bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anal canal to pubis angle: a novel clinical ultrasound technique for the assessment of the anorectal region
Authors: Asfour Victoria , Gibbs Kayleigh , Wertheim David , Digesu Giuseppe Alessandro , Fernando Ruwan , Khullar Vik 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis
Posterior compartment prolapse is associated with severe morbidity including faecal incontinence and defaecation dysfunction. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a novel ultrasound marker (anal canal to pubis angle) for the assessment of the anal axis in the context of posterior compartment prolapse in women and in controls (healthy, nulliparous, non-pregnant volunteers).

Methods
Anal canal to pubis (AC/Pubis) angle is measured with 2D transperineal ultrasound in precisely the midsagittal plane. The image was inverted and zoomed out and the angle opened to 107° (maximum). The image includes the pubis, urethra and anal canal. The angle measurement starts from the anal canal, pivots on the anorectal junction and ends at the shadow of the pubis. Inter- and intra-observer agreement in AC/Pubis angle measurement was assessed and the angles measured in the two groups compared.

Results
Forty women with posterior prolapse and 17 controls were included. Close agreement was observed in inter- and intra-observer AC/Pubis angle measurements assessed with Bland-Altman analysis. AC/Pubis angle is significantly wider in prolapse patients compared to controls (t-test, p < 0.001), with mean AC/Pubis angle in prolapse patients 122.9° (SD 15.6°) and controls 98.2° (SD 15.9°).

Conclusion
The AC/Pubis angle is a novel validated 2D ultrasound technique for the assessment of the anorectal axis that potentially can be performed using equipment that is widely available in routine clinical practice. The AC/Pubis angle is significantly wider in prolapse patients compared to controls.
Myopietherapie und Prophylaxe mit „Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments“-Brillengläsern
Authors: Kaymak Hakan , Graff Birte , Neller Kai , Langenbucher Achim , Seitz Berthold , Schwahn Hartmut 
Published: July 2021

ZusammenfassungEin übermäßiges Längenwachstum des Auges bei Kindern und Jugendlichen führt zu progredienter Myopie, die im Erwachsenenalter schwerwiegende Augenerkrankungen zur Folge haben kann. Es wurden bereits verschiedene Strategien zur Hemmung der Myopieprogression entwickelt. Das vorgestellte neuartige Einstärkenbrillenglas mit „Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS)“-Technologie erweitert das Portfolio der Myopietherapien um eine leicht anzuwendende nichtinvasive Option. Erste Studien dazu liefern vielversprechende Ergebnisse bei sehr geringem Nebenwirkungsprofil.
Vergleichende Analyse der Refraktions- und Topographieveränderungen nach Augenmuskeloperationen
Authors: Mehlan J. , Thormählen H. , Casagrande M. K. , Lachmann E. S. , Druchkiv V. , Bittersohl D. , Spitzer M. , Schüttauf F. 
Published: July 2021

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Über die Frage, ob nach Augenmuskeloperationen Refraktions- oder Topographieveränderungen zu erwarten sind, besteht weitestgehend Unklarheit.

Material und Methoden
In der vorliegenden Studie wurden prä- sowie postoperativ von 229 Augen objektive Refraktion, Pentacam (Fa. Oculus, Menlo Park, CA, USA) und Visus erhoben und analysiert. Die Untersuchung erfolgte präoperativ, am ersten postoperativen Tag sowie nach 3 Monaten.

Ergebnisse
Nach Operationen an einem sowie 2 geraden Augenmuskeln bestehen signifikante Veränderungen des Astigmatismus (p < 0,001), jedoch normalisiert sich dieser nach 3 Monaten wieder auf das präoperative Niveau. Ebenso war dieser Verlauf nach kombinierten Operationen von geraden und schrägen Augenmuskeln zu belegen.

Schlussfolgerung
Es lässt sich daher postulieren, dass eine umfangreiche Aufklärung von Patienten hinsichtlich passagerer Veränderungen des Zylinders insbesondere bei Beteiligung gerader Augenmuskeln unabdingbar ist und postoperativ eine ergänzende Refraktions- und Topographiekontrolle bei mangelnder Visusrehabilitation sinnvoll sein kann.
Does perceptual grouping improve visuospatial working memory? Optimized processing or encoding bias
Authors: Prieto Antonio , Peinado Vanesa , Mayas Julia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractVisual working memory has been defined as a system of limited capacity that enables the maintenance and manipulation of visual information. However, some perceptual features like Gestalt grouping could improve visual working memory effectiveness. In two different experiments, we aimed to explore how the presence of elements grouped by color similarity affects the change detection performance of both, grouped and non-grouped items. We combined a change detection task with a retrocue paradigm in which a six item array had to be remembered. An always valid, variable-delay retrocue appeared in some trials during the retention interval, either after 100 ms (iconic-trace period) or 1400 ms (working memory period), signaling the location of the probe. The results indicated that similarity grouping biased the information entered into the visual working memory, improving change detection accuracy only for previously grouped probes, but hindering change detection for non-grouped probes in certain conditions (Exp. 1). However, this bottom-up automatic encoding bias was overridden when participants were explicitly instructed to ignore grouped items as they were irrelevant for the task (Exp. 2).
Clinical predictors of shunt response in the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Thavarajasingam Santhosh G. , El-Khatib Mahmoud , Rea Mark , Russo Salvatore , Lemcke Johannes , Al-Nusair Lana , Vajkoczy Peter 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Positive shunt response (SR) remains the gold standard for diagnosing idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). However, multiple pathologies mimic iNPH symptoms, making it difficult to select patients who will respond to shunt surgery. Although presenting features, extended lumbar drainage (ELD), infusion test (IT), intracranial pressure monitoring (ICPM), and tap test (TT) have been used to predict SR, uncertainty remains over which diagnostic test to choose.

Objective
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify clinical predictors of shunt responsiveness, evaluate their diagnostic effectiveness, and recommend the most effective diagnostic tests.

Methods
Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and JSTOR were searched for original studies investigating clinical predictors of SR in iNPH patients. Included studies were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool, and eligible studies were evaluated using univariate and bivariate meta-analyses.

Results
Thirty-five studies were included. Nine studies discussed the diagnostic use of presenting clinical features, 8 studies ELD, 8 studies IT, 11 studies ICPM, and 6 studies TT. A meta-analysis of 21 eligible studies was conducted for TT, ELD, IT, and ICPM. ICPM yielded the highest diagnostic effectiveness, with diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) = 50.9 and area under curve (AUC) = 0.836. ELD yielded DOR = 27.70 and AUC = 0.753, IT had DOR = 5.70 and AUC = 0.729, and TT scored DOR = 3.86 and AUC = 0.711.

Conclusion
Intraparenchymal ICPM is statistically the most effective diagnostic test, followed by ELD, IT, and lastly TT. Due to the higher accessibility of TT and IT, they are recommended to be used first line, using a timed-up-and-go improvement ≥ 5.6 s or a Rout cut-off range between 13 and 16 mmHg, respectively. Patients who test negative should ideally be followed up with ICPM, using mean ICP wave amplitude $$\ge$$
≥
4 mmHg, or 1- to 4-day ELD with an MMSE cut-off improvement $$\ge$$
≥
3. Future research must use standardized methodologies for each diagnostic test and uniform criteria for SR to allow better comparison.
Co-design of avatars to embody auditory hallucinations of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: García Arturo S. , Fernández-Sotos Patricia , Vicente-Querol Miguel A. , Sánchez-Reolid Roberto , Rodriguez-Jimenez Roberto , Fernández-Caballero Antonio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAuditory hallucinations are common and distressing symptoms of the schizophrenia disease. It is commonly treated with pharmacological approaches but, unfortunately, such an approach is not effective in all patients. In the cases in which the use of antipsychotic drugs is not possible or not recommended, psychotherapeutic interventions are used to help patients gain power and control against hearing voices. Recently, virtual reality technologies have been incorporated to this type of therapies. A virtual representation of their voice (avatar) is created in a controlled computer-based environment, and the patient is encouraged to confront it. Unfortunately, the software tools used in these therapies are not described in depth and, even more important, to the best of our knowledge, their usability, utility and intention to use by therapists, and patients have not been evaluated enough. The involvement of end users in the software development is beneficial in obtaining useful and usable tools. Hence, the two contributions of this paper are (1) the description of an avatar creation system and the main technical details of the configuration of auditory hallucination avatars, and (2) its evaluation from both the therapists’ and the patients’ viewpoints. The evaluation does not only focus on usability, but also assesses the acceptance of the technology as an important indicator of the future use of a new technological tool. Moreover, the most important results, the lessons learned and the main limitations of our study are discussed.
Production losses due to mortality associated with modifiable health risk factors in Poland
Authors: Łyszczarz Błażej , Sowa Karolina 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Epidemiological burden of modifiable mortality risk factors is recognized in literature; however, less is known on the economic losses due to a range of such risks.

Aim
To estimate production losses (indirect cost) of mortality associated with risk factors as classified in Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study in Poland in years 2000, 2010, and 2017.

Methods
We relied on the human capital method and societal perspective and used sex-, age-, region-, and risk-specific data on mortality due to modifiable risk factors and a set of socio-economic measures.

Results
The production losses due to mortality attributable to all investigated risk factors accounted for 19.6–21.0 billion PLN (Polish zloty; 2017 exchange rate: 1€ = 4.26 PLN) and 1.44–2.45% of gross domestic product, depending on year. Behavioural factors were the most important contributor to overall burden (16.7–18.2 billion PLN), followed by metabolic factors (6.8–7.6 billion PLN) and environmental and occupational factors (3.0–3.5 billion PLN). Of disaggregated risks, alcohol and tobacco, high systolic blood pressure, and dietary risks proved to lead to the highest losses. Cost per death was greatest for child and maternal malnutrition, followed by intimate partner violence and childhood sexual abuse and bullying. Moreover, a notable regional variation of indirect cost was identified with losses ranging from 1.21 to 1.81% of regional gross domestic product in 2017.

Conclusion
Our findings provide economically hierarchised list of modifiable risk factors and they contribute to inform policy-makers in prioritizing programmes to improve health.
The multiform sonographic spectrum of arterial duct in right aortic arch
Authors: Chiappa Enrico , Ridolfi Cecilia , Cordisco Adalgisa 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTo study the different characteristics of arterial duct (AD) in a series of prenatally detected right aortic arch (RAA). Out of 832 congenital heart diseases (CHD) referred to a tertiary center, 98 cases had RAA. Based on anatomical landmarks we identified 7 types of AD: type 1 left-sided, transverse; type 2 left-sided, vertical; type 3 from the underside of aortic arch (AA), vertical; type 4 right-sided, mirror-image “V”, transverse; type 5 right-sided, “H” shaped, transverse; type 6 bilateral; type 7 absent or unidentifiable. For each type of AD the incidence of associated major CHD was calculated and chi-square test was applied to verify the null hypothesis with significance level of p < 0.05. Type 1 occurred in 43% of cases including 4 with CHD and no cases with pulmonary outflow obstruction (POO). Symptoms of vascular ring were present in 41% of survivors. Type 2, 3 and 7 AD were associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or equivalents. No type 5 AD with CHD had POO and 3 isolated cases had asymptomatic hypoplasia of left pulmonary artery (LPA). Two type 6 AD had disconnection of LPA. Type 1 occurred more often as an isolated finding (p < 0.001), whereas types 2 (p = 0.0026), 3 (p = 0.0045), 4 (p = 0.0325) and 7 (p = 0.0001) were frequently associated with major CHD. In RAA, type 1 (U-shaped) is usually an isolated finding (p < 0.001) which includes all symptomatic vascular rings. POO is always present when the AD is vertical or absent but not when it lies on a transverse plane. Bilateral AD is rare and brings the risk of functionary loss of left lung if not identified.
Data-driven detection of counterpressing in professional football
Authors: Bauer Pascal , Anzer Gabriel 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDetecting counterpressing is an important task for any professional match-analyst in football (soccer), but is being done exclusively manually by observing video footage. The purpose of this paper is not only to automatically identify this strategy, but also to derive metrics that support coaches with the analysis of transition situations. Additionally, we want to infer objective influence factors for its success and assess the validity of peer-created rules of thumb established in by practitioners. Based on a combination of positional and event data we detect counterpressing situations as a supervised machine learning task. Together, with professional match-analysis experts we discussed and consolidated a consistent definition, extracted 134 features and manually labeled more than 20, 000 defensive transition situations from 97 professional football matches. The extreme gradient boosting model—with an area under the curve of $$87.4\%$$

87.4
%

on the labeled test data—enabled us to judge how quickly teams can win the ball back with counterpressing strategies, how many shots they create or allow immediately afterwards and to determine what the most important success drivers are. We applied this automatic detection on all matches from six full seasons of the German Bundesliga and quantified the defensive and offensive consequences when applying counterpressing for each team. Automating the task saves analysts a tremendous amount of time, standardizes the otherwise subjective task, and allows to identify trends within larger data-sets. We present an effective way of how the detection and the lessons learned from this investigation are integrated effectively into common match-analysis processes.
A methodological critique of research on parent-initiated mathematics activities and young children’s attainment
Authors: Andrews Paul , Petersson Jöran , Sayers Judy 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this paper, motivated by the desire to understand which forms of parent-initiated activity are productively implicated in young children’s mathematics learning, we present a methodological critique of recent research. Many such studies, based on assumptions that parent-initiated activities can be categorised as formal or informal, direct or indirect, or advanced or basic, exploit surveys to elicit how frequently parents engage their children in various predetermined activities. While such survey data have the potential to yield important insights, the analytical procedures typically employed prevent them. Studies involving factor analyses yield uninterpretable factors, which are then used to create summative variables based on the scores of individual activities. Other studies, drawing on untested preconceptions, simply create summative variables. In all cases, these summative variables are based on such a wide range of qualitatively different activities that labels like formal or informal become arbitrary and the potential of individual activities to support learning gets lost beneath colleagues’ desires for statistical significance. In closing, we ask colleagues, albeit somewhat rhetorically, what is the purpose of such research? Is it to identify those activities that support learning or to offer statistically robust factors, which, due to the diversity of activities embedded within them, offer few useful insights?
Assessing Habitat Suitability for Native and Alien Freshwater Mussels in the River Waal (the Netherlands), Using Hydroacoustics and Species Sensitivity Distributions
Authors: Flores N. Y. , Collas F. P. L. , Mehler K. , Schoor M. M. , Feld C. K. , Leuven R. S. E. W. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLongitudinal training dams (LTDs) in the river Waal are novel river training structures that protect the littoral zone from the adverse effects of navigation providing new habitats for riverine macroinvertebrates. In order to inform river management and to better understand their ecological value for native and alien mussel species, it is important to assess the habitat suitability of the protected LTD shore channels. We applied spatial hydroacoustics surveys consisting of side-scan sonar (SSS) and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) of the substrate type, water depth and flow velocity in three shore channels in combination with species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) to predict habitat suitability for native and alien mussel species. SSDs allowed for the prediction of habitat suitability as a potentially occurring fraction (POF) of a species pool. High substrate type, water depth, and near-bottom flow velocity POFs were found for ≥ 70%, 100%, and 4–51% of the total shore channel area, respectively, suggesting that shore channels provide suitable habitat for both native and alien mussel species. To enhance the shore channels as habitat for native mussel species, we recommend increasing shallow areas dominated by fine (silt/clay) and sand substrate types with low near-bottom flow velocities (near 0 m/s). In contrast, the total area of hard substrate (e.g., boulders) in the shore channels should be reduced as it strongly favored invasive alien mussel species in our study. Future research should include additional abiotic parameters to enhance the habitat suitability predictions and compare the results for different riverine habitats.
Transcriptional study reveals a potential leptin-dependent gene regulatory network in zebrafish brain
Authors: Ahi Ehsan Pashay , Tsakoumis Emmanouil , Brunel Mathilde , Schmitz Monika 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe signal mediated by leptin hormone and its receptor is a major regulator of body weight, food intake and metabolism. In mammals and many teleost fish species, leptin has an anorexigenic role and inhibits food intake by influencing the appetite centres in the hypothalamus. However, the regulatory connections between leptin and downstream genes mediating its appetite-regulating effects are still not fully explored in teleost fish. In this study, we used a loss of function leptin receptor zebrafish mutant and real-time quantitative PCR to assess brain expression patterns of several previously identified anorexigenic genes downstream of leptin signal under different feeding conditions (normal feeding, 7-day fasting, 2 and 6-h refeeding). These downstream factors include members of cart genes, crhb and gnrh2, as well as selected genes co-expressed with them based on a zebrafish co-expression database. Here, we found a potential gene expression network (GRN) comprising the abovementioned genes by a stepwise approach of identifying co-expression modules and predicting their upstream regulators. Among the transcription factors (TFs) predicted as potential upstream regulators of this GRN, we found expression pattern of sp3a to be correlated with transcriptional changes of the downstream gene network. Interestingly, the expression and transcriptional activity of Sp3 orthologous gene in mammals have already been implicated to be under the influence of leptin signal. These findings suggest a potentially conserved regulatory connection between leptin and sp3a, which is predicted to act as a transcriptional driver of a downstream gene network in the zebrafish brain.
Beyond cultural and geographical proximity: delving into the factors that influence the dynamics of academic relationships between students in higher education
Authors: Tomás-Miquel José-Vicente , Capó-Vicedo Jordi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractScholars have widely recognised the importance of academic relationships between students at the university. While much of the past research has focused on studying their influence on different aspects such as the students’ academic performance or their emotional stability, less is known about their dynamics and the factors that influence the formation and dissolution of linkages between university students in academic networks. In this paper, we try to shed light on this issue by exploring through stochastic actor-oriented models and student-level data the influence that a set of proximity factors may have on formation of these relationships over the entire period in which students are enrolled at the university. Our findings confirm that the establishment of academic relationships is derived, in part, from a wide range of proximity dimensions of a social, personal, geographical, cultural and academic nature. Furthermore, and unlike previous studies, this research also empirically confirms that the specific stage in which the student is at the university determines the influence of these proximity factors on the dynamics of academic relationships. In this regard, beyond cultural and geographic proximities that only influence the first years at the university, students shape their relationships as they progress in their studies from similarities in more strategic aspects such as academic and personal closeness. These results may have significant implications for both academic research and university policies.
Camera-Based Tracking of Floating Objects using Fixed-wing UAVs
Authors: Helgesen Håkon Hagen , Bryne Torleiv H. , Wilthil Erik F. , Johansen Tor Arne 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis article concerns tracking of floating objects using fixed-wing UAVs with a monocular thermal camera. Target tracking from an agile aerial vehicle is challenging because uncertainty in the UAV pose negatively affects the accuracy of the measurements obtained through thermal images. Consequently, the accuracy of the tracking estimates is degraded if navigation uncertainty is neglected. This is especially relevant for the estimated target covariance since inconsistency is a likely consequence. A tracking system based on the Schmidt-Kalman filter is proposed to mitigate navigation uncertainty. Images gathered with an uncertain UAV pose are weighted less than images captured with a reliable pose. The UAV pose is estimated independently in a multiplicative extended Kalman filter where the estimated covariance matrix is a measure of the uncertainty. The method is compared experimentally with two traditional alternatives based on the extended Kalman filter. The results show that the proposed method performs better with respect to consistency and accuracy.