bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ataxic person prediction using feature optimized based on machine learning model
Authors: Seetharama Pavithra Durganivas , Math Shrishail
Published: January 2024

Ataxic gait monitoring and assessment of neurological disorders belong to important areas that are supported by digital signal processing methods and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques such as machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques. This paper uses spatio-temporal data from Kinect sensor to optimize machine learning model to distinguish between ataxic and normal gait. Existing ML-based methodologies fails to establish feature correlation between different gait parameters; thus, exhibit very poor performance. Further, when data is imbalanced in nature the existing ML-based methodologies induces higher false positive. In addressing the research issues this paper introduces an extreme gradient boost (XGBoost)-based classifier and enhanced feature optimization (EFO) by modifying the standard cross validation (SCV) mechanism. Experiment outcome shows the proposed ataxic person identification model achieves very good result in comparison with existing ML-based and DL-based ataxic person identification methodologies.
Analysis of driving style using self-organizing maps to analyze driver behavior
Authors: Shichkina Yulia , Fatkieva Roza , Kopylov Maxim
Published: January 2024

Modern life is strongly associated with the use of cars, but the increase in acceleration speeds and their maneuverability leads to a dangerous driving style for some drivers. In these conditions, the development of a method that allows you to track the behavior of the driver is relevant. The article provides an overview of existing methods and models for assessing the functioning of motor vehicles and driver behavior. Based on this, a combined algorithm for recognizing driving style is proposed. To do this, a set of input data was formed, including 20 descriptive features: About the environment, the driver's behavior and the characteristics of the functioning of the car, collected using OBD II. The generated data set is sent to the Kohonen network, where clustering is performed according to driving style and degree of danger. Getting the driving characteristics into a particular cluster allows you to switch to the private indicators of an individual driver and considering individual driving characteristics. The application of the method allows you to identify potentially dangerous driving styles that can prevent accidents.
The performance of artificial intelligence in prostate magnetic resonance imaging screening
Authors: Abu Owida Hamza , R. Hassan Mohammad , Ali Ali Mohd , Alnaimat Feras , Al Sharah Ashraf , Abuowaida Suhaila , Alshdaifat Nawaf
Published: January 2024

Prostate cancer is the predominant form of cancer observed in men worldwide. The application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a guidance tool for conducting biopsies has been established as a reliable and well-established approach in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The diagnostic performance of MRI-guided prostate cancer diagnosis exhibits significant heterogeneity due to the intricate and multi-step nature of the diagnostic pathway. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) models, specifically through the utilization of machine learning techniques such as deep learning, is assuming an increasingly significant role in the field of radiology. In the realm of prostate MRI, a considerable body of literature has been dedicated to the development of various AI algorithms. These algorithms have been specifically designed for tasks such as prostate segmentation, lesion identification, and classification. The overarching objective of these endeavors is to enhance diagnostic performance and foster greater agreement among different observers within MRI scans for the prostate. This review article aims to provide a concise overview of the application of AI in the field of radiology, with a specific focus on its utilization in prostate MRI.
Fuzzy linear programming with the intuitionistic polygonal fuzzy numbers
Authors: Alrefaei Mahmoud H. , Tuffaha Marwa Z.
Published: January 2024

In real world applications, data are subject to ambiguity due to several factors; fuzzy sets and fuzzy numbers propose a great tool to model such ambiguity. In case of hesitation, the complement of a membership value in fuzzy numbers can be different from the non-membership value, in which case we can model using intuitionistic fuzzy numbers as they provide flexibility by defining both a membership and a non-membership functions. In this article, we consider the intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming problem with intuitionistic polygonal fuzzy numbers, which is a generalization of the previous polygonal fuzzy numbers found in the literature. We present a modification of the simplex method that can be used to solve any general intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming problem after approximating the problem by an intuitionistic polygonal fuzzy number with n edges. This method is given in a simple tableau formulation, and then applied on numerical examples for clarity.
A review on internet of things-based stingless bee's honey production with image detection framework
Authors: Rohafauzi Suziyani , Kassim Murizah , Ja’afar Hajar , Rustam Ilham , Miskon Mohamad Taib
Published: January 2024

Honey is produced exclusively by honeybees and stingless bees which both are well adapted to tropical and subtropical regions such as Malaysia. Stingless bees are known for producing small amounts of honey and are known for having a unique flavor profile. Problem identified that many stingless bees collapsed due to weather, temperature and environment. It is critical to understand the relationship between the production of stingless bee honey and environmental conditions to improve honey production. Thus, this paper presents a review on stingless bee's honey production and prediction modeling. About 54 previous research has been analyzed and compared in identifying the research gaps. A framework on modeling the prediction of stingless bee honey is derived. The result presents the comparison and analysis on the internet of things (IoT) monitoring systems, honey production estimation, convolution neural networks (CNNs), and automatic identification methods on bee species. It is identified based on image detection method the top best three efficiency presents CNN is at 98.67%, densely connected convolutional networks with YOLO v3 is 97.7%, and DenseNet201 convolutional networks 99.81%. This study is significant to assist the researcher in developing a model for predicting stingless honey produced by bee's output, which is important for a stable economy and food security.
Design and implementation of a low-cost circuit for medium-speed flash analog to digital conversions
Authors: Hussain Hassan Nashaat M. , Esmaeel Salama Mohamed Adel , Hussein Aziza I. , Mabrook Mohamed Mourad
Published: January 2024

Despite the considerable advancements in analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, many papers neglect several crucial considerations: Firstly, it does not ensure that ADCs work well in the software or hardware. Secondly, it is not certain that ADCs have a wide range of amplitude responses for the input voltages to be convenient in many applications, especially in electronics, communications, computer vision, CubeSat circuits, and subsystems. Finally, many of these ADCs need to look at the suitability of the proposed circuit to the most extensive range of frequencies. In this paper, a design of a low-cost circuit is proposed for medium-speed flash ADCs. The proposed circuit is simulated based on a set of electronic components with specific values to achieve high stability operation for a wide range of frequencies and voltages, whether in software or hardware. This circuit is practically implemented and experimentally tested. The proposed design aims to achieve high efficiency in the sampling process over a range of amplitudes from 10 mV to 10 V. The proposed circuit operates at a bandwidth of frequencies from 0 Hz to greater than 10 kHz in the simulation and hardware implementation.
Data generation using generative adversarial networks to increase data volume
Authors: Aitimova Ulzada , Aitimov Murat , Mukhametzhanova Bigul , Issakulova Zhanat , Kassymova Akmaral , Ismailova Aisulu , Kadirkulov Kuanysh , Zhumabayeva Assel
Published: January 2024

The article is an in-depth analysis of two leading approaches in the field of generative modeling: generative adversarial networks (GANs) and the pixel-to-pixel (Pix2Pix) image translation model. Given the growing interest in automation and improved image processing, the authors focus on the key operating principles of each model, analyzing their unique characteristics and features. The article also explores in detail the various applications of these approaches, highlighting their impact on modern research in computer vision and artificial intelligence. The purpose of the study is to provide readers with a scientific understanding of the effectiveness and potential of each of the models, and to highlight the opportunities and limitations of their application. The authors strive not only to cover the technical aspects of the models, but also to provide a broad overview of their impact on various industries, including medicine, the arts, and solving real-world problems in image processing. In addition, we have identified prospects for the use of these technologies in various fields, such as medicine, design, art, entertainment, and in unmanned aerial vehicle systems. The ability of GANs and Pix2Pix to adapt to a variety of tasks and produce high-quality results opens up broad prospects for industry and research.
First documentation of diversity of the Heteroptera of Cotton University Campus, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Assam, India
Authors: Saikia Santana , Naorem Anjana Singha
Published: January 2024

Cotton University, a developing university in Guwahati city of Kamrup district from Assam is undergoing a lot of developmental changes leading to a change in land use pattern which will have an impact on insect distribution. Heteroptera studies being severely lacking from this region needs attention for their documentation. A survey conducted on the campus from July 2018 to July 2019 every week between 0700–0900 h on all types of vegetation documented a total of 163 bugs of 20 different species under 10 families of Heteroptera. Pentatomidae was found to be the most dominant family with eight recorded species. Wild vegetation supported more diverse bug forms than the other garden plants. This survey is the first record of these insects from the Cotton University campus and such data forms an important database of available bugs from this region in the wake of the developmental changes the university is going through. Any change in their distribution, if found in the future, will reflect the impact of anthropogenic activities on their existence and distribution. Studies of this kind may be minuscule in level, but it forms an important record of their presence before we lose them to time.
Additional record of the Black Turmeric Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberales: Zingiberaceae) in Bhutan
Authors: Karma Orong  , Shacha Namgay , Tobgay Kezang , Namgay Rinchen
Published: January 2024

Curcuma caesia Roxb is a perennial, medicinal herb, which is native to northeastern India but can be found in other Asian countries like China, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. The plant is used in traditional medicine for treating conditions like leucoderma, asthma, tumours, piles, bronchitis, and bruises. During recent floristic exploration, C. caesia was recorded from Orong Geog of Samdrup Jongkhar district (26.933117 N, 91.493064 E), Bhutan on 10 July 2021 at an elevation of 1,227 m. Identification and morphological description of C. caesia was done through Flora of Bhutan, India (manual) & other literature. The thriving plants were discovered in a warm broadleaved forest close to a settlement, sheltered from grazing and human activities. A detailed description, distribution, habitat information, conservation status, and photographic illustrations are available.
Assessment of diversity, abundance, and seasonal variations of bird species in Bengaluru District, India during COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: H. Hemanth  , Rajalakshmi K.S. Vinanthi  , Kuppusamy Alagesan Paari
Published: January 2024

The study investigates bird population dynamics in Bengaluru, India, post-lockdown, focusing on occurrence, seasonal abundance, species diversity, richness, dominance, and evenness. It covers 55 bird species across 52 genera, grouped into 32 families within 13 orders, with a notable peak in winter. Various indices, including Shannon Wiener, Margalef’s, Pielou’s, and Simpson’s, reveal significant seasonal differences in bird population characteristics. The Rock Pigeon Columba livia dominates, while the Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus is less prevalent. The study identifies Near Threatened species like Black-headed Ibis and Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, along with Least Concern species per the IUCN Red List. Common species include Rock Pigeon, Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos, House Crow Corvus splendens, Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus, Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis, Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus, Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus, and Streak-throated Swallow Petrochelidon fluvicola. The study aims to inform improved management and conservation strategies for Bengaluru’s diverse bird species.
Twice blooming flowers of Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn. (Magnoliopsida: Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), a key forage source for insects during wet season in habitats disturbed by humans
Authors: P. Suvarna Raju  , P. Srikanth  , A.J. Solomon Raju
Published: January 2024

Antigonon leptopus is an elegant weedy species that thrives well during wet season in habitats disturbed by humans; it shows vegetative and reproductive events in this season. Its flowers bloom twice with pollen and nectar presentation on day 1 and nectar presentation on day 2 for use by insects that act as pollinators. The flowers are unspecialized with exposed sex organs and presenting pollen and nectar which are easily accessible by the probing insects while collecting the floral rewards and effect pollination. The field study indicates that it acts as a key forage source for insects.
Trends and Outcomes Associated With Bariatric Surgery and Pharmacotherapies With Weight Loss Effects Among Patients With Heart Failure and Obesity
Authors: Mentias Amgad , Desai Milind Y. , Aminian Ali , Patel Kershaw V. , Keshvani Neil , Verma Subodh , Cho Leslie , Jacob Miriam , Alvarez Paulino , Lincoff A. Michael , Van Spall Harriette G.C. , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Butler Javed , Nissen Steven E. , Pandey Ambarish
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Utilization patterns of bariatric surgery among older patients with heart failure (HF), and the associations with cardiovascular outcomes, are not well known.

METHODS:

Medicare beneficiaries with HF and at least class II obesity from 2013 to 2020 were identified with Medicare Provider Analysis and Review 100% inpatient files and Medicare 5% outpatient files. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery were matched to controls in a 1:2 ratio (matched on exact age, sex, race, body mass index, HF encounter year, and HF hospitalization rate pre-surgery/matched period). In an exploratory analysis, patients prescribed pharmacotherapies with weight loss effects (semaglutide, liraglutide, naltrexone-bupropion, or orlistat) were identified and matched to controls with a similar strategy in addition to HF medical therapy data. Cox models evaluated associations between weight loss therapies (as a time-varying covariate) and mortality risk and HF hospitalization rate (calculated as the rate of HF hospitalizations following index HF encounter per 100 person-months) during follow-up.

RESULTS:

Of 298 101 patients with HF and body mass index ≥35 kg/m
2
, 2594 (0.9%) underwent bariatric surgery (45% men; mean age, 56.2 years; mean body mass index, 51.5 kg/m
2
). In propensity-matched analyses over a median follow-up of 4.7 years, bariatric surgery was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.49–0.63];
P
<0.001), greater reduction in HF hospitalization rate (rate ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.67–0.77];
P
<0.001), and lower atrial fibrillation risk (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.65–0.93];
P
=0.006). Use of pharmacotherapies with weight loss effects was low (4.8%), with 96.3% prescribed GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists (semaglutide, 23.6%; liraglutide, 72.7%). In propensity-matched analysis over a median follow-up of 2.8 years, patients receiving pharmacotherapies with weight loss effects (versus matched controls) had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.71–0.95];
P
=0.007) and HF hospitalization rate (rate ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.77–0.99];
P
=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

Bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapies with weight loss effects are associated with a lower risk of adverse outcomes among older patients with HF and obesity; however, overall utilization remains low.
Changing Forms of Maximalism in the Decision-Making of the Czech Constitutional Court
Authors: Ondřejek Pavel
Published: January 2024

The article analyses how wide and general conclusions are formulated in case law, using a sample of decisions of the Czech Constitutional Court from 1998 and 2018. The article shows tendencies towards institutionalisation of maximalist decision-making in the form of formulating general principles as starting points for decisions made in individual cases. Another important observation is connected with the changing form of maximalist judicial decisions, shifting from maximalism characterised by depth of the reasoning towards maximalism manifested in the width of impacts of an individual case, whereby the Czech Constitutional Court has been strengthening its position vis-à-vis other branches of government. In the conclusion of the article, it is emphasised that maximalism, in terms of separation of powers, rather represents an anti-systemic element in the laws of countries with civil-law legal system, such as the Czech Republic.
Judicial Interpretation and Competition Law Enforcement: Authoritarian Legal Culture, Semantic Dissonance and Skewed Agencification in Post-Socialist Croatia
Authors: Pecotić Kaufman Jasminka
Published: January 2024

This article argues that more than thirty years after democratic and economic transition, the legacy of authoritarian legal culture in post-socialist EU Member States limits the effectiveness of competition law enforcement. Concentrating on Croatia but mindful of the experience of other Central and East European countries that acceded to the EU in 2004 and 2007, we show examples of post-accession case law illustrative of excessive judicial formalism and disassociation between the legal norm and its socio-economic context in judicial interpretation. Also, we explain how the excessively stringent legal standard of proof for cartel agreements, established by Croatian courts post-accession, indicates an incomplete semantic alignment with EU competition rules. Furthermore, we discuss the difference in legal cultures between the judiciary and the competition authority by using the notion of “skewed agencification” and show how slow reception of EU competition law standards by the judiciary adversely impacts the enforcement of competition rules.
Responsive Judicial Review in Kelsenian Constitutional Courts: The Impeding Effects of Limited Standing and Formalism
Authors: Gruev Ivo
Published: January 2024

This paper is concerned with the question of whether constitutional systems that have adopted the centralised, “Kelsenian”, model of judicial review, which is prevalent in Eastern Europe, can engage in “responsive judicial review” (Dixon, 2023). It focuses on two features that can be associated with the constitutional courts created in this region after the end of communism, which, the paper argues, can significantly hamper their capacity to identify and counter democratic blockages. These are: (1) their limited standing rules that prioritise the access of political bodies to constitutional courts, and (2) the latter’s commitment to formalism, which can prevent judges from engaging with the structural and contextual issues that are causing a democratic blockage.
Accented Universality: Exploring Accountability as a Non-Translatable Concept in Central Asia
Authors: Zakharchenko Natalia
Published: January 2024

An éminence grise of human rights – the principle of accountability – has been continuously advancing its normative presence in international law and rights discourses in the last couple of decades. Its transformative promises, on the other side, are hindered by the conceptual dubiety rooted, inter alia, in the non-translatability of the concept to many world languages. The current article attempts to examine how universal aspirations about the principle are appropriated in local contexts of the Central Asian region. In the outset, the research scrutinizes theoretical perplexities around the term and argues for the (obscured) role of law in these discussions. Then, drawing on doctrinal and empirical research in Central Asia, it converses the ways accountability is translated, engaged, and valued as the idea. Findings reveal the heterogeneity of approaches to accountability, and the reiterative relations between the word and the concept, informed by the region’s historical past, political regimes, one’s language and education. The article exposes often omitted pitfalls of the existing multilingual setting of international law and its institutions, which undermine the communicative value of local languages in the region.
Serbian Constitutional Court – (In)dependent Protector of the Rule of Law and Human Rights?
Authors: Krstic Ivana
Published: January 2024

This paper is provoked by Rosalind Dixon's book on Responsible Judicial Review and the arguments expressed by the author. The paper deals with the independence of the Constitutional Court in Serbia, as the most important requirement for a responsive judicial review. The main premise is that because of the appointment of judges, almost unknown in professional circles, and their servile relationship with other branches of government, the Constitutional Court acts as a guardian of controversial executive policies. The author briefly describes the origins of the Serbian Constitutional Court and the level of its independence. Some relevant cases are presented that demonstrate the existence of several strategies applied by judges which support the thesis that judges allow political and other factors to influence their decisions. The author also presents human rights cases that illustrate a very formalistic approach of the Court that influences its own legitimacy and lack of support.
Responsive Judicial Review “Light” in Central and Eastern Europe – A New Sheriff in Town?
Authors: Kosař David , Ouředníčková Sarah
Published: January 2024

This article engages with Ros Dixon’s theory of “Responsive Judicial Review” (oup, 2023). It argues that Central and Eastern European jurisdictions with specialized constitutional courts face two major obstacles to engage fully in responsive judicial review – legal formalism and the very fact that constitutional review is centralized into one institution, which discourages pluralistic debates about the constitution and limits the room for dialogue between the constitutional court and other actors. Even the Czech Constitutional Court that meets all three Dixon’s preconditions for courts’ ability to engage in responsive judicial review (judicial independence, political support, and remedial power) and is probably the most Elyan constitutional court in cee faces several obstacles to responsive judging. As a result, its responsiveness has been selective. Nevertheless, although full-fledged responsive judicial review is difficult to achieve in cee countries in the short term, their constitutional courts can, as the Czech Constitutional Court shows, exercise responsive judicial review “light”. We argue that such “light version” of responsive judicial review would still be a great improvement and we provide several proposals how to increase the likelihood that it happens.
Drifter Deployment Strategies to Determine Lagrangian Surface Convergence in Submesoscale Flows
Authors: Aravind H. M. , Huntley Helga S. , Kirwan A. D. , Allshouse Michael R.
Published: January 2024

Surface convergence in the ocean is associated with accumulation of buoyant pollutants as well as with vertical transport that is important to biological activity. Such surface convergence regions are marked by a high dilation rate, i.e., the finite time Lagrangian average divergence. Dilation-rate observations are most easily derived from the change of the area encompassed by a drifter swarm over time. The technological advances that have enabled the deployment of large numbers of drifters in a single experiment have raised new questions about optimal deployment strategies for extracting dilation-rate information with acceptable accuracy and as much spatial coverage as possible. Using a submesoscale-resolving operational model of the Mediterranean Sea, we analyze synthetic trajectories of drifter polygons to evaluate the impact of the number of drifters and their initial separation on the accuracy of the resulting dilation-rate estimates. The results confirm that estimates improve as the circumradius of the polygon decreases and as more drifters are added, but with only a marginal improvement for drifter polygons containing more than four drifters. Moreover, GPS positions obtained from drifters in the ocean are subject to uncertainty on the order of 2–50 m, and when this uncertainty is taken into account, an optimal circumradius can be identified that balances uncertainty from position measurements with that from the area approximations.

Significance Statement

Locating regions of convergence over a finite time interval on the ocean surface can help in pollution mitigation, locating biological hotspots, and even search-and-rescue operations. Finite time convergence can be quantified using the dilation rate, but it is hard to measure in the ocean. Hence, we present a method to estimate the dilation rate using trajectories of drifters, which are instruments widely used by oceanographers during field experiments to understand the local flow features. We show that even though the drifter-based dilation rates are prone to error as a result of a finite number of drifters and limited GPS accuracy, the estimates locate around 90% of the strongest convergent features in our model.
Near-Surface Air Temperature Records over the Past 30 Years in the Interior of Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica
Authors: Kurita Naoyuki , Kameda Takao , Motoyama Hideaki , Hirasawa Naohiko , Mikolajczyk David , Welhouse Lee J. , Keller Linda M. , Weidner George A. , Lazzara Matthew A.
Published: January 2024

The interior of Dronning Maud Land (DML) in East Antarctica is one of the most data-sparse regions of Antarctica for studying climate change. A monthly mean near-surface temperature dataset for the last 30 years has been compiled from the historical records from automatic weather stations (AWSs) at three sites in the region (Mizuho, Relay Station, and Dome Fuji). Multiple AWSs have been installed along the route to Dome Fuji since the 1990s, and observations have continued to the present day. The use of passive-ventilated radiation shields for the temperature sensors at the AWSs may have caused a warm bias in the temperature measurements, however, due to insufficient ventilation in the summer, when solar radiation is high and winds are low. In this study, these warm biases are quantified by comparison with temperature measurements with an aspirated shield and subsequently removed using a regression model. Systematic error resulting from changes in the sensor height due to accumulating snow was insignificant in our study area. Several other systematic errors occurring in the early days of the AWS systems were identified and corrected. After the corrections, multiple AWS records were integrated to create a time series for each station. The percentage of missing data over the three decades was 21% for Relay Station and 28% for Dome Fuji. The missing rate at Mizuho was 49%, more than double that at Relay Station. These new records allow for the study of temperature variability and change in DML, where climate change has so far been largely unexplored.

Significance Statement

Antarctic climate change has been studied using temperature data at staffed stations. The staffed stations, however, are mainly located on the Antarctic Peninsula and in the coastal regions. Climate change is largely unknown in the Antarctic plateau, particularly in the western sector of the East Antarctic Plateau in areas such as the interior of Dronning Maud Land (DML). To fill the data gap, this study presents a new dataset of monthly mean near-surface climate data using historical observations from three automatic weather stations (AWSs). This dataset allows us to study temperature variability and change over a data-sparse region where climate change has been largely unexplored.
Anchorless Transosseous Rotator Cuff Repair: A Technical Note
Authors: Cohn Matthew R. , Vadhera Amar S. , Singh Harsh , McCormick Johnathon , Wessels Morgan , Abboud Joseph A. , Verma Nikhil N.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Transosseous rotator cuff repair provides robust fixation and broad footprint compression without the risk of foreign body reaction that may be seen with suture anchors. We present our technique for anchorless transosseous repair using a modern device to efficiently create bone tunnels and assist in suture passage.

Indications:

Tears of the supraspinatus tendon, with or without extension to the infraspinatus, in patients with acute or chronic tears, with good bone quality, and who fail appropriate nonoperative management.

Technique:

The beach-chair position with an articulating arm holder is preferred for this procedure. A glenohumeral diagnostic arthroscopy is performed, and intra-articular pathology is addressed as needed. The arthroscope is brought into the subacromial space, and a lateral viewing portal is established. A thorough bursectomy with or without acromioplasty is performed to attain visualization of the cuff. After the tear is identified, the tendon edges are debrided. It is critical to determine the tear pattern, the reduction maneuvers necessary, and the number of bone tunnels that are warranted. The desired location of the bone tunnel is marked with a pilot hole. The device is positioned over the pilot hole and a power drill is advanced through the lateral cortex. The device assists in creating a bone tunnel through the greater tuberosity and passes a nitinol loop through the tunnel. The loop is retrieved by the device and is brought to the lateral portal. Sutures are loaded into the loop and are brought through the bone tunnel. The sutures are then passed through the tendon using a curved retrograde suture passer in simple fashion and are tied to secure the tendon to the footprint. For larger tears, 2 or 3 tunnels may be used to widen the area for footprint compression. The specific configuration used will depend on the tear size, pattern, and surgeon preference.

Results:

Arthroscopic transosseous repairs have yielded promising results. Healing rates are comparable to anchor-based techniques, with the benefit of avoiding foreign bodies at the footprint.

Discussion:

Anchorless transosseous rotator cuff repair may be reproducibly performed with the use of a modern device for bone tunnel creation and suture passage. However, this technique should be used with caution in patients with osteoporosis or poor bone quality due to theoretical concerns of greater tuberosity fracture or suture pullout through the tunnels.

Patient Consent Disclosure Statement:

The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.
Genome-wide association study of serum magnesium in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Oost Lynette J. , Slieker Roderick C. , Blom Marieke T. , ’t Hart Leen M. , Hoenderop Joost G. J. , Beulens Joline W. J. , de Baaij Jeroen H. F.
Published: January 2024

People with type 2 diabetes have a tenfold higher prevalence of hypomagnesemia, which is suggested to be caused by low dietary magnesium intake, medication use, and genetics. This study aims to identify the genetic loci that influence serum magnesium concentration in 3466 people with type 2 diabetes. The GWAS models were adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, and HbA1c. Associated traits were identified using publicly available data from GTEx consortium, a human kidney eQTL atlas, and the Open GWAS database. The GWAS identified a genome-wide significant locus in TAF3 (p = 2.9 × 10−9) in people with type 2 diabetes. In skeletal muscle, loci located in TAF3 demonstrate an eQTL link to ATP5F1C, a gene that is involved in the formation of Mg2+-ATP. Serum Mg2+ levels were associated with MUC1/TRIM46 (p = 2.9 × 10−7), SHROOM3 (p = 4.0 × 10−7), and SLC22A7 (p = 1.0 × 10−6) at nominal significance, which is in combination with the eQTL data suggesting that they are possible candidates for renal failure. Several genetic loci were in agreement with previous genomic studies which identified MUC1/TRIM46 (Pmeta = 6.9 × 10−29, PQ = 0.81) and SHROOM3 (Pmeta = 2.9 × 10−27, PQ = 0.04) to be associated with serum Mg2+ in the general population. In conclusion, serum magnesium concentrations are associated with genetic variability around the regions of TAF3, MUC1/TRIM46, SHROOM3, and SLC22A7 in type 2 diabetes.
The safety and efficacy of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in morbidly obese patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Elfar Sohil , Mahmoud Somaya Abdulbaset , Hamdi Samar , Emad Aya Ahmed , Abd-ElGawad Mohamed , Taha Nouran A.
Published: January 2024

Background and aim

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently observed cardiac arrhythmia in clinical settings. Obesity can influence the efficacy of the treatment administered, which requires a larger dose and more time to accomplish therapeutic targets due to altered pathophysiology. Our study aimed to assess the overall efficacy and safety of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) versus warfarin in AF patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2 and/or weight > 120 kg) to prevent complications.

Methods

We conducted a literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus till October 2022 for articles addressing the efficacy and safety of NOACs versus warfarin for the treatment of AF in morbidly obese patients. We performed the meta-analysis with RevMan software version 5.4 and Open Meta Analyst. The main outcomes assessed were stroke, major bleeding, and minor bleeding after anticoagulation, as did the history of comorbidities and risk factors in morbidly obese patients. Quality assessment was performed using Cochrane’s ROB-2 tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale.

Results

Regarding major bleeding events, pooled data showed that patients taking NOACs had a significantly lower risk than patients taking warfarin (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: [0.41–0.70]; p < 0.00001). However, for minor bleeding, there was a nonsignificant effect of NOACs on reducing the risk of bleeding (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.47–1.09; p = 0.12), which became highly significant in favor of NOACs after sensitivity analysis (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.49–0.61]; p < 0.00001). There was a significant difference in the incidence of stroke between the NOAC group and the warfarin group (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.60–0.80]; p < 0.00001). According to the results of the single-arm study analysis, the overall effect of all the outcomes was associated with a high risk of disease development in patients receiving NOACs.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis showed a favorable effect of NOACs vs warfarin in morbidly obese patients. Some outcomes were not significantly different, which calls for future research to better assess their safety and efficacy in this particular weight group.

Trial registration

The study was registered with PROSPERO under registration number CRD42022362493 on October 2022.
Performance of node reporting and data system (node-RADS): a preliminary study in cervical cancer
Authors: Wu Qingxia , Lou Jianghua , Liu Jinjin , Dong Linxiao , Wu Qingxia , Wu Yaping , Yu Xuan , Wang Meiyun
Published: January 2024

Background

Node Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) was proposed and can be applied to lymph nodes (LNs) across all anatomical sites. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of Node-RADS in cervical cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 81 cervical cancer patients treated with radical hysterectomy and LN dissection were retrospectively enrolled. Node-RADS evaluations were performed by two radiologists on preoperative MRI scans for all patients, both at the LN level and patient level. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were employed to evaluate the distribution differences in size and configuration between patients with and without LN metastasis (LNM) in various regions. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to explore the diagnostic performance of the Node-RADS score for LNM.

Results

The rates of LNM in the para-aortic, common iliac, internal iliac, external iliac, and inguinal regions were 7.4%, 9.3%, 19.8%, 21.0%, and 2.5%, respectively. At the patient level, as the NODE-RADS score increased, the rate of LNM also increased, with rates of 26.1%, 29.2%, 42.9%, 80.0%, and 90.9% for Node-RADS scores 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. At the patient level, the AUCs for Node-RADS scores > 1, >2, > 3, and > 4 were 0.632, 0.752, 0.763, and 0.726, respectively. Both at the patient level and LN level, a Node-RADS score > 3 could be considered the optimal cut-off value with the best AUC and accuracy.

Conclusions

Node-RADS is effective in predicting LNM for scores 4 to 5. However, the proportions of LNM were more than 25% at the patient level for scores 1 and 2, which does not align with the expected very low and low probability of LNM for these scores.
Dapagliflozin in peritoneal dialysis patients: a pilot study evaluating peritoneal membrane function
Authors: Hamdan Zakaria , Abdel-Hafez Yusri , Enaya Ahmad , Sarsour Alaa , Kharraz Lubna , Nazzal Zaher
Published: January 2024

Background

Patients taking SGLT-2 inhibitors may experience delayed peritoneal fibrosis, better ultrafiltration of water and toxins, and higher survival rates. We aimed to evaluate the possible effects of Dapagliflozin in changing the peritoneal solute transfer rate, reducing peritoneal glucose absorption, and, hence, increasing ultrafiltration.

Methodology

A pilot pre-post interventional study was used to evaluate 20 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) enrolled in a one-month self-controlled study [Trial#: NCT04923295]. Inclusion criteria included being over 18, and having a Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) vintage of at least six months. All participants were classified as having high or average high transport status based on their Peritoneal Equilibrium Test with a D0/D4 > 0.39. and using at least two exchanges with 2.35% dextrose over the previous three months before enrollment.

Results

Following the treatment, 13 patients had an increase in median D4/D0 from 0.26 [0.17–0.38] to 0.31 [0.23–0.40], while seven patients had a decline from 0.28 [0.17–0.38] to 0.23 [0.14–0.33]. Additionally, nine patients had a decrease in median D/P from 0.88 [0.67–0.92] to 0.81 [0.54–0.85], while 11 patients had an increase from 0.70 [0.6–0.83] to 0.76 [0.63–0.91].

Conclusion

According to the findings of this study, Dapagliflozin usage in peritoneal dialysis patients did not result in a reduction in glucose absorption across the peritoneal membrane. Additionally, Dapagliflozin was also associated with a small increase in sodium dip, a decrease in peritoneal VEGF, and a decrease in systemic IL-6 levels all of which were not statistically significant. Further large-scale studies are required to corroborate these conclusions.
Evaluating patient perspectives of endovascular created arteriovenous fistulas for dialysis access (EndoAVF)
Authors: Field Melanie , Khawaja A. Z. , Ellis J. , Jones R. G. , Inston N. G.
Published: January 2024

Background

Patient reported experience measures are contemporary quality indicators that focus on evaluation of healthcare delivery processes. While surgical arteriovenous fistulas (otherAVF) are preferred for haemodialysis vascular access, fears about surgery and complications often result in refusal/delays. A new technique of endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation (EndoAVF) has been developed and as part of it’s ongoing introduction into our unit, the patient perspective was felt critical to its evaluation. The Vascular Access Questionnaire (VAQ) provides a mechanism for identifying and scoring perceptions in this setting.

Method

Patients who had previously undergone EndoAVF formation were approached to undertake the VAQ as part of a service evaluation of their experience. In addition to the components of the VAQ, data questions relating to the patient’s perception of their access were gathered. Results were compared with a matched historical cohort of surgically created fistulas (otherAVF) patients.

Results

Patient satisfaction and self-reported ease of use with EndoAVF were high. Overall VAQ scores were similar between the EndoAVF and the surgically created cohort. Functionally, there was no significant difference in perception of their fistula by patients, irrespective of them being created surgically or radiologically.

Conclusion

Although numbers in this report are small limiting exploration of preserved inherent heterogeneity, we provide a useful initial patient reported experience and perspectives on comparative functional use of radiologically and surgically created AVFs. As real world experience gathers, future larger cohorts with adequate sampling may allow exploration of patient reported experiences and outcome measures.
The role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in atropine-related inhibition of the progression of myopia
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Lan , Tang Xiaoli , Fan Haobo , Song Weiqi , Xie Juan , Tang Yangyu , Jiang Yanqing , Zou Yunchun
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the potential involvement of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in myopia development and its contribution to the mechanism of action of the anti-myopia drug, atropine.

Methods

Thirty-three-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control (NC, n = 10), monocularly form-deprived (FDM, n = 10), and FDM treated with 1% atropine (FDM + AT, n = 10) groups. The diopter and axial length were measured at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Guinea pig eyeballs were removed at week four, fixed, and stained for morphological changes. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were performed to evaluate VIP protein and mRNA levels.

Results

The FDM group showed an apparent myopic shift compared to the control group. The results of the H&E staining were as follows: the cells of the inner/outer nuclear layers and retinal ganglion cells were disorganized; the choroidal thickness (ChT), blood vessel lumen, and area were decreased; the sclera was thinner, with disordered fibers and increased interfibrillar space. IHC and ISH revealed that VIP's mRNA and protein expressions were significantly up-regulated in the retina of the FDM group. Atropine treatment attenuated FDM-induced myopic shift and fundus changes, considerably reducing VIP's mRNA and protein expressions.

Conclusions

The findings of elevated VIP mRNA and protein levels observed in the FDM group indicate the potential involvement of VIP in the pathogenesis and progression of myopia. The ability of atropine to reduce this phenomenon suggests that this may be one of the molecular mechanisms for atropine to control myopia.
Length of hospital stay and factors associated with very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates surviving to discharge a cross-sectional study, 2022
Authors: Mehretie Yimenu , Amare Ashenafi Tazebew , Getnet Geta Bayu , Mekonnen Birhanu abie
Published: January 2024

Background

The length of hospital stay of very-low-birth-weight neonates (birth weight < 1500 g) depends on multiple factors. Numerous factors have been reported to influence the length of hospital stay (LOS). The objective of this study was to identify the length of hospital stay and associated factors among very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates.

Method

A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire from April 1 to November 30, 2022. The data was entered using Epidata and Stata version 15.1. The frequencies, mean, median, and interquartile range were used to describe the study population about relevant variables. A linear regression model was used to see the effect of independent variables on dependent variables.

Result

About 110 very low-birth-weight preterm neonates who survived to discharge were included in the study. The median birth weight was 1370 g, with an IQR of 1250–1430. The mean gestational age was 32.30 ± 1.79 weeks. The median length of hospital stay was 24 days, with an IQR of 13.5–40. The gestational age, type of initial management given, and presence of complications had a significant association with the length of hospital stay for VLBW preterm neonates.

Conclusion

The median hospital stay was 24 days. The gestational age, presence of complications, and type of initial management given were associated with LOS for VLBW preterm neonates. The length of the hospital stay of the VLBW preterm neonates can be reduced by applying the standards of care of very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates.