bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retrograde Thoracic Duct Embolisation in an Idiopathic Case of Chylopericardium
Authors: Mak Renata Kiri , Fung Hon Shing , Chan Tak Kwong , Chum Hoi Leong 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This is a novel case of idiopathic chylopericardium and chylothorax in a young gentleman with good past health. He first presented with dyspnea due to idiopathic chylopericardium, which was refractory to medical and surgical treatments, including medium chain triglyceride diet, octreotide, and video-assisted pericardial window. Chylopericardium persisted and progressed to concomitant left-sided chylothorax. He subsequently went through multiple imaging studies, including lymphoscintigraphy and an intranodal lymphangiogram, both of which confirmed a leakage in the thoracic duct. Finally, thoracic duct embolisation was performed via retrograde transvenous approach, which was successful with durable results. Idiopathic chylopericardium and chylothorax is extremely rare, but this case illustrates that it is an entity that can greatly impact the patient’s quality of life if left undiagnosed and untreated. While surgery can relieve cardiac tamponade, lymphatic imaging and intervention was key in diagnosing and treating the root cause of the condition. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary efforts in managing rare cases, and how interventional radiology offers a minimally invasive but effective way of treating thoracic duct leakage. Retrograde thoracic duct embolisation is technically challenging but safe and effective.
Rapid diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniosis using antibody-conjugated gold Nanoparticles in comparison with molecular and parasitological methods
Authors: Hadipour Mahboubeh , Saberi Sedigheh , Mohebali Mehdi , Shakibapour Mahshid , Darani Hossein Yousofi , Abdellahi Latife 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Cutaneous leishmaniosis with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations is caused by the Leishmania parasites. For laboratory diagnosis using parasitological methods, patients’lesion biopsies are either examined under the microscope following appropriate staining or culture in a relevant medium. Although these methods are effective in the early stages of infection, they don’t yield enough sensitivity in chronic cases. Molecular methods usually have a high level of sensitivity and specificity but with the need for lab equipment, they are not suitable for field diagnosis. So, it is important to develop a rapid and point-of-care test to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Method
In this work a lateral flow test for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniosis was developed. For evaluation of the test, thirty-eight patient samples with a clinical suggestion of CL were collected and examined using direct microscopy, culture, and PCR and then with the developed lateral flow test.
Results
Considering Microscopic examination, 28 out of 38 samples were positive and 10 out of 38 were negative. From 28 positive samples, 24, 26, and 26 became positive by cultivation, PCR, and lateral flow test respectively. From negative samples, 1 was positive with the lateral flow test. Considering microscopic results as the gold standard, the sensitivity of %92, %92, and %85 was estimated for lateral flow, molecular, and culture methods respectively.
Conclusion
The lateral flow test is a very rapid and easy test for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniosis especially in rural areas with fewer lab facilities.
Topical Tacrolimus Orabase Versus Topical Clobetasol Propionate Orabase in the Treatment of Symptomatic Oral Lichen Planus: a Pilot Randomized Study
Authors: Schroeder F. M.M. , Pedraça E. S. , Palma V. M. , Carrard V. C. , Martins M. A.T. , Maito F. L.D.M. , Lisbôa D. Q.M. , Visioli Fernanda 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objectives
This pilot study aimed to compare the efficacy of 0.1% tacrolimus and 0.05% clobetasol propionate in orabase for treating symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP).
Materials and Methods
Pilot, randomized, and controlled study conducted on 21 patients with symptomatic OLP, selected according to the clinical and histopathological criteria of Cheng et al. 2016. Twelve patients received 0.1% tacrolimus, and nine received 0.05% clobetasol, both in orabase for 30 days with a two-month follow-up. The patients were examined for scores of signs (ODSS), symptoms (VAS), quality of life (OHIP-14), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Scale), and treatment satisfaction (Hedonic Scale).
Results
Both treatments were effective in reducing ODSS, VAS, and Beck Anxiety Scale scores and performed well on the hedonic scale, yet without statistical difference between them. However, at the 1-month follow-up, patients in group C showed a greater percentage reduction in ODSS score compared to baseline by 50% (p = 0.02) and significantly lower average values (p = 0.03) than those in group T. Longitudinal intragroup analysis revealed significant improvements over time in both groups for ODSS, and only in the tacrolimus group for OHIP-14 and Beck scores.
Conclusions
Two tested protocols were effective over a three-month follow-up. However, due to the lower cost of clobetasol propionate it can be considered the first-choice option. Tacrolimus in orabase formulation may be a promising alternative for refractory lesions that do not respond to topical steroids.
Clinical Relevance
Managing symptomatic OLP is challenging. Comparisons between tacrolimus and clobetasol propionate in orabase formulations have not yet been thoroughly explored.
Strain Rate Influence on Flexural and Tensile Tests of Polymer-based Multilayer Packaging
Authors: Amorim Felipe , Reis João , Mattos Heraldo , Chianelli Rafael , Landin Fabrício 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study aims to develop and analyze the mechanical properties of a composite material made from carton packaging, with its composition being 100% waste, thus eliminating the addition of resin or fiber, making it an accessible and low-cost composite. Carton packaging, made of low-density polyethylene, aluminum, and paper, was created to store and preserve food characteristics for extended periods without the need for refrigeration during storage and transport. Additionally, being lightweight, it facilitates product transportation. Due to the fact that carton packaging consists of multiple layers of different materials, its demand for recycling is lower due to the detailed recycling process, which can lead to improper disposal in the environment. Based on these experimental results, it is proposed an analytical model to describe the tensile and the flexural behavior. The models allow the estimation of the stress vs. strain curves for any strain rate within specific limits \(\:{\dot{\epsilon\:}}_{min}\) and \(\:{\dot{\epsilon\:}}_{max}\). Since carton packaging is disposable after use, it is extremely important to find ways to reuse the waste, aiming to increase its recycling and develop a composite that is useful to society.
Floral Precision: Investigating Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Flowering with High Throughput Field Phenotyping and Object Detection
Authors: Oppliger Corina , Keller Beat , Zenkl Radek , Walter Achim 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Flowering is one of the most important and sensitive process throughout a plants life as it marks the start of the reproductive phase. Therefore, phenotyping the continuous development of flowering is crucial for crop breeding. For phenotyping, visual ratings have been a standard method for decades, to observe flowering dynamics by determining timepoints, such as start, end or duration. However, high throughput field phenotyping (HTFP) methods have emerged, providing an objective and efficient approach. We developed an approach that allows to collect detailed data not only about pea flowering dynamics, but additionally flower intensity (flowers per area). For this purpose, an object detection model, based on YOLOv8 was trained on RGB-images. The images were automatically acquired by the field phenotyping platform (FIP) of ETH Z¨urich for 12 pea breeding lines over two years.
Results
The trained model reached high accuracy for open flower detection, which allowed to monitor flower dynamics and intensity over time. Flower intensity throughout the development of the plants was highly correlated (R2= 0.967) to ground truth data taken in the field. Clear differences in timing, intensity of flowering and fruiting efficiency were detected between breeding lines and years. Furthermore, high correlation between maximal flower numbers and yield components such as seed amount were observed.
Conclusion
This automated, data-driven method of flower detection proved itself as a reliable tool. This is promising for the use of RGB imaging methods to objectively assess not only timing but also flower intensity. Flower intensity allows to predict seed amount and has therefore potential as selection trait in breeding program. In addition, fruiting efficiency could be included in breeding programs.
Refining Brain Stimulation Therapies: An Active Learning Approach to Personalization
Authors: Sendi Mohammad , Cole Eric , Piallat Brigitte , Ellis Charles , Eggers Thomas , Laxpati Nealen , Mahmoudi Babak , Gutekunst Claire-Anne , Devergnas Annaelle , Mayberg Helen , Gross Robert , Calhoun Vince 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Brain stimulation holds promise for treating brain disorders, but personalizing therapy remains challenging. Effective treatment requires establishing a functional link between stimulation parameters and brain response, yet traditional methods like random sampling (RS) are inefficient and costly. To overcome this, we developed an active learning (AL) framework that identifies optimal relationships between stimulation parameters and brain response with fewer experiments. We validated this framework through three experiments: (1) in silico modeling with synthetic data from a Parkinson’s disease model, (2) in silico modeling with real data from a non-human primate, and (3) in vivo modeling with a real-time rat optogenetic stimulation experiment. In each experiment, we compared AL models to RS models, using various query strategies and stimulation parameters (amplitude, frequency, pulse width). AL models consistently outperformed RS models, achieving lower error on unseen test data in silico (p<0.0056, N=1000) and in vivo (p=0.0036, N=20). This approach represents a significant advancement in brain stimulation, potentially improving both research and clinical applications by making them more efficient and effective. Our findings suggest that AL can substantially reduce the cost and time required for developing personalized brain stimulation therapies, paving the way for more effective and accessible treatments for brain disorders.
Solar-wind Modelling: The Importance of Boundary Evolution
Authors: Owens Mathew , Barnard Luke , Arge Charles 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The solar wind is a continual outflow of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's upper atmosphere -- the corona -- that expands to fills the solar system. Variability in the near-Earth solar-wind conditions can produce adverse space weather that impacts ground- and space-based technologies. Consequently, numerical fluid models of the solar wind are used to forecast conditions a few days ahead. The inner-boundary conditions are supplied by observationally-constrained models of the corona. While solar eruptions -- coronal mass ejections (CMEs) -- are treated as time-dependent structures, a single coronal ''snapshot'' is typically used to determine the ambient solar-wind structure through which CMEs propagate. Thus, all available time-history information from previous coronal-model solutions is discarded and the solar wind is treated as a steady-state flow, unchanging in the rotating frame of the Sun. In this study, we use one year of daily-updated coronal-model solutions to comprehensively compare steady-state solar-wind modelling with a time-dependent method. We demonstrate, for the first time, how the SS approach can fundamentally misrepresent the accuracy of coronal models. We also attribute three key problems with current space-weather forecasting directly to the steady-state approach: (1) the seemingly paradoxical result that forecasts based on observations from 3-days previous are more accurate than forecasts based on the most recent observations; (2) high inconsistency, with forecasts for a given day jumping significantly as new observations become available and changing CME propagation times by up to 17 hours; and (3) insufficient variability in the heliospheric magnetic field, which controls solar energetic particle propagation to Earth. The time-dependent approach is shown to alleviate all three issues. It provides a consistent, physical solution which more accurately represents the information present in the coronal models. By incorporating the time history in the solar wind along the Sun-Earth line, the time-dependent approach will provide improvements to forecasting CME propagation to Earth.
Integrating Blockchain with Big Data for Secure Data Sharing: A Comprehensive Methodology
Authors: Hooda Akash , Hooda Arju , Yadav Disha 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In today’s data-driven world, the volume of data managed by organizations is growing rapidly, presenting significant challenges in ensuring data security, integrity, and scalability. While blockchain technology offers robust security features, such as immutability and decentralization, it struggles with scalability issues, particularly in high-throughput environments. Conversely, big data frameworks like Hadoop and Spark excel in handling large datasets efficiently but often lack strong security mechanisms.
This research proposes a hybrid architecture that integrates the security of blockchain with the scalability of big data frameworks, creating a system capable of securely managing vast amounts of data in real-time. The architecture includes advanced encryption methods, off-chain data management, and seamless integration with existing big data tools, making it suitable for industries such as healthcare, finance, and IoT. Through a comprehensive methodology involving literature review, requirement analysis, architectural design, and performance evaluation, the study demonstrates that this hybrid approach significantly enhances both security and scalability, offering a future-ready solution for secure data sharing across various sectors.
A Systematic Review of Mendelian Randomization Studies on Celiac Disease.
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Agbareia Reem , Nassar Salih , Omar Mohammad , Naffaa Mohammad E. , Lahat Adi , Sharif Kassem 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background and Objective: Mendelian randomization (MR) has become an important tool in epidemiology, used to infer causal relationships diseases. This review aims to consolidate existing MR evidence concerning celiac disease (CeD).
Methods: We systematically searched major databases up to May 2024, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Only MR studies explicitly investigating CeD were included. We assessed the quality of each study based on the strength, independence, and exclusivity of the instrumental variables used.
Results: From an initial pool of 207 articles, 35 met our inclusion criteria. These studies frequently addressed the relationship between CeD and autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and explored connections with gut microbiota, various cancers, and metabolic disorders. Significant findings highlight a robust bi-directional association between IBD and CeD and complex interactions with gut microbiota. Notably, many associations reported were near the threshold of clinical significance.
Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the dual nature of current MR evidence on CeD. On one hand, we observe consistent associations between CeD, IBDs, and gut microbiota. On the other, there is a plethora of weaker associations that raise critical questions about their clinical and research significance. This work lays a solid foundation for deeper investigations into these weaker links, particularly in relation to lymphomas and psychiatric conditions. It calls for an expanded use of MR and other methodologies to explore under-researched areas.
Exploring the Determinants of Patient Satisfaction in Emergency Healthcare: Evidence from Irish EDs
Authors: Swallmeh Esmat , Abo-Hamad Waleed , Rashwan Wael 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Patient satisfaction is a crucial indicator of healthcare quality, particularly in emergency departments (EDs), and it influences both clinical outcomes and institutional reputation. In Ireland, despite the significant challenges faced by these settings, including long waiting times and resource constraints, patient satisfaction in EDs has not been thoroughly explored. This article aimed to determine the key indicators influencing patient satisfaction in an Irish Emergency Department (ED).
Methods
This study was conducted in the ED of an adult teaching hospital in Ireland, utilising a patient satisfaction survey distributed to individuals aged 16 and above who visited the ED. The patient satisfaction determinants were evaluated by estimating multivariate models using PLS analysis to test hypotheses and examine the associations between patient satisfaction dimensions and overall patients’ satisfaction as a dependent outcome measure.
Results
The analysis revealed that patient satisfaction is significantly and positively influenced by the dimensions of information, responsiveness, and assurance. These findings are crucial for understanding and improving healthcare quality. Interestingly, reliability was found to have a negative impact on patient satisfaction. However, it was also found to play a mediating role in the relationship between information and patient satisfaction, highlighting the complex dynamics of patient satisfaction. The dimensions of tangibility and empathy were not significantly associated with overall satisfaction. The expected mediation effect of responsiveness on reliability and satisfaction was not supported.
Conclusion
The findings of this study offer valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers. By emphasizing the critical importance of improving the quality of information provided to patients, addressing issues related to reliability, and enhancing responsiveness, this study provides practical guidance for enhancing patient satisfaction in emergency care settings. These factors are crucial in meeting patient expectations and boosting overall satisfaction. Continuous monitoring and targeted interventions are recommended to ensure that patient satisfaction levels are maintained and improved in the dynamic environment of emergency care. Implementing these strategies can lead to better patient experiences, improved clinical outcomes, and a stronger institutional reputation.
Multimodality imaging features of orbital Necrobiotic Xantogranuloma (XNG)
Authors: Shadmani Ghazal 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis that primarily manifests as skin lesions and is often associated with hematologic disorders, particularly monoclonal gammopathy. The orbit is the most common site of extracutaneous involvement in NXG. Since its first description in 1980, the molecular pathology and dermatologic characteristics of NXG have been extensively studied. However, there is no comprehensive multimodality description of the imaging features of orbital NXG in the literature. This study aimed to describe the imaging features of NXG and provide a brief overview of the imaging differentials.
Patient presentation
: A 16-year-old young man with an underlying immunologic imbalance was referred to our center for evaluation of a 9-year history of a slowly growing right orbital mass, which resulted in vision loss in his right eye. His medical history included systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (sJRA) and a genetic abnormality that predisposed him to immunologic imbalance. To further characterize the orbital lesion, CT, MRI, and FDG PET/MRI were performed. A biopsy of the most hypermetabolic component of the infiltrative retro-orbital mass confirmed the diagnosis of NXG. He underwent high-dose IVIG therapy and bone marrow stem cell transplantation, which resulted in a slight reduction in the right orbital mass.
Conclusion
This paper presents the first multimodality imaging features of orbital necrobiotic xanthogranuloma in an adolescent patient.
Does Love Forgive All? The Role of the Romantic Love Narrative in the Legitimization of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Glomb Kaja , Sekulak Martyna , Augustyn Agata , Michałkiewicz Natalia 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study examines the influence of romantic narratives on perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its legitimization. Through two experiments, we investigate how romantic themes in narratives shape views of victims, offenders, and the legal consequences of IPV. Participants read journalistic pieces depicting acts of violence varying in relationship details and motives. Experiment 1 (n = 182) explored romantic versus non-romantic motives within romantic relationships, while Experiment 2 (n = 352) expanded to non-romantic relationships. Our findings consistently reveal a tendency to attribute greater accountability to victims when a prior romantic relationship with the offender is mentioned. Furthermore, narratives featuring both romantic motives for violence and romantic relationships are associated with increased victim blaming and anticipation of more lenient punishment compared to narratives devoid of romantic themes. Gender-specific responses were also observed. We discuss the implications of these findings in terms of the portrayal of IPV victims as "non-ideal victims" and societal stereotypes surrounding romantic love.