bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regenerating Public Housing in Italy with the Support of the Next Generation EU Fund. Lessons Learned from a Research by Design Experience
Authors: Lepratto Fabio , Miglierina Giuliana
Published: October 2024

In Italy, the Next Generation EU instrument has made it possible to launch what could be optimistically defined as a new season for public housing after at least three decades of decreasing financial support. The PINQuA (National Innovative Program for Housing Quality) was supported with 2.8 billion euros, prompting a race among eligible public bodies to submit a proposal. Thanks to the funding, 159 projects of 271 presented were selected and are currently in the implementation phase. Quality and innovation, two concepts prominently featured in the programme’s title, encourage a sense of optimism. However, they also require critical examination to understand how the issues related to these concepts have been interpreted in terms of proposal development, evaluation, subsequent selection, and implementation. If we focus on aspects related to the culture of design, can we consider this programme an opportunity for architecture as a discipline? The research approach undertaken involved a direct participation in one of the projects: the urban regeneration of the Piazzale Visconti housing complex in Bergamo. The article reports the outcomes of a “reflection in action” [1] gained from a privileged observation point. Although referring to a single case, the research-by-design activity was an opportunity to get to the core of general issues, triggering a reflection on two complementary dimensions (1) the verification of project potential, expressed by the programme, (2) the understanding of the opportunities and certain problems intrinsic to the process.
Rethinking Architecture in the Digital Age: From Parametric Design Thinking to Philosophical Perspectives
Authors: Wu Hongye
Published: October 2024

We are currently living in an age where the advancement of digital technologies has been rapidly progressing. Simultaneously, the digital avant-garde has been flourishing in the field of architecture for decades. The emergence of design thinking has been significant in this era, especially with the rise of parametric design thinking in contemporary discourse due to the advancements in digital technology. In this context, particular attention is given to parametric design thinking in this paper, with a specific focus on the current trend and the concept of “social performativity”. Moreover, the current tasks in architecture are more challenging in dealing with its relationship with social diversity and even conflicts. Hence, this contribution questions the positionality of architecture in multiple interactions and explores the state and impact of architecture in the digital age, considering both material and immaterial aspects. To investigate this, the study unfolds philosophical perspectives on the relationship between humans and space by expounding on several fundamental ideas from Taoism and the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. The study’s results contribute to a deeper comprehension of the relationship between humans and space, shedding light on both the potential and the complexities inherent in architecture within the realm of parametric design in the digital age.
“Self-efficacy” as a Value in Architectural Pedagogy
Authors: Akin Naime Esra
Published: October 2024

The latest research we conducted involved designing a tool to support the pin-up format, which is used to increase the effectiveness of the presenting/commenting activity as the main activity of project-expositions in architectural education. This research provided clues about the roles that students prefer to have as architects. Being a “Master” who has an extraordinary level of proficiency, skills, or performance in the information age can be stressful for students. We questioned the relationship between self-efficacy and the pin-up format, considering the students’ experiences with project-expositions. To understand the relationship between students’ social intentions, feelings, and the spatial organization during pin-up events, we monitored their emotions and thoughts about presenting their projects through a survey and some random interviews conducted over time. As the stress factor in project-expositions is directly related to the well-being of students, we focused on the emotional aspect of well-being. We were excited to learn that students expect peer-learning from pin-up activities, and that self-efficacy is an outcome of this. The survey was conducted in the Danish context during the Spring semester of 2023. The data collected can be considered informative because the 2nd year students represented a variety of nationalities and genders. This research establishes a strong foundation for asking the question, through the lens of well-being, of how pedagogical approaches in architectural education should be designed to support students in becoming either “Masters” or “self-efficacious architects.”
Means Oriented or Goals-Oriented Architectural Education
Authors: Ali Ahmed K.
Published: October 2024

In a fading material culture, where societies have become far from making and only content with image approximations, architectural education, no exception, is suffering from the absence of visual, haptic, and hands-on knowledge. When pairing the knowledge of materials with its related issues of resource depletion, climate change, and waste, a new seed for teaching architecture is ready to be planted. This paper will focus on a profound distinction between two opposing design methodologies: a conventional method and an unconventional one tested in an architectural design studio environment and can be replicated, reused, and scaled to any architectural education programs worldwide. The aim of this study is to challenge the mainstream model of design in architectural education, provide a resource-based material culture, and highlight the role of design in mitigating climate change. Results shows that the understanding of the properties of materials, evaluating the economic and environmental aspects were critical to achieve the sought learning outcomes.
How to Tackle Crisis in Architectural Education? Truth or Dare
Authors: Tünür Hazal Çağlar , İnalhan Göksenin
Published: October 2024

Architectural practice is influenced by all the dynamics of daily life, such as climate change, pandemics, political changes, economic issues, globalization, and social inequalities, so the roles and responsibilities of the architect have also changed. As a result, the practice and architecture discipline have been compressed into a narrow field, and it can be called a crisis. Some educators act more rationally and dynamically, taking structural and spatial initiatives to work out these crises on the spot by overcoming economic, political, or regulatory conjunctures like design-build studios. Nonetheless, in traditional studio practice, professionals produce intellectual content and projects based on architectural knowledge by addressing these issues in a more philosophical or political on paper. By comparing these two design studio modalities through literature and case studies, this paper will explore how an inclusive, socially engaged, anti-crisis design practice in architectural education can be addressed in the curriculum, how it can find an answer in design pedagogy, and how we can make it sustainable in the future of the discipline. This research will take these two avenues of approaching these crises and compile their potential contributions toward developing a responsive, resilient, and inclusive habitus-of-learning approach for architectural education.
Person-centred crisis support services as alternatives to emergency departments: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Postorivo Danielle , Parker Stephen , Whiteford Harvey , Papinczak Zoe , Rutherford Zoe
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To identify, critically appraise, and synthesise the published and grey literature on person-centred crisis support services as an alternative to support in emergency departments (EDs) for people experiencing mental health crises. This scoping review explores the characteristics and outcomes of these services.

Methods

A systematic scoping review was undertaken to identify publications describing person-centred crisis support services and their outcomes. Search strings were applied to multiple databases, and publications were subjected to quality appraisal. The review process was informed by The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

Results

Thirteen publications were included in the narrative synthesis, and these considered eight separate crisis support services. The methodological quality of the publications included was limited. Key findings were positive visitors’ experiences, high rates of ED deflection, and overlaps between repeat visits, crises prevention, and hospital avoidance. Key recommendations included increasing opening hours and capacity and improving service awareness and accessibility.

Conclusions

The available evidence suggests that person-centred crisis support services are perceived by stakeholders as safe and effective alternatives to EDs for people experiencing mental health crises, providing more timely and appropriate care while reducing ED mental health presentations. Due to the limited quality of the publications included, high-quality research is needed to better understand the model and confirm the findings reported in this review.
Weak convergence rates for temporal numerical approximations of the semilinear stochastic wave equation with multiplicative noise
Authors: Cox Sonja , Jentzen Arnulf , Lindner Felix
Published: October 2024

In this work we establish weak convergence rates for temporal discretisations of stochastic wave equations with multiplicative noise, in particular, for the hyperbolic Anderson model. For this class of stochastic partial differential equations the weak convergence rates we obtain are indeed twice the known strong rates. To the best of our knowledge, our findings are the first in the scientific literature which provide essentially sharp weak convergence rates for temporal discretisations of stochastic wave equations with multiplicative noise. Key ideas of our proof are a sophisticated splitting of the error and applications of the recently introduced mild Itô formula. We complement our analytical findings by means of numerical simulations in Python for the decay of the weak approximation error for SPDEs for four different test functions.
Endovascular Simulator Training and Shadowing in Interventional Radiology: A Comparison of Two Teaching Methods in the Curricular Training of Medical Students
Authors: Hilleke Simon , Wiener Richard , Frisch Anne , Scheel Michael
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To identify the impact of endovascular simulator training and shadowing in interventional radiology on medical students’ self-assessed IR knowledge. Moreover, the sequence of the teaching methods and its influence on the self-assessed IR knowledge is investigated.

Materials and Methods

A total of 19 fourth-year medical students participated in this study. Eleven students completed shadowing live cases first and endovascular simulator training the following day. Eight students completed the teaching in reversed order. Questionnaires were completed before and after each teaching method. The students assessed their knowledge of instruments and materials, steps of the Seldinger technique, and aortography on a Likert scale (1 = "I do not agree at all," 5 = "I fully agree").

Results

After simulator training, the students stated a significant increase in perceived knowledge compared with baseline (p < 0.001). Shadowing led to a significant improvement regarding the items “knowledge of instruments and materials” (3.2 vs. 3.8, p = 0.008) and “steps of the Seldinger technique” (3.7 vs. 3.9, p = 0.046). Self-assessed knowledge after simulator training increased significantly more regarding Seldinger technique compared with shadowing (+ 1.2 vs. + 0.2, p < 0.001). Simulator training before shadowing was significantly more effective regarding the increase in “knowledge of the steps of aortography” compared with the reverse sequence (+ 2.0 vs. + 0.9, p = 0.041).

Conclusion

Endovascular simulator training and shadowing are both feasible tools to improve medical students’ perceived knowledge of interventional radiology. When organizing teaching, simulator training before shadowing can have a positive impact on self-assessed knowledge.

Graphical Abstract
Cyanobacteria-Fungi Co-Cultures: Which Partner Contributes to Antifungal Activity?
Authors: Stirk Wendy A. , Pap Bernadett , Maróti Gergely , van Staden Johannes , Ördög Vince
Published: October 2024

Cyanobacteria synthesize secondary metabolites with antifungal activity, making them potential biopesticide agents for sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture. Programmes to identify Cyanobacterial strains with effective bioactivity generally screen strains maintained in culture collections. These strains are often monoclonal but non-axenic and this may potentially influence the bioactivity of the generated biomass. The present study investigated in vitro antifungal activity of Nostoc muscorum MACC-189 and N. linckia MACC-612 strains co-isolated with fungal co-partners and maintained in the Mosonmagyaróvár Algal Culture Collection (MACC). The fungal co-partners were isolated from the Cyanobacterial stock cultures and identified as Purpureocillium lilacinum and Sarocladium sp., respectively. The cultures were tested against seven phytopathogens. The phytopathogenic fungi were grown on potato dextrose agar plates and suspension cultures of the Cyanobacteria-fungi and isolated fungal co-partners were placed in the centre of the plate. Antifungal effects were assessed semi-quantitatively after 10 days of incubation. The Cyanobacteria-fungal co-cultures had antifungal activity against Monilinia fructigena and Aspergillus sp. with the N. muscorum/P. lilacinum culture being the most effective. The fungal isolates inhibited M. fructigena with P. lilacinum having a dose-dependent response but did not inhibit Aspergillus sp. This suggested that the antifungal effect of the Cyanobacterial cultures on M. fructigena was due to the fungal partner rather than the cyanobacterium while the antifungal effect on Aspergillus sp. was due to the cyanobacterium partner. As it was not possible to maintain living axenic N. muscorum and N. linckia cultures, this could not be conclusively confirmed. These results highlight the importance of either using axenic cultures or identifying the co-isolates when testing Cyanobacteria cultures for antifungal bioactivity.
Automatic structuring of radiology reports with on-premise open-source large language models
Authors: Woźnicki Piotr , Laqua Caroline , Fiku Ina , Hekalo Amar , Truhn Daniel , Engelhardt Sandy , Kather Jakob , Foersch Sebastian , D’Antonoli Tugba Akinci , Pinto dos Santos Daniel , Baeßler Bettina , Laqua Fabian Christopher
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Structured reporting enhances comparability, readability, and content detail. Large language models (LLMs) could convert free text into structured data without disrupting radiologists’ reporting workflow. This study evaluated an on-premise, privacy-preserving LLM for automatically structuring free-text radiology reports.

Materials and methods

We developed an approach to controlling the LLM output, ensuring the validity and completeness of structured reports produced by a locally hosted Llama-2-70B-chat model. A dataset with de-identified narrative chest radiograph (CXR) reports was compiled retrospectively. It included 202 English reports from a publicly available MIMIC-CXR dataset and 197 German reports from our university hospital. Senior radiologist prepared a detailed, fully structured reporting template with 48 question-answer pairs. All reports were independently structured by the LLM and two human readers. Bayesian inference (Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling) was used to estimate the distributions of Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), with [−0.05, 0.05] as the region of practical equivalence (ROPE).

Results

The LLM generated valid structured reports in all cases, achieving an average MCC of 0.75 (94% HDI: 0.70–0.80) and F1 score of 0.70 (0.70–0.80) for English, and 0.66 (0.62–0.70) and 0.68 (0.64–0.72) for German reports, respectively. The MCC differences between LLM and humans were within ROPE for both languages: 0.01 (−0.05 to 0.07), 0.01 (−0.05 to 0.07) for English, and −0.01 (−0.07 to 0.05), 0.00 (−0.06 to 0.06) for German, indicating approximately comparable performance.

Conclusion

Locally hosted, open-source LLMs can automatically structure free-text radiology reports with approximately human accuracy. However, the understanding of semantics varied across languages and imaging findings.

Key Points

QuestionWhy has structured reporting not been widely adopted in radiology despite clear benefits and how can we improve this?

FindingsA locally hosted large language model successfully structured narrative reports, showing variation between languages and findings.

Critical relevanceStructured reporting provides many benefits, but its integration into the clinical routine is limited. Automating the extraction of structured information from radiology reports enables the capture of structured data while allowing the radiologist to maintain their reporting workflow.
Associations between pre-operative cholesterol levels with long-term survival after colorectal cancer surgery: a nationwide propensity score–matched cohort study
Authors: Löffler Lea , Mashkoor Maliha , Gögenur Ismail , Gögenur Mikail
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Altered lipid metabolism frequently occurs in patients with solid cancers and dyslipidemia has been associated with poorer outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. This study sought to investigate whether cholesterol levels are associated with clinical outcomes and can serve as survival predictors.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study with Danish patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who had surgery with curative intent for UICC stages I to III between 2015 and 2020. Using propensity score adjustment, we matched patients in a 1:1 ratio to examine the impact of total cholesterol (TC) > 4 mmol/L vs. ≤ 4 mmol/L within 365 days prior to surgery on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Results

A total of 3443 patients were included in the study. Median follow-up time was 3.8 years. Following propensity score matching, 1572 patients were included in the main analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in OS or DFS between patients with TC > 4 mmol/L compared with TC ≤ 4 mmol/L (HR: 0.82, 95% CI, 0.65–1.03, HR: 0.87, 95% CI, 0.68–1.12, respectively.). A subgroup analysis investigating TC > 4 mmol/L as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) > 3 mmol/L found a significant correlation with OS (HR: 0.74, 95% CI, 0.54–0.99).

Conclusion

TC levels alone were not associated with OS or DFS in patients with colorectal cancer. Interestingly, higher TC and LDL levels were linked to better overall survival, suggesting the need for further exploration of cholesterol's role in colorectal cancer.

Trial registration

Not applicable.
Outcomes of robotic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease using the Medtronic Hugo™ Robotic-Assisted Surgical platform: a single center experience
Authors: Rottoli Matteo , Cardelli Stefano , Calini Giacomo , Alexa Ioana Diana , Violante Tommaso , Poggioli Gilberto
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who underwent surgery performed through laparoscopy or using the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS.

Methods

This is a retrospective study from a prospectively maintained database comparing laparoscopic vs. robotic-assisted surgery for IBD from 01/11/2017 to 15/04/2024. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon robotic-naïve with a large experience in laparoscopic surgery for IBD. The robotic procedures were performed using the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS platform. Outcomes were 30-day postoperative complications, operative time, conversion rate, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and readmission rate.

Results

Among 121 consecutive patients, 80 underwent laparoscopic (LG) and 41 robotic-assisted surgery (RG). Baseline, preoperative and disease-specific characteristics were comparable except for older age (50 [38–56] vs. 38 [28–54] years; p = 0.05) and higher albumin level (42 [40–44] vs. 40 [38–42] g/L, p = 0.006) in the RG. The intracorporeal anastomosis was more frequent in the RG (80% vs. 6%; p < 0.001) with longer operative time (240 vs. 205 min; p = 0.006), while the conversion rate was not different (5% vs. 10%, p = 0.49). Surgical procedure types were equally distributed between the two groups, and the rate of intra-abdominal septic complication (IASC) was comparable across the different procedures. Postoperative complications were similar, including the rate of IASC (5% vs. 5%, p = 1), postoperative ileus (5% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.71), bleeding (2% vs. 5%, p = 0.66), and Clavien-Dindo > 2 complications (7% vs. 6%; p = 1).

Conclusion

IBD surgery performed using the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS is safe and feasible, with similar postoperative outcomes when compared to the laparoscopic approach.
Rhythm and rate control strategies in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation treated with cardiac resynchronization: the results of the randomized Pilot-CRAfT study
Authors: Ciszewski Jan B. , Tajstra Mateusz , Kowalik Ilona , Maciąg Aleksander , Chwyczko Tomasz , Jankowska Agnieszka , Smolis-Bąk Edyta , Firek Bohdan , Zając Dariusz , Karwowski Jarosław , Szwed Hanna , Pytkowski Mariusz , Gąsior Mariusz , Sterliński Maciej
Published: October 2024

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients. It is a marker of impaired CRT response mainly mediated by the reduction of effectively captured biventricular paced beats (BiVp). There are no randomized trials comparing strategies to maintain high BiVp percentage.

Objective

To compare the efficacy of rhythm vs rate control strategies in CRT recipients with long-standing persistent AF.

Methods

We performed a randomized trial including CRT recipients with persistent AF resulting in low BiVp%. All patients received amiodarone, the rhythm control group received external electrical cardioversion (EC), and the rate control group received atrioventricular node ablation, if needed. The primary end-point was 12-month BiVp% (NCT).

Results

43 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 68.4 (SD: ± 8.3) years and the mean BiVp% 82.4% ± 9.7%. AF lasted 25 ± 19 months. The mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrium area, and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were: 30 ± 8%, 33 ± 7 cm2, and 14 ± 5 mL/(kg*min), respectively. The EC success rate was 58%. 38% patients remained in sinus rhythm (SR) after 12 months. BiVp% increased similarly in both arms reaching 99% [95% CI 97.3–99.8] and 98% [94.0–99.0], P = 0.14 in rhythm and rate control groups, respectively. LVEF raised significantly only in the rhythm control group (ΔLVEF 4.1 (± 7.3), P = 0,018) which was driven by the patients who maintained SR. No differences in VO2max, QoL, clinical and safety end-points were observed.

Conclusion

Despite comparable BiVp% in both groups, only restoration of SR led to improved left ventricular ejection fraction in CRT patients with long-standing AF.

Trial registration

NCT01850277 registered on 22/04/2013.
Quality of life under treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab in melanoma patients. Real-world data from a prospective observational study at the Skin Cancer Center Kiel
Authors: Grote Carolin , Bohne Ann-Sophie , Blome Christine , Kähler Katharina C.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Combined immunotherapy (ipilimumab + nivolumab) has improved survival in stage IV melanoma patients, making Health-related Quality of Life (HrQoL) crucial due to potential immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Previous studies treated HrQoL as secondary/explorative endpoint, and no specific HrQoL questionnaire for melanoma patients on immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy exists. This study aimed to gather specific HrQoL data during combined ICI therapy, tracking changes during and after treatment, and examining associations with gender, irAEs, and treatment response.

Methods

35 melanoma patients (22 males, 13 females) undergoing combined ICI were surveyed using the Short-form 36 questionnaire (SF-36), the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire – Deutsch (IBDQ-D), and the distress thermometer (DT). HrQoL was evaluated during treatment, after six months, and at the onset of autoimmune colitis.

Results

irAEs occurred in 51.4% of patients, with colitis being the most common (26.1%). 45.7% had progressive disease. SF-36 showed stable HrQoL during treatment and follow-up. Women had worse HrQoL on the physical component scale than men (p = 0.019). Patients with progression showed worse HrQoL over time in physical (p = 0.015) and mental health scales (p = 0.04). IBDQ-D showed constant HrQoL throughout treatment and follow-up. Distress on DT remained constant, with women reporting higher levels of distress.

Conclusion

HrQoL remained stable during and after therapy. Female gender and disease progression negatively impacted HrQoL. The development of irAEs was not associated with HrQoL, though this may not apply to severe irAEs like colitis, which were not assessed.
Protoporphyrin IX iron(II) revisited. An overview of the Mössbauer spectroscopic parameters of low-spin porphyrin iron(II) complexes
Authors: Silver Jack , den Engelsen Daniel , al-Jaff Golzar , Taies Jehad A. , Wilson Michael T. , Fern George R.
Published: October 2024

Mössbauer parameters of low-spin six-coordinate [Fe(II)(Por)L2] complexes (where Por is a synthetic porphyrin; L is a nitrogenous aliphatic, an aromatic base or a heterocyclic ligand, a P-bonding ligand, CO or CN) and low-spin [Fe(Por)LX] complexes (where L and X are different ligands) are reported. A known point charge calculation approach was extended to investigate how the axial ligands and the four porphyrinato-N atoms generate the observed quadrupole splittings (ΔEQ) for the complexes. Partial quadrupole splitting (p.q.s.) and partial chemical shifts (p.c.s.) values were derived for all the axial ligands, and porphyrins reported in the literature. The values for each porphyrin are different emphasising the importance/uniqueness of the [Fe(PPIX)] moiety, (which is ubiquitous in nature). This new analysis enabled the construction of figures relating p.c.s and p.q.s values. The relationships presented in the figures indicates that strong field ligands such as CO can, and do change the sign of the electric field gradient in the [Fe(II)(Por)L2] complexes. The limiting p.q.s. value a ligand can have and still form a six-coordinate low-spin [Fe(II)(Por)L2] complex is established. It is shown that the control the porphyrin ligands exert on the low-spin Fe(II) atom limits its bonding to a defined range of axial ligands; outside this range the spin state of the iron is unstable and five-coordinate high-spin complexes are favoured. Amongst many conclusions, it was found that oxygen cannot form a stable low-spin [Fe(II)(Por)L(O2)] complex and that oxy-haemoglobin is best described as an [Fe(III)(Por)L(O2−)] complex, the iron is ferric bound to the superoxide molecule.

Graphical abstract
Platelet-rich fibrin as a hemostatic agent in dental extractions in patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication: a systematic review
Authors: Katz Marie Sophie , Ooms Mark , Heitzer Marius , Steiner Timm , Bock Anna , Peters Florian , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate whether platelet-rich-fibrin (PRF) is effective in preventing postoperative bleeding after dental extractions in patients on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy compared to stitches alone and different hemostatic agents.

Materials and methods

This systematic review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration number CRD42024562289). Two authors independently performed searches in several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS.

Results

In total, 789 studies were identified, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria after full-text screening. Four studies evaluated the efficiency of PRF in patients on antiplatelet therapy, and seven studies analyzed its hemostatic effect in patients on anticoagulants. All studies showed sufficient hemostasis when PRF was used, but due to heterogeneity meta-analysis was not possible.

Conclusions

Despite the use of different protocols and control groups, PRF treatment seems to be superior to only stitches and inferior to chitosan dressings concerning the time of hemostasis. Additionally, PRF seems to be beneficial in terms of faster wound healing and less postoperative pain.

Clinical relevance

PRF is known to enhance soft tissue healing and reduce postoperative pain. As a fully autologous platelet concentrate, it can support hemostasis after dental extractions in patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy. This systematic review aims to provide an update of the existing literature on PRF and its hemostatic capacity in patients with blood thinning medication.
Platelet-rich plasma as an adjuvant therapy to fractional ablative carbon dioxide lasers for cutaneous repair: a complementary treatment for atrophic acne scarring
Authors: Gaumond Simonetta I. , Abdin Rama , Yaghi Marita , Mahmoud Rami H. , Rodriguez Mario , Eber Ariel E. , Jimenez Joaquin J.
Published: October 2024

Acne has a prevalence of over 90% among adolescents, and subsequently progresses to acne scarring in approximately 47% of cases. Due to the severe psychological and social ramifications acne scarring has on patients, there is a need for more effective treatments. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous preparation enriched with growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, has shown efficacy in promoting wound healing and tissue remodeling in dermatology. Recent evidence suggests that the efficacy of PRP may be enhanced when combined with laser therapy, which induces controlled tissue damage through photo-thermolysis thereby promoting tissue remodeling and epidermal regeneration. The microchannels created by laser treatments are thought to allow deeper penetration of PRP into the skin, potentially increasing its therapeutic effects. This review aims to analyze the combined use of PRP and laser therapy for treating acne scarring by examining randomized control trials from the past decade indexed on PubMed. Six studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The findings of this review support the hypothesis that combining PRP with laser therapy offers superior clinical results compared to monotherapy, providing a more effective approach to managing acne scarring.
A systematic review of computer vision-based personal protective equipment compliance in industry practice: advancements, challenges and future directions
Authors: Vukicevic Arso M. , Petrovic Milos , Milosevic Pavle , Peulic Aleksandar , Jovanovic Kosta , Novakovic Aleksandar
Published: October 2024

Computerized compliance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an emerging topic in academic literature that aims to enhance workplace safety through the automation of compliance and prevention of PPE misuse (which currently relies on manual employee supervision and reporting). Although trends in the scientific literature indicate a high potential for solving the compliance problem by employing computer vision (CV) techniques, the practice has revealed a series of barriers that limit their wider applications. This article aims to contribute to the advancement of CV-based PPE compliance by providing a comparative review of high-level approaches, algorithms, datasets, and technologies used in the literature. The systematic review highlights industry-specific challenges, environmental variations, and computational costs related to the real-time management of PPE compliance. The issues of employee identification and identity management are also discussed, along with ethical and cybersecurity concerns. Through the concept of CV-based PPE Compliance 4.0, which encapsulates PPE, human, and company spatio-temporal variabilities, this study provides guidelines for future research directions for addressing the identified barriers. The further advancements and adoption of CV-based solutions for PPE compliance will require simultaneously addressing human identification, pose estimation, object recognition and tracking, necessitating the development of corresponding public datasets.
Preschool Teachers’ Experiences of Using Projected Images and Videos in Attempted Play-responsive Science Teaching
Authors: Lund Kristina , Redfors Andreas , Jonsson Agneta
Published: October 2024

When preschool teachers attempt to initiate play-responsive science teaching, opportunities arise to develop or challenge the play further, for example, by introducing or focusing on science content. The aim of this article is to generate knowledge about how projected images and videos can be used in attempted play-responsive science teaching and what they can contribute to. Eleven preschool teachers participated in a Continuous Professional Development project about play-responsive teaching and science. Participating preschool teachers’ discussions about using projected images or videos in attempted play-responsive science teaching was thematically analysed. Three main themes have been developed: content of the projected image or video, different ways of using projected images or videos, and reasons for using a projected image or video in attempted play-responsive science teaching. Results show that projections could be used as support in play, e.g., when imagining being in another place, like under the surface of the ocean or as a way of introducing science concepts in play. Play-responsive science teaching with support of projected images and videos is found to be a threefold challenge for the preschool teachers, encompassing knowledge about play, science, and digital tools. The important role of preschool teachers in making the projections become a part of play-responsive science teaching is discussed.
A Multi-Organizational Network’s Evolving Efforts to Diversify the STEM Professoriate
Authors: Olson Travis H. , Breen Stephanie M. , Gonzales Leslie D. , Griffin Kimberly A.
Published: October 2024

Multi-organizational networks are increasingly understood as powerful levers for inducing change in higher education, particularly for fostering more diverse and inclusive organizations. Yet, there is limited scholarship on how these networks successfully change colleges and universities. This case study follows the evolution of one network effort, tracing how its theory of action changed over time. Through a close examination of semi-structured interviews and case-related artifacts, we generated a rich picture of network leadership, learning, and implementation. Future network leaders and funders will find this work useful. Scholars, too, will find that our work responds to numerous calls to examine how data-driven and equity-focused change efforts are successfully sustained in postsecondary education.
Emergence and Rapid Diagnosis of Talaromyces marneffei Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients by Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Xing Fanfan , Deng Chaowen , Zou Shan , Tsang Chi-Ching , Lo Simon K. F. , Lau Susanna K. P. , Woo Patrick C. Y.
Published: October 2024

In the last few years, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a technology for laboratory diagnosis of many culture-negative infections and slow-growing microorganisms. In this study, we describe the use of metagenomic NGS (mNGS) for rapid diagnosis of T. marneffei infection in a 37-year-old renal transplant recipient who presented with chronic pneumonia syndrome. Bronchoalveolar lavage for mNGS was positive for T. marneffei sequence reads. Prolonged incubation of the bronchoalveolar lavage revealed T. marneffei colonies after 6 days of incubation. Analysis of 23 cases of T. marneffei infections in renal transplant recipients from the literature revealed that the number of cases ranged from 1 to 4 cases per five years from 1990 to 2020; but increased rapidly to 9 cases from 2021 to 2023, with 7 of them diagnosed by NGS. Twenty of the 23 cases were from T. marneffei-endemic areas [southern part of mainland China (n = 9); Hong Kong (n = 4); northeastern India (n = 2); Indonesia (n = 1) and Taiwan (n = 4)]. For the 3 patients from non-T. marneffei-endemic areas [United Kingdom (n = 2) and Australia (n = 1)], they had travel histories to China and Vietnam respectively. The time taken for diagnosis by mNGS [median 1 (range 1 to 2) day] was significantly shorter than that for fungal culture [median 6 (range 3 to 15) days] (P = 0.002). mNGS is useful for picking up more cases of T. marneffei infections in renal transplant recipients as well as providing a rapid diagnosis. Talaromycosis is an emerging fungal infection in renal transplant recipients.
A Robust TrafficSignNet Algorithm for Enhanced Traffic Sign Recognition in Autonomous Vehicles Under Varying Light Conditions
Authors: Kandasamy Kathiresan , Natarajan Yuvaraj , Sri Preethaa K. R. , Ali Ahmed Abdi Yusuf
Published: October 2024

Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in machine perception, particularly in the context of self-driving vehicles. The accurate detection and interpretation of road signs by these vehicles are crucial for enhancing safety, intelligence, and efficiency on the roads. Consequently, there is a growing body of research dedicated to improving traffic sign recognition technologies, a key component of intelligent transportation systems. Annual statistics highlight numerous accidents attributable to factors such as excessive speed, variable lighting conditions, and the misinterpretation of traffic signs. In response to these challenges, a novel approach for the rapid and reliable recognition of traffic signs by moving vehicles has been developed. This approach leverages a custom dataset encompassing twelve object categories and seven subcategories, reflective of road sign diversities encountered in India. A specialized algorithm, TrafficSignNet, was devised to specifically identify signs related to speed, turning, zones, and bumps. This algorithm was trained on a comprehensive dataset comprising 4,962 images, with its performance evaluated using 705 images from real traffic scenarios. The evaluation demonstrates that the model achieves remarkable accuracy across various lighting conditions, processing up to 12 frames per second. This processing rate is compatible with the high-definition standards of contemporary vehicle cameras, which is 1280 × 720 pixels. The model's effectiveness is quantified through accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, with respective values of 0.985, 0.978, 0.964, and 0.971, showcasing its potential to significantly contribute to the advancement of smart transportation systems.
“Sport Belongs to Everyone… But Not During Pregnancy”: Views of Finnish Sport Stakeholders on Pregnancy in Sport
Authors: Raudasoja Mirjam , Ryba Tatiana V.
Published: October 2024

The social construction of pregnancy emphasizes the mother’s responsibility for the developing fetus. Hence, certain activities, such as participation in competitive sport, are often constructed as inappropriate during pregnancy. While expert opinion tends to stress caution, the diversity of athlete mothers’ experiences challenge these dominant discourses. Less is known about how peers and other stakeholders in sport view the participation of pregnant athletes. Knowledge of such attitudes is essential to understanding the position of women in a specific society and the barriers to their autonomy. Hence, we examined survey responses from different sport stakeholders (N = 540) in Finland. Drawing on relational dialectics theory (Baxter, L. A. (2011). Voicing relationships. Sage.), we used contrapuntal analysis to identify different discourses on the compatibility of pregnancy and sport, and their interplay. Three discourses were identified: an equality discourse, which emphasizes that sport belongs to everyone, and that pregnant people should be accepted and supported in sporting environments; a responsibility discourse, which constructs pregnancy as fragility and sport as potentially dangerous for the athlete and the fetus; and an incompatibility discourse, which constructs pregnancy as a disease and unacceptable in sporting environments. Our analysis shows that medicalized, authoritative knowledge is the master strategy used to keep women out of male social spaces during pregnancy. The findings of our study highlight the ongoing struggle for reproductive justice in a patriarchal world order. To advance women’s position in society and support the autonomy of all individuals, viable professional guidelines and organizational policies must be formulated and applied.
Uncovering mediational pathways behind racial and socioeconomic disparities in brain volumes: insights from the UK Biobank study
Authors: Beydoun May A. , Beydoun Hind A. , Fanelli-Kuczmarski Marie T. , Hu Yi-Han , Shaked Danielle , Weiss Jordan , Waldstein Shari R. , Launer Lenore J. , Evans Michele K. , Zonderman Alan B.
Published: October 2024

Mediation pathways explaining racial/ethnic and socioeconomic (SES) disparities in structural MRI markers of brain health remain underexplored. We examined racial/ethnic and SES disparities in sMRI markers and tested total, direct, and indirect effects through lifestyle, health-related, and cognition factors using a structural equations modeling approach among 36,184 UK Biobank participants aged 40–70 years at baseline assessment (47% men). Race (non-White vs. White) and lower SES-predicted poorer brain sMRI volumetric outcomes at follow-up, with racial/ethnic disparities in sMRI outcomes involving multiple pathways and SES playing a central role in those pathways. Mediational patterns differed across outcomes, with the SES-sMRI total effect being partially mediated for all outcomes. Over 20% of the total effect (TE) of race/ethnicity on WMH was explained by the indirect effect (IE), by a combination of different pathways going through SES, lifestyle, health-related, and cognition factors. This is in contrast to < 10% for total brain, gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and frontal GM left/right. Another significant finding is that around 57% of the total effect for SES and the normalized white matter hyperintensity (WMH) was attributed to an indirect effect. This effect encompasses many pathways that involve lifestyle, health-related, and cognitive aspects. Aside from WMH, the percent of TE of SES mediated through various pathways ranged from ~ 5% for WM to > 15% up to 36% for most of the remaining sMRI outcomes, which are composed mainly of GM phenotypes. Race and SES were important determinants of brain volumetric outcomes, with partial mediation of racial/ethnic disparities through SES, lifestyle, health-related, and cognition factors.
Längst überfällig, aber nicht in Sicht?
Authors: Breit Helen , Scherr Albert
Published: October 2024

Die strafrechtlichen Ermittlungen gegen Mitarbeiter*innen des Fanprojekts Karlsruhe haben zu einer erneuten Debatte über die Notwendigkeit eines Zeugnisverweigerungsrechts für Sozialarbeiter*innen geführt. Der Beitrag gibt einen Einblick in die exemplarische Bedeutung des Karlsruher Falls für die Soziale Arbeit und zeigt den Stand der Diskussion über das Zeugnisverweigerungsrecht auf.
The Current Landscape of Artificial Intelligence in Imaging for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Sun Shawn , Yeh Leslie , Imanzadeh Amir , Kooraki Soheil , Kheradvar Arash , Bedayat Arash
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This review explores the current landscape of AI applications in imaging for TAVR, emphasizing the potential and limitations of these tools for (1) automating the image analysis and reporting process, (2) improving procedural planning, and (3) offering additional insight into post-TAVR outcomes. Finally, the direction of future research necessary to bridge these tools towards clinical integration is discussed.

Recent Findings

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a pivotal treatment option for select patients with severe aortic stenosis, and its indication for use continues to broaden. Noninvasive imaging techniques such as CTA and MRA have become routine for patient selection, preprocedural planning, and predicting the risk of complications. As the current methods for pre-TAVR image analysis are labor-intensive and have significant inter-operator variability, experts are looking towards artificial intelligence (AI) as a potential solution.

AI has the potential to significantly enhance the planning, execution, and post-procedural follow up of TAVR. While AI tools are promising, the irreplaceable value of nuanced clinical judgment by skilled physician teams must not be overlooked. With continued research, collaboration, and careful implementation, AI can become an integral part in imaging for TAVR, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
Reflexivity in Teaching Interculturality in China: An Autoethnography of a Teacher’s Multifaceted Transformations
Authors: Tan Huiyu
Published: October 2024

Standard approaches to studying intercultural communication empirically include pedagogical interventions, interview-based studies, and questionnaire research on teachers’ and students’ experiences with intercultural communication. Such studies assume standard positivist or post-positivist epistemologies and research methods. The present article takes a different, more personal and emic approach to understanding intercultural communication. I conducted an autoethnographic inquiry regarding my 20 years of teaching interculturality in the context of Chinese higher education. Autoethnography provides space to be reflexive on one’s own being(s) and becoming(s) as a teacher-researcher over time. It also facilitates accounting for my gradual but nonlinear transformation from understanding intercultural communication from a traditional (intercultural competence-oriented, ideologies of culturalism, differentialism, and essentialism) perspective to one influenced by postmodernist critical theory. However, my autoethnography is not only about myself because, as an intercultural communication teacher-researcher in a Chinese university, I am a member of a community of such researchers. My story therefore inevitably reflects the shared experience of my community as well as my personal, and to some degree of course idiosyncratic, experience.