bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation of Superb Microvascular Imaging and Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Breast Masses
Authors: Yitik Ahmet Yasin , Sabir Nuran , Yılmaz Sevda
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Our study aims to compare the diagnostic performance of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses, using histopathological findings as the reference standard.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted from April 2022 to March 2024. A total of 112 breast lesions from 110 patients were evaluated using gray‐scale ultrasonography, SMI, and dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI. The vascular index (VI) obtained during SMI examination and kinetic curve patterns from MRI were analyzed.

Results

Histopathological analysis revealed 62 benign and 50 malignant lesions. The VI showed a statistically significant difference between benign and malignant lesions, with a mean VI of 5.12 ± 4.66 in benign masses and 10.13 ± 5.48 in malignant masses (P < .001). The ROC analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.79 for SMI with a VI cut‐off value of 4.15, yielding a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 60%, and accuracy of 74%. A statistically significant correlation was found between VI values and MRI contrast enhancement kinetic curve types (P < .05). MRI demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.89 and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 98, 80.65, and 88.39%, respectively.

Conclusions

SMI, when used in conjunction with conventional ultrasonography and MRI, provides significant diagnostic value in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses. The study supports the potential integration of SMI into routine breast cancer diagnostic workflows, particularly in settings where MRI is less accessible.
Computationally Efficient Approach for 6G‐AI‐IoT Network Slicing and Error‐Free Transmission
Authors: Qi Yunxiang
Published: February 2025

Many smart gadgets are connecting to the Internet, and Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) technologies are enabling a variety of applications. Artificial intelligence (AI) of Things (AIoT) devices are anticipated to possess human‐like decision‐making, reasoning, perception, and other capacities with the combination of AI and IoT. AIoT gadgets are expected to be extensively utilized across several domains, as anticipated by 6G networks. With AI's steady advancements in speech recognition, computer vision, and natural language processing—not to mention its ability to analyze large amounts of data—semantic communication is now feasible. A new paradigm in wireless communication is opened by semantic communication, which seeks to explore the meaning behind the bits and only transmits the information that may be used, as opposed to attaining error‐free transmission. The combination of IoT with AI provides prominent features to overcome various important issues in cloud computing networks. However, there is bottleneck of delay and precision. Therefore, this paper proposed a new method to overcome this problem. First, the network slicing feature maps were extracted by convolutional neural networks. Next, the processing delay is reduced by semantic compression. Simulation results show that the proposed approach makes 99.2% reduction in communication complexity and an 80% reduction in transmission delay as compared with traditional methods. Taking the Resnet18 network as an example, the running time of the semantic communication method is only 0.8% of the traditional method.
Metabolomics Analysis of Urine and 16S rRNA Sequencing of Gut Microbiota in Rats With Blood Stasis Syndrome After Intervention With Danggui‐Guizhi Decoction and Dispensing Granules
Authors: Yu Jiwei , Wang Qianyi , Nong Yunyuan , Feng Linlin , Huang Shulin , Su Zhiheng
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is one of the common syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese medicine compound composed of “Danggui‐Guizhi (DG‐GZ)”as the core has the effect of reducing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation. However, the difference of efficacy of DG‐GZ traditional decoction and dispensing granules in reducing blood stasis are still unclear.

Objective

Investigation of the difference of decoction and dispensing granules of Danggui (DG) and Guizhi (GZ) in blood stasis syndrome (BSS) in an animal study (Six groups, n = 6).

Methodology

All rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, Danggui—Guizhi dispensed granules ( DGK–GZK), Danggui—Guizhi decoction (DG–GZ), Danggui granules—Guizhi decoction (DGK–GZ), and Danggui decoction —Guizhi granules (DG‐GZK) groups (n = 6). The blood stasis model was constructed by exposing rats to ice‐cold water. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) was used to compare the effects of DG–GZ (4:3 w/w) decoction and dispensing granules in improving BSS. Metabolomics analysis of urine and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to investigate metabolic analysis and gut microbiota changes in rats with BSS.

Results

The results of WBV showed that DG‐GZ and its granules exhibited efficacy against blood stasis, and the effect of DGK‐GZK in relieving blood stasis was greater than that of other administration groups. Urine metabolomics demonstrated that DGK–GZK could reverse the abnormal levels of butyrate, citrate, taurine, creatinine, glucose, and other metabolites in BSS rats. DGK–GZK could promote the enrichment of the g__Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, g__Ligilactobacillus, and g__Roseburia.

Conclusions

The effect of DGK‐GZK intervention in BSS was stronger than that of other compound groups. This study also provides basic experimental data for exploring the difference in efficacy between traditional decoction and dispensing granules.
Collaborative Approach to Cancer Care in Patients Who Have Co‐Existing Severe Mental Illness With Psychotic Features
Authors: Lipinski Lindsay , Carozza Desi , Kemp Alex , Gupta Sanjay
Published: February 2025

Severe and persistent mental illness with psychotic features as a comorbidity to a cancer diagnosis presents unique challenges to delivery of cancer care. Current literature suggests that there are poorer outcomes and higher mortality in patients with severe mental illness, partly explained by barriers to access of screening services and social vulnerability factors. However, cancer care is also delivered differently in patients with SMI, and often less aggressive care is offered. These healthcare disparities could be addressed in part by preparing for the ethical issues that can arise during the course of care. Cancer care staff may have limited experience and knowledge about treatment of psychiatric symptoms and may feel troubled in scenarios when patients lack capacity and become unwilling to participate in their care. Conversely, patients may benefit from early involvement of their mental health team for psychiatric optimization and contingency preparation. Specifically, preemptive planning between the cancer care team and the mental healthcare team can alleviate distress for the patient and healthcare teams alike. This is especially important when medical decision‐making capacity can fluctuate during treatment. A person‐centered, team‐based approach to care delivery provides bidirectional empowerment. A process is proposed to enhance medical decision‐making in patients with severe mental illness and cancer. It is imperative to acknowledge the disparities that exist in this patient population and create a process that will improve care and alleviate distress for the patient and the cancer care team.
The Anthropocene and International Political Order: Towards an Integrated Analysis
Authors: Brauch Hans Günter
Published: February 2025

TheAnthropoceneis thusfar the only epochin Earth history in which humankindas a “geologicalactor” has directly intervened in and thus impacted on the Earth system. In the early twenty-first century two totally different narratives co-exist: The peaceand securityorwar and peace narrativeand theecological and environmental narrative. This author argues that an integrated analysis of both narratives is needed in the social sciences and humanities on peace and security, and in the natural and social sciences on environmental issue areas and ecological concerns in the Anthropocene, the start of which represents both a new epoch in Earth historyand a new global international order since 1945. Peace and securityproblemsand environmental issuesand ecological concerns are interrelated and must thus be analysed and addressed from a common political strategy if we are to face and cope with fundamental threats to human history that are associated with the atomic bomb and the Anthropocene. This chapter addresses twothreats for the survival of humankind: (a)the nuclear threat, the securitydilemma and the logicof nuclear deterrence and (b) the impacts of global climate change that create threats to human survival. When the third phase of post-World War II order began is disputed, and the assessments have differed among policy analysts. For the USA, the 9/11 attack by terrorists on its territory was perceived as the key turning point by which its “war on terror” (especially the War against Iraq and Libya) was justified. The US and Western use of force in the Balkans (in Bosnia in 1995, and Serbia in 1999) and in the extended Middle East conflict(in Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2011) set a precedent of a unilateral use of force that was not endorsed by the UNSC or the UN Charter. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and the war against Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022 were also severe violations of international law. The response to the Russian warin Europe has already resulted in a downgrading of the response to the effects ofglobal environmental change to fragmentation and uncertainty during the third phase of the Anthropocene. This author calls for a rethinking of ‘politics’, ‘policy’ and ‘polity’ in the Anthropocene, “thinking geologicaland geographic time together”, “combining the peaceand securitynarrativewith the ecological and Anthropocenenarrative” and “integrating Earth Systems Science” (ESS) with the “history of structures and events” (Braudel).
Peace and Security Discourses on the Anthropocene: An International Relations Perspective
Authors: Simangan Dahlia
Published: February 2025

TheAnthropocene has become more than a philosophical byword; it has also entered the vernacular of international policy circles. What are the implications of the Anthropocene for our understanding and pursuits of peace and security, and how does the International Relations (IR) discipline engage with peace and security discourses in this new geological age? A combination of bibliometric and thematic analyses presented in this chapter reveals that prominent discourses on the Anthropocene are generally anchored in traditional notions of peace and security. However, the IR discipline provides a spacefor a critique of these notions, thereby expanding conceptions of agency, challenging linearity and modernity, and unpacking the political motivations and implications of conceptual expansion. This chapter closes with several recommendations for advancing interdisciplinary conversations among IR, Peace Studies, and Security Studies, as well as with other disciplines.
Governance and Politics in the Anthropocene
Authors: Grin John
Published: February 2025

This chapter contends that the key factor that has driven humankind and its planet into the Anthropocene is the modernist idea to achieve human progress through controlling nature and society on basis of universal principles, without paying attention to or even suppressing local conditions of both ‘nature’ and ‘society’. An alternative orientation for development is to (i) replace theinstrumentalisation of nature to serve human needs by mutual alignment of human and social needs with nature through (ii) re-appreciating opportunities for regeneration of energy, resources and the atmosphere. The chapter elaborates this building on two examples: modern, productivist agriculture and associate water management and food consumption practices in Europe and the US; and energy, water and waste disposal systems in American and European cities. These will show how place-based, regenerative development, creating synergy with rather than exploiting nature offers a promising way to remedy society’s adverse impacts on the planet during the Anthropocene, and may help improve and maintain a fair and sustainable level of well-being of current and future generations globally. Guiding principles for associateplace-based governance include new constitutional understanding of notions like equity and accountability; new finance arrangements and standards that allow for synergy and adaptive governance.
Beginnings
Authors: Woodin Tom , Vernon Keith , Shaw Linda
Published: February 2025

Education has always been a core principle of the co-operative movement. As with other working-class organisations in the nineteenth century, there was a need to complement and counter the restricted forms of education offered  by established authorities. Education was enshrined as one of the founding principles of the Rochdale Pioneers and and extensive system of education by and for co-operators would be established. There was always an aspiration for a higher level organisation that would become the apex for co-operative education. Through the early years of the twentieth century, spurred by internal enthusiasm and external pressure, a vigorous campaign for a full Co-operative College sought to convert the aspiration into reality.
The Formation of the Co-operative College and the Interwar Years
Authors: Woodin Tom , Vernon Keith , Shaw Linda
Published: February 2025

War prevented further progress towards a new institution although summer schools and other educational initiatives, led by Fred Hall, proved popular. Co-operators demanded better educational provision and new legislation. However, relationships between the co-operative movement and the state seriously declined during the war, prompting a fundamental re-think of the movement’s political and educational stance. Co-operation was directly assaulted by the increasing power of corporate cartels, bolstered by influential press barons and acquiescent governments. It thus became even more imperative for the movement to instil and maintain co-operative ideals and identity among the membership. In the optimistic aftermath of the war, the 1919 Congress formally passed a resolution to bring the Co-operative College into being. Immediately, the College attracted a mix of students from the British movement and overseas, for instance from India, Australia and Sweden. The timing was unfortunate, as the series of interwar depressions made fundraising extremely difficult and a bespoke college edifice failed to materialise. A functioning college did take shape, albeit on a relatively modest scale, with a body of students from around the world, studying and living together. Co-operators continued to discuss what they meant by a college and what its role should be.
Searching for a New Identity, 2000–2019
Authors: Woodin Tom , Vernon Keith , Shaw Linda
Published: February 2025

From the 1990s, a re-ignition of interest in co-operatives took place in a rapidly globalising world, a process which gained further momentum in the wake of the 2007–2008 financial crises. Under Mervyn Wilson, the College sold Stanford Hall and moved back to Manchester where, in the absence of a regular cohort of students, it searched for a new working model based upon supporting existing and new forms of co-operative and mutual enterprise. It established a new Heritage Trust to maintain the National Co-operative Archive and Rochdale Pioneers Museum. International development work was developed through funded projects working with many partners. Domestically, diverse training activities were carried out. Courses on values and principles were essential for the College and co-operative movement although this connection became more tenuous after the restructure of the Co-operative Group. The College also became more of an independent institution. It supported attempts to harness co-operative values to the provision of a wide range of services and businesses. Most notable was a rapid growth of ‘co-operative schools’ and an attempted co-operative university. Following the Covid pandemic, the College moved towards online learning in attempting to balance educational innovation and financial stability.
Sicherheitsmechanismen des Cloud-Computings zur Verwendung in Korrekturverfahren
Authors: Krahn Robert , Fetzer Christof
Published: February 2025

Das folgende Kapitel bietet einen Einblick in Sicherheitsmechanismen des Cloud-Computings, insbesondere im Hinblick auf den Schutz sensibler Daten und die sichere Ausführung von Anwendungen wie z. B. Korrekturverfahren. Beleuchtet wird das Thema Confidential Computing, um zu zeigen, wie Daten und Programme in unsicheren Umgebungen kryptografisch geschützt werden können. Im Fokus stehen Lösungen wie Intel-SGX und das SCONE-Framework. Leser erhalten wertvolle Einblicke, wie sie mit modernen Methoden die Datensouveränität wahren und Anwendungen (z. B. die Berechnung von Temperaturmodellen) auch auf externen Servern absichern können.
Eigenschaftsmodellbasierte Korrektur
Authors: Spierling Robert , Dehn Mathias , Plum Franziska , Brecher Christian
Published: February 2025

Die eigenschaftsmodellbasierte Korrektur ist eine sogenannte Grey-Box-Korrektur. Sie zeichnet sich durch einen mittleren Abstraktionsgrad aus und weist noch einen Bezug zu den für thermo-elastische Fehler ursächlichen physikalischen Phänomenen der Wärmelehre auf. Der Bezug wird durch die Verwendung von Verzögerungsgliedern niedriger Ordnung (PT-Glieder) als Ansatzfunktion zur Abbildung des Maschinenverhaltens hergestellt, vgl. Abb. 1.
Strukturmodellbasierte Korrektur
Authors: Müller Jens , Thiem Xaver , Ihlenfeldt Steffen
Published: February 2025

Ziel der strukturmodellbasierten Korrektur ist es, thermo-elastische Fehler an Werkzeugmaschinen steuerungsintegriert zu korrigieren. Sie wird in Abb. 1 anhand der thermo-elastischen Wirkungskette eingeordnet. Die strukturmodellbasierte Korrektur nutzt physikalisch basierte Modelle, das können z. B. Finite-Element-Modelle oder Knotenpunktmodelle sein.
Dispersive bootstrap of massive inflation correlators
Authors: Liu Haoyuan , Qin Zhehan , Xianyu Zhong-Zhi
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Inflation correlators with massive exchanges are central observables of cosmological collider physics, and are also important theoretical data for us to better understand quantum field theories in dS. However, they are difficult to compute directly due to many technical complications of the Schwinger-Keldysh integral. In this work, we initiate a new bootstrap program for massive inflation correlators with dispersion relations on complex momentum planes. We classify kinematic variables of a correlator into vertex energies and line energies, and develop two distinct types of dispersion relations for both of them, respectively called vertex dispersion and line dispersion relations. These dispersion methods allow us to obtain full analytical results of massive correlators from a knowledge of their oscillatory signals alone, while the oscillatory signal at the tree level can be related to simpler subgraphs via the cutting rule. We further apply this method to massive loop correlators, and obtain new analytical expressions for loop diagrams much simpler than existing results from spectral decomposition. In particular, we show that the analyticity demands the existence of an “irreducible background” in the loop correlator, which is unambiguously defined, free of UV divergence, and independent of renormalization schemes.
Erratum to: Nonleptonic B-meson decays to next-to-next-to-leading order
Authors: Egner Manuel , Fael Matteo , Schönwald Kay , Steinhauser Matthias
Published: February 2025

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2024)144
Whole genome characterization of Listeria welshimeri isolates recovered from cattle abattoirs and retailers in Gauteng province in South Africa
Authors: Gana James , Pierneef Rian Ewald , Gcebe Nomakorinte , Moerane Rebone , Adesiyun Abiodun Adewale
Published: February 2025

The study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize 12 isolates of L. welshimeri recovered from the beef production chain in Gauteng province, South Africa. Two sequence types (STs) were identified, with ST3294 accounting for 75% (9/12) and ST1084 for 16.7% (2/12) of the isolates. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plasmids detected included conjugative plasmid (MOBP2; T_virB11; virb4) in 58.3% and AMR plasmid (NFO33156) in 41.7% of the isolates. Two AMR genes, fosX (25%) and vga (G) (100%), along with 11 virulence factors, were present in all 12 isolates of L. welshimeri. The phylogenomic tree of L. welshimeri clustering based on the ST according to the source, type, and class of beef and beef products revealed three groups: ST3294 (n = 9), ST1084 (n = 2), and unassigned ST (n = 1). The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for transferring genetic materials from non-pathogenic L. welshimeri to pathogenic L. monocytogenes within the same ecological niche.
Machining and deformation response of wrought and additively manufactured 316L stainless steel under cryogenic cooling and dry condition
Authors: Kitay Ozhan , Kaynak Yusuf
Published: February 2025

This study presents evidence of a machining-induced deformation layer in a powder bed fusion–laser beam (PBF-LB) manufactured 316L stainless steel and the subsequent effect on surface integrity characteristics in terms of microstructure, microhardness, and residual stress. Severe plastic deformation (SPD) was observed in the specimen subjected to orthogonal cutting under dry condition due to the slip mechanism, whereas dislocation-induced plastic deformation activity was observed in cryogenic cutting condition. The results show that cryogenic coolant improved the chip breakability of both PBF-LB and wrought material and also reduced the friction coefficient by 22% for PBF-LB and 28% for wrought. The findings from this present study also reveal that machining of additively manufactured 316L requires more cutting force than wrought. Chip morphology analysis shows that the chip thickness of the additively manufactured specimens is much larger than wrought sample. High-speed cutting of both wrought and additively manufactured machined specimens results in compressive residual stress, which is good for fatigue life. Plastic deformation occurred at a strain rate of 105 s−1. As a new finding, while the effect of cutting condition on strain rate was limited, a higher strain rate was realized for wrought compared to PBF-LB.
Development of an SI traceable value assigned amino acid matrix-matched material to underpin European external quality assessment
Authors: Whyte Emily , Carling Rachel , Cowen Simon , Sears Patrick , Hopley Chris
Published: February 2025

Plasma amino acid analysis plays a vital role in monitoring inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs), such as phenylketonuria (PKU), where dietary therapy is the cornerstone of management and patients are regularly monitored using blood or plasma phenylalanine throughout life. Recent findings from external quality assessment (EQA) schemes demonstrate large variability between results from different clinical laboratories. EQA schemes are hampered by factors including suboptimal sample type and frequency of distributions. Aiming to harmonise and standardise EQA schemes, this paper describes value assignment of an SI traceable matrix-matched amino acid material, and its use in an interlaboratory comparison (ERNDIM QAA-2106 study) that included 89 clinical laboratories from throughout Europe. The outcomes of the interlaboratory comparison are valuable in enabling clinical laboratories to refine their methodologies and, in a longer term, will lead to enhanced accuracy of results in clinical measurements and, ultimately, improved patient care in IMD management. A frozen, pooled human plasma sample was distributed to participating laboratories (n = 88). The sample was value assigned for phenylalanine by the National Measurement Laboratory (NML) traceable to the international system of units (SI), at approximately the target value for dietary monitoring of phenylketonuria (360 µmol/L). Participants used their routine method of analysis to measure 24 amino acids in triplicate and results were compared against desirable analytical performance. Mean intra- and inter-laboratory variability were acceptable for 20/20 and 19/20 amino acids respectively. Mean bias relative to the consensus values was acceptable for 17/20 amino acids. Overall performance of phenylalanine was acceptable; however, 15/87 laboratories failed to meet acceptable imprecision and 8/87 had unacceptable bias; additionally, an overall negative bias for phenylalanine measurement was identified. This study demonstrates the importance of ensuring a matrix material with an assigned value of the analyte(s) of interest (traceable to the SI) is available for regular EQA. The significant bias in the routine measurement of phenylalanine identified has the potential to impact disease management, which aims to control blood phenylalanine concentrations for preventing adverse neurological outcomes.
Acromioclavicular dislocation associated with fracture of the coracoid process: a series of cases and review of the literature
Authors: Combalia Andrés , Combalia Maite , Muñoz-Mahamud Ernest
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Complete acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation associated with fracture of the coracoid process (CP) is uncommon. The strong coracoclavicular ligaments, instead of rupture, may avulse the CP near its base, and with disruption of the AC joint may allow complete dislocation of the clavicle. We report ten cases, one of the largest series in literature, and reviewed the findings and treatment previous reported cases, to allow potential readers to establish the most appropriate treatment.

Methods

We have prospectively collected those cases in which we had identified an association of an AC dislocation with a fracture of the CP, as well as retrospectively reviewed the records that were coded as AC dislocations and CP fracture looking for this association in the senior author institutions. A literature search was completed on PubMed, Web of Science and Scholar Google, using a sensitive search strategy.

Results

We have collected a total of ten patients with the association of a CP fracture to an AC dislocation in a period of twenty-five years. A review of the cases reported in literature shows a great variability in treatment methods from conservative to more surgically in recent years.

Conclusions

When an AC dislocation is identified by clinical examination and X-rays, one should be aware of a possible fracture of the CP. It is possible this association to be more frequent than shown in literature because of the CP fracture can easily be missed out or mistaken with an unfussed epiphysis in routine anteroposterior radiography. Multiple approaches have been opted for by surgeons to deal with this combined injury and are the basis of this review.
Aortic, musculoskeletal and organ characteristics on computed tomography in knee osteoarthritis – an explorative study in the IMI-APPROACH cohort
Authors: Harlianto Netanja I. , de Jong Pim A. , Foppen Wouter , Bennink Edwin , Bunk Stijn , Mastbergen Simon C. , Vorselaars Adriane D. M. , Voortman Mareye , Kloppenburg Margreet , Blanco Francisco J. , Haugen Ida K. , Berenbaum Francis , Popuri Karteek , Beg Mirza Faisal , Jansen Mylène P.
Published: February 2025

The systemic associations with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) are incompletely understood. This study explores aortic disease, musculoskeletal and organ findings in patients with KOA in relation to their symptoms or radiographic abnormalities. Full body computed tomography (CT) scans of 255 IMI-APPROACH participants were investigated using an automated analysis of multislice CT (Voronoi Health Analytics) that extracts aortic size and calcifications, and volumes and densities of bones, muscles, fat compartments and thoracic and abdominal organs. The CT measurements were primarily related to KOA as measured with Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), visual scores and automated knee radiograph analysis of osteophytes, bone sclerosis and joint space width. The median age was 67 years, body mass index (BMI) 26.8 kg/m2 and 78% were female. About half had Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 2. Larger knee osteophyte area was associated with a larger aortic volume (RSpearman=0.21,P = 0.001), which can be due to elongation or dilatation. We observed an association between more symptoms and increased psoas (RSpearman=-0.23,P < 0.001) and lower leg (RSpearman=-0.23,P < 0.001) muscle density, suggesting less microscopic muscle fat. Symptomatic KOA was associated with substantially lower lung volume (771 ml difference between 50% worst and 50% best WOMAC), but not with visible lung disease. Lung volume and density were significantly associated with the physical functioning WOMAC component. These associations remained significant after adjustment for age, sex and BMI. KOA is associated with significant systemic changes, including altered aortic and organ volumes. These correlations suggest that KOA’s impact may extend beyond the joints. Future research should explore the causal relationships and therapeutic implications associations.
Neurosurgical site infections: a retrospective monocentric study of pediatric brain tumor patients
Authors: Enrico Giorgia , Fusco Eleonora , Palmetti Matteo , Mussa Federico , Sardi Iacopo , Chiappini Elena , Galli Luisa , Venturini Elisabetta
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This retrospective monocentric study aims to describe the characteristics of neurosurgical site infections (n-SSI) in neurooncological pediatric patients. The primary goal was to assess infection rates and identify common pathogens in this population.

Methods

We considered pediatric patients (0–18 years) who underwent neurosurgery for brain tumors at Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Children with suspected/confirmed n-SSI were included. Data were retrospectively collected from patients’ medical records, and covered tumor and surgery type, presence of foreign bodies, microbiological findings, and treatment. Infections were classified into categories according to literature. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Of 352 children undergoing neurosurgery, 43 (12.22%) had suspected/confirmed n-SSI, with a confirmed infection rate of 4%. The most frequent n-SSI was postoperative meningitis (37.2%), followed by wound infections (25.6%). A foreign body was present in 74.4% of cases. The most prevalent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (40%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (33%). Lumbar puncture (LP) performed before antibiotics significantly increased pathogen isolation (p = 0.01). Most patients (95.3%) had fever, and 53.5% had CSF leakage. Antibiotic therapy was administered in all cases, and 65.1% required therapy adjustment. No significant correlation was found between foreign body and clinical symptoms or microbiological positivity.

Conclusion

The study reveals a high rate of n-SSI, emphasizing the importance of early diagnostic measures like LP to improve microbiological diagnosis and optimize antimicrobial treatment. The most frequent pathogen was S. aureus; however, the absence of methicillin-resistant strains is notable. These findings highlight the role of a multidisciplinary approach in managing n-SSI and the potential for n-SSI to delay adjuvant cancer treatments.
Association between lumbar paraspinal muscle activities and quality in chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Zhang Tianwei , Firouzabadi Ali , Becker Luis , Schönnagel Lukas , Yang Daishui , Liu Sihai , Arampatzis Adamantios , Reitmaier Sandra , Schmidt Hendrik
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the associations between electromyography (EMG) activity and key muscle quality parameters, including cross-sectional area (CSA), functional cross-sectional area (FCSA), fat area (FA), and fat infiltration (FI), in individuals with chronic low back pain (cLBP) and those without back pain (no-BP). The objective was to explore how variations in muscle quality affect muscle activation patterns in the erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF) muscles during a standardized lifting task in both groups.

Methods

A total of 102 participants were enrolled, comprising 60 individuals with cLBP and 42 without back pain. Muscle activation was measured using a bipolar wireless EMG system during the performance of a 10 kg lifting task. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to assess muscle quality indicators (CSA, FCSA, FA, and FI) at the L3 level for the ES muscle and the L5 level for the MF muscle. Linear regression models were applied to examine the associations between EMG activity and muscle quality metrics, with adjustments for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

Results

In the no-BP group, significant negative associations were found between CSA, FCSA, and EMG activity in the ES muscles (p < 0.05). However, in the cLBP group, no significant associations were observed between CSA or FCSA and EMG activity. Instead, there was a significant negative association between EMG activity and FA/FI in the ES muscles of the cLBP group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Muscle quality, particularly fat infiltration, appears to have a greater impact on the amplitude of muscle activities in cLBP patients compared to CSA and FCSA. In contrast to the no-BP group, CSA and FCSA were not significantly associated with muscle activation in the cLBP group, highlighting the need for rehabilitation strategies focused on reducing fat infiltration to improve muscle performance in these patients.
A national study of burnout, psychosocial work environment, and moral distress among neurosurgical doctors in Denmark
Authors: Jensen Thorbjørn Søren Rønn , Hakon Jakob , Olsen Markus Harboe , Gulisano Helga Angela , Obbekjær Tina , Poulsen Frantz Rom , Mathiesen Tiit Illimar
Published: February 2025

Background

Burnout is a condition of mental, emotional, and physical enervation affecting personnel working in human services and has been reported high among neurosurgical doctors. However, previous burnout reports are based on low response rates and measured by the Maslach Burnout inventory, which for several reasons has proven problematic. Burnout has not previously been investigated among neurosurgical doctors in Denmark. With this study we measure the prevalence of burnout among neurosurgical doctors in Denmark with sustainable methodology and a clinically relevant burnout interpretation.

Methods

Burnout was measured among neurosurgical doctors in Denmark using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) consisting of three subscales measuring personal burnout, work-related burnout and patient-related burnout. To gain better understanding of factors contributing to burnout, the psychosocial working conditions and moral distress was measured using the Danish Psychosocial Work Environment Questionnaire (DPQ) and a questionnaire of eight items previously used to assess moral distress.

Results

With 73 responders and a response rate of 90.1%, clinically relevant burnout was reported in 27.4% in personal burnout, 16.5% in work-related burnout and 5.5% in patient-related burnout. Cohort members with children living at home experienced a significant higher degree of burnout regarding work-related burnout and patient-related burnout.

Within the DPQ domains of ‘Demands at work’ and ‘Work organization and job content’, several moderate to strong correlations were observed between specific sub-dimensions and both personal and work-related burnout. Higher levels of the domain ‘Interpersonal relations’ was moderately correlated with lower levels of both personal and work-related burnout. In the testing of moral distress, only 2 responders (2.7%) scored as ‘somewhat injured’.

Conclusion

Neurosurgical doctors in Denmark report relatively low prevalence of clinically relevant burnout. However, doctors with children living at home exhibited higher levels of work- and patient-related burnout. Our findings highlight the psychosocial work environment as a significant factor contributing to burnout, while moral distress appears to have a limited impact on the development of burnout in the study population.
Higher-order thermal modeling and computational analysis of laser ablation in anisotropic cardiac tissue
Authors: Bianconi Federica , Leoni Massimiliano , Petras Argyrios , Schena Emiliano , Gerardo-Giorda Luca , Gizzi Alessio
Published: February 2025

Laser ablation techniques employ fast hyperthermia mechanisms for diseased-tissue removal, characterized by high selectivity, thus preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. The associated modeling approaches are based on classical Fourier-type laws, though a limited predictivity is observed, particularly at fast time scales. Moreover, limited knowledge is available for cardiac tissue compared to radiofrequency approaches. The present work proposes a comprehensive modeling approach for the computational investigation of the key factors involved in laser-based techniques and assessing the outcomes of induced cellular thermal damage in the cardiac context. The study encompasses a comparative finite element study involving various thermal and cellular damage models incorporating optical–thermal couplings, three-state cellular death dynamics, and a second-order heat transfer formulation generalizing the classical Fourier-based heat equation. A parametric investigation of the thermal profiles shows that higher-order models accurately capture temperature dynamics and lesion formation compared with the classical Fourier-based model. The results highlight the critical role of cardiac anisotropy, influencing the shape and extent of thermal damage, while the three-state cell death model effectively describes the transition from reversible to irreversible damage. These findings demonstrate the reliability of higher-order thermal formulations, laying the basis for future investigations of arrhythmia management via in silico approaches.
Constitutive neural networks for main pulmonary arteries: discovering the undiscovered
Authors: Vervenne Thibault , Peirlinck Mathias , Famaey Nele , Kuhl Ellen
Published: February 2025

Accurate modeling of cardiovascular tissues is crucial for understanding and predicting their behavior in various physiological and pathological conditions. In this study, we specifically focus on the pulmonary artery in the context of the Ross procedure, using neural networks to discover the most suitable material model. The Ross procedure is a complex cardiac surgery where the patient’s own pulmonary valve is used to replace the diseased aortic valve. Ensuring the successful long-term outcomes of this intervention requires a detailed understanding of the mechanical properties of pulmonary tissue. Constitutive artificial neural networks offer a novel approach to capture such complex stress–strain relationships. Here, we design and train different constitutive neural networks to characterize the hyperelastic, anisotropic behavior of the main pulmonary artery. Informed by experimental biaxial testing data under various axial-circumferential loading ratios, these networks autonomously discover the inherent material behavior, without the limitations of predefined mathematical models. We regularize the model discovery using cross-sample feature selection and explore its sensitivity to the collagen fiber distribution. Strikingly, we uniformly discover an isotropic exponential first-invariant term and an anisotropic quadratic fifth-invariant term. We show that constitutive models with both these terms can reliably predict arterial responses under diverse loading conditions. Our results provide crucial improvements in experimental data agreement, and enhance our understanding into the biomechanical properties of pulmonary tissue. The model outcomes can be used in a variety of computational frameworks of autograft adaptation, ultimately improving the surgical outcomes after the Ross procedure.
Long-term outcomes of volume de-escalation for breast nodal irradiation
Authors: Colciago Riccardo Ray , Ferrario Federica , Chissotti Chiara , Rossano Giulia , De Sanctis Lorenzo , Faccenda Valeria , Panizza Denis , Trivellato Sara , Arcangeli Stefano
Published: February 2025

Introduction

NCCN recommendations suggest irradiating chest wall/breast only + regional node irradiation (RNI) of the undissected axillary levels for node-positive breast cancer (BC) patients. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of node-positive BC patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) with a volume de-escalation at the level of axillary nodes.

Material and methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of node-positive BC patients treated with adjuvant RT administered following a conventional fractionation schedule using a 3D-conformal technique to the chest wall or breast and only the IV axillary level. The primary endpoint of the study was disease free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included loco-regional control (LRC), and Overall Survival (OS). Toxicity was documented according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria.

Results

A total cohort of 343 patients was analyzed. Loco-regional recurrence occurred in 100 (29.1%). The 5- and 10-year Kaplan-Meyer curves for DFS were 81.4% (95% CI: 79.3%–83.5%) and 60.9% (95% CI: 57.6%–64.5%), respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed that lymph node ratio (HR = 9.76, 95% CI: 3.12–30.53, p = 0.0001), Luminal B subtype (HR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.26–3.29, p = 0.004), and triple-negative subtype (HR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.22–5.99, p = 0.01) were significant predictors of poor DFS. Lymphedema in the ipsilateral arm was reported in 32 (9.3%) patients, primarily Grade 1 or 2.

Conclusions

Improved patients’ selection and a broader use of systemic therapy could make de-escalation a feasible option. However, this approach should be avoided in patients with extensive nodal involvement, specific molecular subtypes, or comorbidities that prevent the use of chemotherapy.
Synthesis and structure of a new ‘hybrid’ β-diketonato coumarin-chalcone ligand
Authors: Chandrasekar Lavanya , Flood James P. , Chang Yo-Cheng , Liu Evonne , Zhang Kenneth , Li Feng , Liu Wei-Min
Published: February 2025

Here, a new ‘hybrid’ β-diketonato ligand derived from the structure of coumarin and chalcone precursors, namely L, has been designed and synthesised, and the complete structural characterisation was achieved using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. Potential applications of this compound include metal detection and/or sensing, as well as potential bioactive functions.
On the usefulness of the fit-on-test view on evaluating calibration of classifiers
Authors: Kängsepp Markus , Valk Kaspar , Kull Meelis
Published: February 2025

Calibrated uncertainty estimates are essential for classifiers used in safety-critical applications. If a classifier is uncalibrated, then there is a unique way to calibrate its uncertainty using the idealistic true calibration map corresponding to this classifier. Although the true calibration map is typically unknown in practice, it can be estimated with many post-hoc calibration methods which fit some family of potential calibration functions on a validation dataset. This paper examines the connection between such post-hoc calibration methods and calibration evaluation. Despite the negative connotations of fitting on test data in machine learning, we claim that fitting calibration maps on test data as part of the calibration evaluation process is a method worth considering, and we refer to this view as fit-on-test. This view enables the usage of any post-hoc calibration method as an evaluation measure, unlocking missed opportunities in development of evaluation methods. We prove that even ECE, which is the most common calibration evaluation method, is actually a fit-on-test measure. This observation leads us to a new method of tuning the number of bins in ECE with cross-validation. Fitting on test data can lead to test-time overfitting, and therefore, we discuss the limitations and concerns with the fit-on-test view. Our contributions also include: (1) enhancement of reliability diagrams with diagonal filling; (2) development of new calibration map families PL and PL3; and (3) an experimental study of which families perform strongly both as post-hoc calibrators and calibration evaluators.
HIV-1 gp120 Interactions with Nicotine Modulate Mitochondrial Network Properties and Amyloid Release in Microglia
Authors: Graur Alexandru , Erickson Natalie , Sinclair Patricia , Nusir Aya , Kabbani Nadine
Published: February 2025

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections remain a significant public health burden globally with infected individuals at high risk for cognitive decline and memory loss even on combination antiretroviral therapy. Almost half of HIV infected individuals smoke, which drives poorer health outcomes including a higher dementia rate. Microglia are the brain’s immune cells that serve as a persistent HIV reservoir contributing to neuroinflammatory signaling. We examined interactions between the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 and nicotine within human microglia cells (HMC3) that endogenously express chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) shows that gp120 alters mitochondria proteins within HMC3 cells. In the presence of nicotine, gp120 increased the expression of mitochondrial prohibitin 2 (PHB2), cytochrome c (cyt c), and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) but decreased fission 1 (FIS1) levels. An analysis of mito-YFP expression confirms that interaction between nicotine and gp120 increases the size and branching of mitochondrial networks. Interaction between nicotine and gp120 is also surprisingly found to promote the release of amyloid precursor protein (APP) peptides from microglia. This was accompanied by visualization of amyloid containing vesicles that colocalized with the autophagy protein LC3B-II in the cell. Taken together, our findings show that interaction between nicotine and gp120 impact microglia in a manner that regulates mitochondrial proteins and network properties and impacts amyloid protein management and release within microglia. These mechanisms may contribute to understanding neuroinflammatory signaling in smokers with HIV.