the year 2020.
Considering a Functional Conceptualisation of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Systematic Scoping Review of Emerging Evidence on ARFID
Authors: Karvay Yvette
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) only recently emerged in the DSM‐5 and ICD‐11. Relatedly, emerging conceptualisations of ARFID are equivocal. A functional conceptualisation of ARFID (i.e., cohesive conceptualisation that can guide research and clinical work) is needed. The present systematic scoping review aimed to synthesise ARFID literature to develop a functional conceptualisation model with recommendations for ongoing research and clinical work.

Method

Utilising PRISMA guidelines, 25 references were found eligible for inclusion and categorised using a bottom‐up approach into 6 (not mutually exclusive) conceptualisations of ARFID: clinical presentation subtypes (n = 16), symptom presentation (n = 4), biological (n = 3), behavioural (n = 4), learning (n = 3), and biopsychosocial (n = 4) models.

Results

Conceptually, both clinical presentation subtype and biopsychosocial models posed important avenues for further exploration of the aetiology, maintenance, and treatment of ARFID. Clinical presentation subtype models were most common, echoing and extending previous research support for the DSM's subtype categorisation. Biopsychosocial models were agnostic to ARFID subtypes, but encompassed elements of the biological, behavioural, and learning models, and suggested factors related to the aetiology and maintenance of ARFID subtypes.

Discussion

Together, these conceptualisations allow for streamlined, nuanced research and clinical work aimed at understanding and treating ARFID.
A Comprehensive Review of Sustainable Geopolymer Concrete Using Palm Oil Clinker: Environmental and Engineering Aspects
Authors: Abdulhaleem Khamees N. , Hamada Hussein M. , Osman Ahmed I. , Yousif Salim T. , Humada Ali M. , Majdi Ali
Published: February 2025

Amidst the dual challenges of aggregate scarcity and the environmental impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cement production, this study investigates the viability of palm oil clinker (POC) as a sustainable aggregate in geopolymer concrete (GPC). The lack of appropriate alternative coarse and fine aggregates essential in concrete production is one of the critical issues faced by the construction industry. This review evaluates its environmental benefits, chemical and physical attributes, and influence on GPC's microstructure. Previous studies have shown that incorporating POC in GPC significantly reduces density from 2345 to 1821 kg/m3 while maintaining competitive compressive strength, thus proving its applicability in various structural and nonstructural contexts. Moreover, GPC with POC demonstrates enhanced resistance to aggressive environmental conditions such as water absorption and resistance against acid and sulfate environments. Geopolymer mortar (GPM) exposed to sulfate attack recorded the lowest decrease in strength than GPM containing POC fine aggregates by about 20%. The use of 100% POC aggregates in GPC mix has a 3.2% water absorption, which is lower than the limit for high‐performance concrete. The results advocate for the development of POC‐aggregate GPC as an environmentally friendly construction material, contributing to the sustainable advancement of the building industry.
A New Coupled‐Inductor‐Based Quadratic DC/DC Converter With Low Current Stress
Authors: Hasanpour Sara , Lee Sze Sing
Published: February 2025

This article presents a new ultrahigh‐voltage gain DC/DC converter for renewable energy sources applications. In the presented topology, a three‐winding coupled‐inductor (TWCI) and a switch‐capacitor network are employed in a classic quadratic boost converter to produce a high voltage gain while ensuring continuous input current and common ground between the input source and output load sides. This circuit has a semi‐trans‐inverse feature; therefore, higher voltage gain can be obtained under a very low number of turn ratios of the TWCI. Moreover, the current sharing between the TWCI and input inductor of this topology minimizes the power dissipation of the active switches and the magnetic components. In this circuit, two passive clamp circuits are used to limit the voltage stresses of the active switches, which are operated in simultaneous switching patterns. Detailed steady‐state analysis, power loss estimations, comparison studies, and design considerations are provided. Finally, a sample prototype (200 W) has been implemented to verify the theoretical analysis of the proposed converter.
Effects of geological features on preferential flow on karst slopes in southwestern China
Authors: Hou Fang , Cheng Jinhua , Zhang Han , Wang Xianglian , Shi Dewei , Guan Ning , Yu Yang
Published: February 2025

The preferential flow phenomenon in karst mountains is subject to the influence of geophysical factors at the hillslope scale. Variations in geologic structure, stemming from hillslope orientation and slope position, impact the level of development of preferential flow. In this study, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and field dye tracing experiments were applied on the south‐ and north‐facing hillslopes to reveal the influence of slope aspects (south‐ and north‐facing) and locations (uphill, mid‐hill, and downhill) on preferential flow in a typical karst graben basin of Southwestern China. Results showed that the degree of preferential flow was higher on the north‐facing hillslopes compared to the south‐facing hillslopes, as indicated by the 3.6% higher preferential flow ratio (PF) and 0.9% higher length index (Li). For north‐facing hillslopes, these two indices decreased with going uphill. There is a correlation between the geo‐structural features reflected by GPR data and the indices (i.e., PF and Li) of preferential flow development. PF and Li were logarithmically increasing in relation to the radargram envelope parameters (i.e., maximum amplitude [Maxa] and total amplitude area [Ta]). A statistically significant correlation was found between the PF and Maxa, Ta, and penetration depth (p < 0.01). The response of the envelope to preferential flow was attributed to 50.3% and 30.4%, respectively, indicating that these envelope properties effectively differentiate between south‐ and north‐facing hillslopes. Our study provides a useful approach to advance the understanding of the influence of subsurface structure on preferential water distribution in the hillslopes of the karst area.
Residential Wildfire Structural Damage Detection Using Deep Learning to Analyze Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Imagery, Aerial Imagery, and Satellite Imagery
Authors: Kang Dae Kun , Olsen Michael J. , Fischer Erica , Jung Jaehoon
Published: February 2025

In recent years, wildfires in residential regions have increasingly inflicted significant economic and social losses. Preemptive measures can reduce the damage to public infrastructure and lessen these impacts. Rapid evaluation of residential structures after wildfire is crucial for investigating the overall scope of the damage and establishing an effective disaster mitigation strategy. However, conducting these assessments involves detailed on‐site examinations, which require considerable time and workforce. Furthermore, these qualitative assessments can be subjective and prone to error. To overcome these shortcomings, this study suggests a practical methodology for performing damage assessments of housing after a wildfire using deep learning technology. The applications of deep learning to three different image sources for residential areas are analyzed and compared as follows: uncrewed aerial systems imagery, aerial imagery, and satellite imagery. Notably, combinations of these image sources were considered from the training stage, and the impact of changes in training data when applied to each image source was comprehensively investigated. Key results reveal achievable accuracies depending on the various remote sensing data sources used in the training and application phases. This study is expected to provide deep learning researchers working on wildfires with a fundamental resource for the comprehensive use of remote sensing data and to provide valuable insights into the decision‐making process for wildfire responders.
A High‐Order Hybrid Compact‐WENO Finite‐Difference Immersed Boundary Method for Computing Two‐Dimensional Inviscid Compressible Flows
Authors: Marashi Mohammad Hossein , Hejranfar Kazem
Published: February 2025

In the present study, a high‐order hybrid compact‐weighted essentially non‐oscillatory (WENO) scheme is applied in conjunction with the immersed boundary method for efficiently computing compressible inviscid flows around two‐dimensional solid bodies. For this aim, the two‐dimensional unsteady compressible Euler equations written in the conservative form are considered and they are discretized in the space by using the hybrid fifth‐order compact‐WENO (CW) finite‐difference scheme and the third‐order explicit TVD Runge–Kutta scheme in the time. The solid bodies are appropriately imposed to the computational domain by using the immersed boundary method as an effective procedure in modeling the complex configurations without the difficulties usually encountered in generating the computational grid over such problems. Different test cases are simulated by applying the hybrid CW immersed boundary method and the present results are compared with those of available finite‐difference immersed boundary methods. To further assess the solution method applied, the present results are also obtained by the high‐order WENO immersed boundary scheme, and these two high‐order accurate solution procedures are thoroughly compared with each other. The main advantage of using the hybrid CW finite‐difference immersed boundary method applied here is that it provides a more accurate solution with lower computational cost in comparison with the traditional and high‐order WENO finite‐difference immersed boundary methods. It is shown that the solution procedure based on the hybrid CW scheme implemented via the immersed boundary method has still reasonable shock‐capturing features and it can effectively be applied for accurately computing the compressible inviscid flows with the complicated flow structures and the embedded discontinuities such as the shocks over the complicated geometries.
Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles in Mitigating Postharvest Losses of Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Shakeel Ayesha , Rohi Madiha , Batool Rizwana , Tehseen Saima , Aziz Mahwash , Malik Kaynat , Abdul Sattar Mahreen , Raza Awais , Diantom Agoura
Published: February 2025

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from biological waste is an emerging technology that has excellent antibacterial properties. The present study has been designed to prepare silver nanoparticles by adopting green synthesis, which is based on the drying of fruits and vegetable peel to form silver nanoparticles. Two types of fruits (apples and tomatoes) and three types of vegetables (carrots, capsicum, and cucumber) were divided into three groups: one group was kept without any treatment, the second group was subjected to nanoparticles without silver nitrate, and the third group was subjected to silver nanoparticles. All the groups were stored for 15 days at room temperature and assessed for the physiochemical analysis of fruits and vegetables at 0 and 15th day and weight loss at 0, 5, 10, and 15th day of storage. Specifically, the titratable acidity of apples increased from 1.45 to 1.47 g/L, whereas nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles‐treated apples ranged from 1.40 to 1.43 g/L. For tomatoes, the titratable acidity decreased from 0.54 to 0.44 g/L in controls, compared to 0.39–0.44 g/L in treated samples. Carrots in the control group decreased from 0.38 to 0.32 g/L, whereas treated samples maintained 0.29–0.34 g/L. Capsicum's acidity fell from 0.37 to 0.27 g/L in controls, compared to 0.28–0.32 g/L in treated capsicum. Cucumber's acidity decreased from 0.23 to 0.17 g/L in controls, whereas treated cucumbers showed 0.40–0.46 g/L. Overall, the nanoparticle treatments were effective in preserving the produce's titratable acidity, indicating enhanced freshness and extended shelf life. It was examined that treatments treated with nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles have a great impact on the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. There is a great possibility of using nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles in combination with peel extract of fruits and vegetables to improve the shelf life of vegetables and fruits.
Financing Universal Healthcare Coverage in Nigeria Through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund: Challenges and Potential Solutions
Authors: Odinenu Theodora A. , Anago Chidiebere Jude
Published: February 2025

This study examines the Nigerian government's efforts to provide Universal Health Care (UHC) and reduce out‐of‐pocket spending through the Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) scheme. The study gathered insights into the degree of UHC accomplishment through the implementation of the BHCPF using qualitative and quantitative secondary data analysis approaches, which combined a series of interviews with Statista data. The findings show that BHCPF implementation must be better aligned with the needs of healthcare recipients, particularly at the local government level, with poor infrastructure, insufficient funding, a lack of workforce, limited medicine, low awareness, and reachability identified as key factors making the scheme inaccessible. For immediate improvement, supported by Statista data, the study recommended telemedicine to address some of the challenges of reachability/accessibility because it represents an advantageous approach, given its significant contribution to the expansion of healthcare accessibility and the mitigation of health inequities in under‐resourced countries around the world. Furthermore, the Public‐Private Partnership method backed by desk‐based research method was deemed ideal for addressing health care infrastructure provisioning challenge. Overall, this study demonstrates, on the one hand, the difficulty in improving access to care at the local government level, given the multifaceted and complex nature of the barriers to care for low‐income people; and on the other, the urgent need for more holistic collective action to improve quality healthcare services for all in Nigeria.
Can Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors? A Protocol for a GRADE‐Assessed Systematic Review and Dose‐Response Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Jafari Ali
Published: February 2025

Background and Aims

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), encompassing a variety of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, remain a significant global public health challenge. Among various therapeutic options, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has garnered attention due to its potential benefits for cardiovascular health. CoQ10 is a naturally occurring antioxidant that plays a crucial role in cellular energy production and has long been used therapeutically. This study aims to summarize and systematically analyze the scientific literature on glycemic profile, lipid profile, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, inflammatory factors, liver function tests, oxidative stress parameters and adipokines associated with CoQ10 supplementation to provide a basis for clinical treatment.

Methods

A systematic electronic search will be conducted to identify articles published from inception to July 2024 across databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and EMBASE. The search will focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving both healthy and unhealthy participants. Two independent reviewers will evaluate articles, extract data, and assess study quality using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Discrepancies will be resolved through consultation with a third reviewer. If a sufficient number of eligible studies are identified, a meta‐analysis will be performed on the selected outcomes.

Results

The results will provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk factors, including glycemic profile, lipid profile, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, inflammatory factors, liver function tests, oxidative stress parameters, and adipokines.

Conclusion

This protocol outlines a comprehensive approach to systematically review and perform a dose–response meta‐analysis on the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on CVD risk factors. The study will employ rigorous methodologies, including independent evaluation and GRADE assessment, to ensure high‐quality evidence synthesis from RCTs.
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Its Outer Membrane Vesicles Induce Neuroinflammation in Mice Through Distinct Mechanisms
Authors: Qiu Yu , Zhao Yueyang , He Guiqiong , Yang Deqin
Published: February 2025

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common chronic neurodegenerative disorder, with neuroinflammation playing an important role in its progression to become a major research focus. The role of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and its outer membrane vesicles (Pg OMVs) in AD development is uncertain, particularly regarding their effects on neuroinflammation.

Methods

The cognition of mice injected with Pg, Pg OMVs, or PBS via the tail vein was assessed by the Morris water maze test. Pathological changes in the mouse brain were analyzed via immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and hematoxylin‒eosin (H&E) staining, and the ultrastructure of the hippocampus was observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Plasma levels of inflammatory factors were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein levels of brain inflammatory factor, occludin, and NLRP3 inflammasome‐related proteins were assessed by western blotting.

Results

Memory impairment; notable neuroinflammation, including astrocyte and microglial activation; and elevated protein levels of IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 in the hippocampus were detected in the Pg and Pg OMV groups. However, Pg induced weight loss and systemic inflammation, such as splenomegaly and increased IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels in plasma, whereas Pg OMVs had minimal impact. In addition, Pg induced more pronounced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome compared to Pg OMVs. In contrast, only the Pg OMV group exhibited blood−brain barrier (BBB) disruption characterized by reduced integrity of tight junctions and lower levels of occludin protein.

Conclusions

Pg is associated with a significant immune response and systemic inflammation, which in turn exacerbates neuroinflammation via activating NLRP3 inflammasome. However, Pg OMVs might elude the systemic immune response and disrupt tight junctions, thereby entering the brain and directly triggering neuroinflammation.
Risk of high‐grade cervical lesions in the second round of primary human papillomavirus testing in CervicalScreen Norway: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Bjørge Tone , Støer Nathalie C. , Hverven Sara K. , Nygård Mari , Tropé Ameli , Engesæter Birgit
Published: February 2025

As many countries are transitioning from cytology to human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary cervical cancer screening test, we evaluated the impact of cumulative HPV screening during the implementation of HPV screening in the Norwegian cervical cancer screening programme (CervicalScreen Norway). Data from the second HPV screening round was compared with data from the first round. The second‐round analyses included only women who returned to routine screening 4–6 years following a negative HPV test in the first round. Associations between screening rounds and HPV positivity, cytology results, and follow‐up recommendations were estimated by multinomial logistic regression, and relative risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 3 or worse (CIN3+) by Cox regression. There was a 42% lower risk of being HPV positive in the second screening round compared to the first (age‐adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR) 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 to 0.65), and a 70% lower risk of having high‐grade cytology among HPV16 positive women (0.30, 0.12 to 0.78). There was also a 51% reduction in referrals for immediate colposcopy (0.49, 0.39 to 0.62). The overall risk of CIN3+ was 71% lower in the second round compared to the first (age‐adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.29, 95%CI 0.21–0.40), and lower among HPV16 and other high‐risk HPV positive women, but not among HPV18 positives. No cervical cancers were diagnosed in the second round (mean follow‐up 2.4 years). Our findings indicate that HPV test results from previous screening rounds should be considered when designing optimal screening algorithms.
Associations between degree of food processing and colorectal cancer risk in a large‐scale European cohort
Authors: Al Nahas Aline , Yammine Ghantous Sahar , Morales Berstein Fernanda , Cakmak Emine Koc , Biessy Carine , Nicolas Genevieve , Kliemann Nathalie , Lopez Jessica Blanco , Jacobs Inarie , Gonzalez‐Gil Esther M. , Cairat Manon , Pinho Maria Gabriela Matias , Bertazzi Levy Renata , Rauber Fernanda , Vamos Eszter P. , Chang Kiara , Millett Christopher , Touvier Mathilde , Kesse‐Guyot Emmanuelle , Severi Gianluca , Marques Chloé , Hajji Mariem , Macciotta Alessandra , Masala Giovanna , Fordellone Mario , Agnoli Claudia , Amiano Pilar , Guevara Marcela , Tjønneland Anne , Kyrø Cecilie , Derksen Jeroen W. G. , Smit Karel C. , Schulze Matthias B. , Jannasch Franziska , Kaaks Rudolf , Katzke Verena , Braaten Tonje , Brustad Magritt , Skeie Guri , Harewood Rhea , Heath Alicia , Vineis Paolo , Weiderpass Elisabete , Ferrari Pietro , Gunter Marc J. , Huybrechts Inge
Published: February 2025

Industrial food processing has been linked to various health outcomes including cancer. To examine associations between the degree of food processing and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its sub‐sites, data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) including 6155 incident CRC cases (n = 450,111 participants), were analyzed. Dietary intakes were assessed using baseline food frequency questionnaires. Foods were classified into culinary ingredients, unprocessed, processed (PFs), and ultra‐processed foods (UPFs) according to the Nova classification. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for established CRC risk factors, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) associated with a 10% increase in proportion of consumption (%g/d) of each Nova group. Substitution analysis examined the effect of replacing UPFs and PFs with unprocessed foods on CRC risk. A 10% increase in proportion of UPFs was associated with 6% higher CRC risk (95% CI:1.02–1.10). A positive association was also found between PFs and CRC risk (HR per 10% increase: 1.10 [95% CI, 1.05–1.15]). Conversely, unprocessed food consumption was inversely associated with CRC risk (HR per 10% increase: 0.93[95% CI, 0.90–0.95]). Substitution of 10% of the overall proportion of the diet comprising UPFs or PFs with 10% unprocessed foods was associated with a decreased risk of CRC (HRUPFs: 0.94 [95% CI, 0.90–0.97]; HRPFs: 0.90 [95% CI, 0.86–0.94]). In conclusion, UPF was positively associated with CRC risk while diets richer in unprocessed foods were associated with lower CRC risk. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms by which food processing affects CRC risk.
Primary renal well‐differentiated neuroendocrine tumors with lymph node metastasis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Nguyen Huy‐Hoang , Phan Hoang‐Giang , Ho Duc‐Thuong , Le Van‐Hung
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Well‐differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of the kidney are rare and generally less aggressive than renal cell carcinoma, although metastasis is still present at the time of diagnosis. Surgical resection remains the preferred treatment, even in cases with lymph node metastases.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 38‐year‐old female with a right renal WDNET and lymph node metastasis who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with lymphadenectomy. Pathological examination confirmed metastasis in 9 out of 11 lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry results were positive for synaptophysin and chromogranin, with a Ki‐67 index of less than 10%. No recurrence was observed after 36 months.

Conclusion

Well‐differentiated neuroendocrine tumors are rare, with non‐specific clinical and imaging characteristics, requiring immunohistochemical analysis for diagnosis. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice, and long‐term follow‐up is essential.
Pancreatic Tumor Detection From CT Images Converted to Graphs Using Whale Optimization and Classification Algorithms With Transfer Learning
Authors: Alaca Yusuf , Akmeşe Ömer Faruk
Published: February 2025

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, known for its high mortality rate, as it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early diagnosis holds the potential to prolong patients' lifespans and improve treatment success rates. In this study, an innovative method is proposed to enhance the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Computed tomography (CT) images were converted into graphs using the Harris Corner Detection Algorithm and analyzed using deep learning models via transfer learning. DenseNet121 and InceptionV3 transfer learning models were trained on graph‐based data, and model parameters were optimized using the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). Additionally, classification algorithms such as k‐Nearest Neighbors (k‐NN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forests (RF) were integrated into the analysis of the extracted features. The best results were achieved using the k‐NN classification algorithm on features optimized by WOA, yielding an accuracy of 92.10% and an F1 score of 92.74%. The study demonstrated that graph‐based transformation enabled more effective modeling of spatial relationships, thereby enhancing the performance of deep learning models. WOA offered significant superiority compared to other methods in parameter optimization. This study aims to contribute to the development of a reliable diagnostic system that can be integrated into clinical applications. In the future, the use of larger and more diverse datasets, along with different graph‐based methods, could enhance the generalizability and performance of the proposed approach. The proposed model has the potential to serve as a decision support tool for physicians, particularly in early diagnosis, offering an opportunity to improve patients' quality of life.
Reducing human health and environmental risks associated with fungicide use on golf courses
Authors: Grégoire Guillaume , Laliberté Ann‐Catherine
Published: February 2025

The widespread use of pesticides on golf courses, essential for maintaining healthy turfgrass, has raised significant environmental and health concerns as perceived by many well‐intentioned members of society. In response to regulatory pressures, this study aimed to evaluate reduced‐risk approaches to managing two prevalent turf diseases, dollar spot (Clarireedia spp.) and snow molds (Typhula sp. and Microdochium nivale (Fr.) Samuels & I.C. Hallett), at two experimental sites in Quebec, Canada. A variety of treatments, including synthetic fungicides, reduced‐risk fungicides, biofungicides, and fertilizers, were assessed in 2021 and 2022. For dollar spot, the reduced‐risk fungicide isofetamid achieved similar disease control comparable to the synthetic standard (chlorothalonil/propiconazole); however, biofungicides and fertilizers did not provide significant disease reduction. For snow mold, a reduced‐risk treatment (fluoxastrobin + mefentrifluconazole) was effective but less so than the synthetic standard. Overall, reduced‐risk fungicides demonstrated potential for controlling these diseases while significantly reducing human health and environmental risks, although efficacy varied among those fungicides. This study supports the viability of integrating reduced‐risk or lower‐toxicity pesticides into golf course pest management strategies and programs, contributing to more sustainable turfgrass management practices.
Elongation Method‐Based Alternating Multi‐Directional Automated Property Optimization Process and Its Application
Authors: Lin Shichen , Orimoto Yuuichi , Aoki Yuriko
Published: February 2025

Elongation (ELG) method‐based property optimization (POPT) is an effective approach for designing large systems from one terminal to the other. An alternating multi‐directional ELG method is introduced to enable alternating POPT for complex systems with multiple growth directions, improving efficiency. (Hyper)polarizabilities of donor‐acceptor‐substituted polydiacetylenes (PDAs) aligned along the ‐axis are optimized by alternating POPT, where donor‐ and acceptor‐substituted diacetylene monomers are alternately selected and attached to two PDA terminals. Alternating POPT's capability in designing systems with expected properties, efficiency, and accuracy has been validated. For types of donor and acceptor groups, the existing simultaneous ELG‐based POPT requires calculating combinations, as monomers are simultaneously attached in both elongation directions. In contrast, the alternating ELG‐based POPT only requires combinations, halving the number of basis functions involved in calculations and significantly enhancing efficiency.
Measuring Hemoglobin A1C with Frozen Packed Cell and Frozen Whole Blood Samples in an Epidemiologic Study: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study
Authors: Kamin Mukaz Debora , Tison Stephanie , Long D. Leann , Carson April P. , Hunt Kelly J. , Judd Suzanne E. , Cushman Mary
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement in epidemiology studies could be increased if reliability of measurements in frozen stored samples was known. In the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke, a longitudinal study of 30,239 Black and White U.S. adults, we investigated reliability of HbA1c measurements for two types of samples stored at −80°C for up to 14 years.

Methods

Among 917 participants without diabetes, HbA1c was measured in 2017 in frozen packed cells from the first visit (2003–2007) and in frozen whole blood samples from the second visit (2013–2016). To study reliability, associations between HbA1c and glycemia‐related characteristics were examined.

Results

Each 10 mg/dL greater fasting glucose was associated with 0.08% (95% CI: 0.05%–0.11%) greater HbA1c in frozen packed cells (Visit 1) and 0.10% (95% CI: 0.08%–0.12%) greater HbA1c in whole blood (Visit 2). HbA1c was also similarly higher with both methods with increasing age, gender, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, high‐density lipoprotein, triglycerides, C‐reactive protein, and hemoglobin. Using both methods, ≤ 3.5% would be classified with diabetes based on HbA1c ≥ 6.5%.

Conclusions

In REGARDS participants without diabetes, HbA1c measurement appeared reliable in frozen packed cells or whole blood under long‐term storage, suggesting acceptability for study of the epidemiology of HbA1c.
Improving the Diagnosis and Follow‐Up of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Using Conventional and Molecular Techniques
Authors: Bahar Noor Al‐Huda A. , Al‐Ouqaili Mushtak T. S. , Talib Nabeel M.
Published: February 2025

Background

The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) represented a finding of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in most cases which formed from t (9; 22) (q34; q11) resulting in the Breakpoint cluster region‐Abelson tyrosine‐protein kinase1 (BCR‐ABL1) fusion gene. Assuming CCE's inaccuracies in diagnosing CML and FISH's limitations with low BCR‐ABL1 percentages, a Predicted‐FISH (Pred‐FISH) was developed. This model predicts treatment response during follow‐up by integrating qRT‐PCR results, White Blood Cell (WBC) counts, and Cytogenetic Response data.

Methods

Quantitative Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis (qRT‐PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and Conventional Cytogenetic Examination (CCE or Karyotyping) have been used in the detection and follow‐up of CML patients. The study included 110 individuals, divided into three groups: 31.82% (35 individuals) were newly diagnosed CML patients, another 22.73% (25 individuals) were healthy control samples, and the remaining 45.45% (50 individuals) were previously diagnosed CML patients.

Results

Include BCR‐ABL1 fusion gene levels detected by qRT‐PCR, Ph chromosome presence t (9; 22) (q34; q11) observed by CCE, and WBC counts. The FISH test, used to confirm disease in new patients before treatment, was compared to CCE results due to its insensitivity in certain conditions. Data from CCE, FISH, qRT‐PCR, and WBC for newly diagnosed patients provided a standard for evaluating the Predicted‐FISH.

Conclusion

The FISH technique excels in disease detection with over 98% accuracy and high sensitivity. QRT‐PCR is effective for monitoring CML and BCR‐ABL1 gene levels, indicating MMR and DMR. CCE, while useful for posttreatment monitoring, is less accurate in measuring treatment response over time.
Navigating First‐in‐Human and Early‐Phase Patient Studies: Study Designs, Risk Mitigation, and Population Selection Challenges
Authors: Courville Jocelyn , Barber Amanda , Fura Aberra
Published: February 2025

First–in‐human (FIH) and early‐phase clinical studies have increasingly become an integral part of the entire clinical development process, applying integrated protocols and robust risk mitigation strategies to enhance participant safety and development efficiency. This manuscript focuses on the diverse study designs employed in FIH studies, strategies for effective risk mitigation, suitable study population selection, and the methodologies and considerations unique to early‐phase patient trials. FIH studies typically include single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts that may be conducted in healthy volunteers (HVs) or with relevant patient populations. An analysis of 193 compounds approved by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research between 2020 and 2023 revealed that 47.7% (92 out of 193) conducted FIH or initial SAD/MAD studies in healthy volunteers, while 39.4% (76 out of 193) initiated their FIH studies in the relevant patient population. The status for 12.9% (25 out of 193) was unknown. Among the programs that did not involve healthy volunteers for FIH or initial SAD/MAD studies, 65.8% (50 out of 76) were developed for oncology indications, whereas the remaining 34.2% (26 out of 76) were involved in therapeutic areas such as rare disease, genetic disorders, and ophthalmology. This manuscript highlights the importance of tailoring scientific and operational approaches to specific molecules, indications, and patient relevance. It provides tools, strategies, and a mind map to effectively navigate challenges during this phase of the development.
Dynamic control of reactive pressure‐swing distillation process for separating tetrahydrofuran/methanol/water
Authors: Yang Kun , Wang Shangkun , Li Zeng , Liu Xiaojing , Zhang Fangkun , Shan Baoming , Cui Peizhe , Xu Qilei
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Reactive pressure‐swing distillation (RPSD) is an innovative and promising technology for the separation of azeotropic systems, offering high integration and efficiency. However, the dynamic control of RPSD processes presents significant challenges due to complex coupling and nonlinearity. This paper investigates the practical control structures for the RPSD processes, and the dynamic control structure was first designed for the RPSD system for separating tetrahydrofuran/methanol/water.

RESULT

Three practical control structures based on PID control were developed for existing separation processes, both with and without heat integration. The results demonstrated that all designed control structures effectively withstand disturbances of ±20% in feed flow rate and composition, exhibiting strong anti‐interference capabilities. Furthermore, an advanced intelligent control strategy was designed, integrating PID control with Back Propagation Neural Networks (BPNN) to enhance the performance of the product composition controllers.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that the BPNN can accurately predict temperature setpoints using easily measurable variables, facilitating stable control of product concentrations without the necessity for direct composition measurements. This proposed control strategy offers an efficient and reliable alternative for the control of RPSD processes. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
The minimal clinically important difference changes greatly based on the patient's baseline clinical status
Authors: Franceschini Marco , Boffa Angelo , Di Martino Alessandro , Pignotti Elettra , Andriolo Luca , Zaffagnini Stefano , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To quantify the influence of baseline values of a specific patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM) on the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) calculation in a homogeneous series of knee osteoarthritis patients treated with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) injections.

Methods

A data set of 312 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with intra‐articular PRP injections was used. Patients were evaluated through the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score at 6 months after treatment. According to the baseline IKDC score, the study population was stratified into eight clusters in the first phase (<20, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and ≥80) and in three macro clusters in the second phase (<40, 40–69 and ≥70). MCID for the IKDC score was calculated through an anchor‐based method in both phases.

Results

The MCID calculation was performed for the eight clusters according to the baseline IKDC values, obtaining values from 16.2 to −3.1. Afterwards, further MCID calculation was performed after unifying patients in three major clusters based on the similarity of the previously obtained MCID values. Ninety‐six patients reported a baseline IKDC score <40, 173 patients between 40 and 70, and 43 patients ≥70. MCID values for the three macro clusters were: 14.6 for patients with baseline IKDC score <40, 7.2 for patients with values between 40 and 69, while patients with values ≥70 reported an MCID value of −2.8.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the baseline patient clinical status influences the improvement needed to be perceived as clinically relevant. Patients with a worse baseline clinical status presented higher MCID levels, while MCID lost significance in patients with high baseline clinical values. These findings warrant applying general thresholds to a patients' cohort, showing the remarkable impact of the baseline clinical status. Patient stratification ensures a proper quantification of MCID values and the identification of patients benefiting from the studied treatment.

Level of Evidence

Level 4.