bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Language-Independent Acoustic Biomarkers for Quantifying Speech Impairment in Huntington's Disease
Authors: Fahed Vitória S. , Doheny Emer P. , Collazo Carla , Krzysztofik Joanna , Mann Elliot , Morgan-Jones Philippa , Mills Laura , Drew Cheney , Rosser Anne E. , Cousins Rebecca , Witkowski Grzegorz , Cubo Esther , Busse Monica , Lowery Madeleine M. 
Published: March 2024

Purpose:
Changes in voice and speech are characteristic symptoms of Huntington's disease (HD). Objective methods for quantifying speech impairment that can be used across languages could facilitate assessment of disease progression and intervention strategies. The aim of this study was to analyze acoustic features to identify language-independent features that could be used to quantify speech dysfunction in English-, Spanish-, and Polish-speaking participants with HD.

Method:
Ninety participants with HD and 83 control participants performed sustained vowel, syllable repetition, and reading passage tasks recorded with previously validated methods using mobile devices. Language-independent features that differed between HD and controls were identified. Principal component analysis (PCA) and unsupervised clustering were applied to the language-independent features of the HD data set to identify subgroups within the HD data.

Results:
Forty-six language-independent acoustic features that were significantly different between control participants and participants with HD were identified. Following dimensionality reduction using PCA, four speech clusters were identified in the HD data set. Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) total motor score, total functional capacity, and composite UHDRS were significantly different for pairwise comparisons of subgroups. The percentage of HD participants with higher dysarthria score and disease stage also increased across clusters.

Conclusion:
The results support the application of acoustic features to objectively quantify speech impairment and disease severity in HD in multilanguage studies.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25447171
A novel two‐stage method to detect non‐technical losses in smart grids
Authors: Badawi Sufian A. , Takruri Maen , Al‐Bashayreh Mahmood G. , Salameh Khouloud , Humam Jumana , Assaf Samar , Aziz Mohammad R. , Albadawi Ameera , Guessoum Djamel , ElBadawi Isam , Al‐Hattab Mohammad 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNumerous strategies have been proposed for the detection and prevention of non‐technical electricity losses due to fraudulent activities. Among these, machine learning algorithms and data‐driven techniques have gained prominence over traditional methodologies due to their superior performance, leading to a trend of increasing adoption in recent years. A novel two‐step process is presented for detecting fraudulent Non‐technical losses (NTLs) in smart grids. The first step involves transforming the time‐series data with additional extracted features derived from the publicly available State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) dataset. The features are extracted after identifying abrupt changes in electricity consumption patterns using the sum of finite differences, the Auto‐Regressive Integrated Moving Average model, and the Holt‐Winters model. Following this, five distinct classification models are used to train and evaluate a fraud detection model using the SGCC dataset. The evaluation results indicate that the most effective model among the five is the Gradient Boosting Machine. This two‐step approach enables the classification models to surpass previously reported high‐performing methods in terms of accuracy, F1‐score, and other relevant metrics for non‐technical loss detection.
Local privacy‐friendly verification of customer participation in frequency regulation services using smart meter data
Authors: Palacios‐Garcia Emilio J. , Vrabel Vladimir , Deconinck Geert 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe delivery of flexibility from distributed assets guarantees the stable operation of the power system as increasing volumes of renewable energy are deployed. Nevertheless, verifying the adequate provision is challenging when considering behind‐the‐meter resources. A cost‐effective alternative to dedicated metring is using measurements from smart meters. However, flexibility activations must be discerned from the rest of the loads in the household. Furthermore, privacy issues arise since electricity consumption contains personal data. The authors tackle both issues by developing a data‐driven privacy‐friendly verification algorithm for participation in frequency containment reserves (FCRs). Our methodology evaluated three machine learning (ML) classification models, deployed locally, and fed with total consumption measurements and activation set points to verify users' participation. The amount of information that leaves the premises was reduced from low‐granularity power measurements to simple compliance indicators. The models were trained and evaluated using a real dataset of households, where FCR was delivered by behind‐the‐meter batteries, resulting in an accuracy close to 0.90. A proof‐of‐concept setup was employed to test the algorithms under real circumstances. Even with several background loads, an accuracy of up to 0.83 was observed, promising results considering the privacy‐friendly features, use of simple ML models, and embedded deployment.
Excavation of gene markers associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on interrelationships of gene expression
Authors: Zhang Zhao‐Yue , Sun Zi‐Jie , Gao Dong , Hao Yu‐Duo , Lin Hao , Liu Fen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for 95% of all pancreatic cancer cases, posing grave challenges to its diagnosis and treatment. Timely diagnosis is pivotal for improving patient survival, necessitating the discovery of precise biomarkers. An innovative approach was introduced to identify gene markers for precision PDAC detection. The core idea of our method is to discover gene pairs that display consistent opposite relative expression and differential co‐expression patterns between PDAC and normal samples. Reversal gene pair analysis and differential partial correlation analysis were performed to determine reversal differential partial correlation (RDC) gene pairs. Using incremental feature selection, the authors refined the selected gene set and constructed a machine‐learning model for PDAC recognition. As a result, the approach identified 10 RDC gene pairs. And the model could achieve a remarkable accuracy of 96.1% during cross‐validation, surpassing gene expression‐based models. The experiment on independent validation data confirmed the model's performance. Enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of these genes in essential biological processes and shed light on their potential roles in PDAC pathogenesis. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of these 10 RDC gene pairs as effective diagnostic markers for early PDAC detection, bringing hope for improving patient prognosis and survival.
Nouveau dispositif pour l’étude de la suffusion suivant différents états mécaniques
Authors: Marot Didier , Oli Bikram , Gelet Rachel , Bendahmane Fateh 
Published: March 2024

Les instabilités et les ruptures que peuvent subir les digues et les barrages en remblais sont très majoritairement dues aux processus d’érosion externe (surverse) et d’érosion interne (renard hydraulique, érosion régressive, érosion de contact ou suffusion). Cette étude porte sur la suffusion qui peut mobiliser la fraction fine de sols pulvérulents ou faiblement cohésifs. Ce processus complexe combine trois mécanismes : le détachement, le transport et l’éventuelle filtration des particules fines. De nombreux critères ont été proposés dans littérature, pour caractériser la susceptibilité à la suffusion, en considérant uniquement la distribution granulométrique et éventuellement la densité du sol. Toutefois, plusieurs études ont montré que l’initiation et le développement de la suffusion dépendent aussi du chemin de chargement hydraulique. Par ailleurs, chacun des trois mécanismes susmentionnés dépend du chargement mécanique subi par le sol. Dans ce contexte, un dispositif expérimental a été développé afin de caractériser la sensibilité vis-à-vis de la suffusion, de quatre sols pulvérulents à distribution lacunaire (composé de sable et de gravier), en contrôlant l’état mécanique et le chemin de chargement hydraulique. Les essais sont réalisés à l’aide du banc triaxial dédié qui permet d’appliquer à l’échantillon (diamètre : 100 mm ; hauteur : 200 mm) un écoulement vertical descendant. La charge hydraulique appliquée est augmentée automatiquement, par faibles incréments et suivant le même chemin pour tous les essais. Les échantillons sont tous consolidés sous une même contrainte effective moyenne, mais la valeur du déviateur de contrainte est propre à chaque essai. Enfin des essais sont menés en conditions œdométriques. L’interprétation des évolutions de conductivité hydraulique et de taux d’érosion permet tout d’abord d’identifier 4 étapes successives : initiation, filtration, débourrage et état permanent caractérisant la fin du processus de suffusion. Chacune de ces étapes est ensuite étudiée à l’aide de différentes méthodes interprétatives. À la fin de chaque essai, les échantillons sont découpés en 4 couches afin de mesurer les évolutions de distribution granulométrique. Les résultats obtenus soulignent la présence d’écoulements préférentiels circonférentiels pour l’essai réalisé en conditions œdométriques, ce qui conduit à une légère surestimation de la sensibilité à la suffusion. En conditions triaxiales, l’influence sur la suffusion du déviateur de contrainte apparaît limitée, notamment en regard de l’influence du pourcentage de sable. Enfin la confrontation de ces résultats montre que contrairement à l’approche énergétique, l’approche en conductivité hydraulique ne permet pas de détecter toutes les étapes pour tous les essais.
Asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and dog owners in an endemic area in southeast France
Authors: Hide Mallorie , Michel Gregory , Legueult Kevin , Pin Raphaelle , Leonard Susana , Simon Loïc , Bañuls Anne-Laure , Delaunay Pascal , Marty Pierre , Pomares Christelle 
Published: March 2024

The prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis in dogs and their owners in the main endemic areas of France has not been studied to date. The objective of this study was to quantify asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection in southeast France in healthy people and their dogs using molecular and serological screening techniques. We examined the presence of parasitic DNA using specific PCR targeting kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and specific antibodies by serology (ELISA for dogs and Western blot for humans) among immunocompetent residents and their dogs in the Alpes-Maritimes. Results from 343 humans and 607 dogs were included. 46.9% (n = 161/343) of humans and 18.3% (n = 111/607) of dogs were PCR positive; 40.2% of humans (n = 138/343) and 9.9% of dogs (n = 60/607) were serology positive. Altogether, 66.2% of humans (n = 227) and 25.7% of dogs (n = 156) had positive serologies and/or positive PCR test results. Short-haired dogs were more frequently infected (71.8%, n = 112) than long-haired dogs (12.2%, n = 19) (p = 0.043). Dogs seemed to be more susceptible to asymptomatic infection according to their breed types (higher infection rates in scenthounds, gun dogs and herding dogs) (p = 0.04). The highest proportion of dogs and human asymptomatic infections was found in the Vence Region, corresponding to 28.2% (n = 20/71) of dogs and 70.5% (n = 31/44) of humans (4.5/100,000 people). In conclusion, the percentage of infections in asymptomatic humans is higher than in asymptomatic dogs in the studied endemic area. It is questionable whether asymptomatic infection in humans constitutes a risk factor for dogs.
Post–Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome: An Update Based on the Revised AWMF-S2k Guideline
Authors: Meyer F. Joachim , Opitz Christian 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn survivors of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the post-PE syndrome (PPES) may occur. In PPES, patients typically present with persisting or progressive dyspnea on exertion despite 3 months of therapeutic anticoagulation. Therefore, a structured follow-up is warranted to identify patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) with normal pulmonary pressure or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Both are currently understood as a dual vasculopathy, that is, secondary arterio- and arteriolopathy, affecting the large and medium-sized pulmonary arteries as well as the peripheral vessels (diameter < 50 µm). The follow-up algorithm after acute PE commences with identification of clinical symptoms and risk factors for CTEPH. If indicated, a stepwise performance of echocardiography, ventilation–perfusion scan (or alternative imaging), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and pulmonary artery catheterization with angiography should follow. CTEPH patients should be treated in a multidisciplinary center with adequate experience in the complex therapeutic options, comprising pulmonary endarterectomy, balloon pulmonary angioplasty, and pharmacological interventions.
Comparable Psychotropic Prescription Rates After Hospital Discharge
Between Patients with COVID-19 and Those With Non-COVID-19-Related Respiratory
Infection
Authors: Takahashi Yuna , Yatomi Taisuke , Yamaguchi Naohito , Yoshimura Kimio , Hori Satoko , Uchida Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Introduction Whether psychiatric symptoms after recovery from coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) are specific to this illness remains unclear.
Methods In this retrospective study, the Diagnosis Procedure Combination
data and outpatient clinic data were used for patients who received inpatient
treatment in Saiseikai-affiliated hospitals for COVID-19 or other respiratory
tract infections (non-COVID) from 2020 to 2022. The primary outcome was new
prescriptions of psychotropic drugs after discharge (i. e., prescriptions of
psychotropics to patients who had not received them before or during their
hospitalization). Values of interest were compared between groups using the
chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. A COX proportional-hazards model was
used to examine factors associated with psychotropic prescriptions after
discharge in age- and sex-matched COVID-19 and non-COVID patients.
Results Of 31,993 chart records, 19,613 were excluded due to a positive
history with psychiatric disorders (n=2,445), prescriptions of psychotropics
(n=744), and no follow-ups (n=16,424). Thus, 3,648 COVID-19 and 8,732 non-COVID
patients were included (mean [range] duration of follow-up, days: 146.9 [1–727]
and 239.2 [1–729], respectively). Two hundred and four (5.6%) of the 3,648
patients with COVID-19 received psychotropic prescriptions after discharge. No
statistically significant differences were observed in the prescription rates of
any psychotropic category between the COVID-19 and non-COVID groups. An increase
in severity during hospitalization was significantly associated with more
frequent psychotropic prescriptions (hazard ratio 1.83, p<0.001).
Discussion The development of psychiatric symptoms should be closely
observed, especially in patients who experienced increased severity during
hospitalization, regardless of whether they suffered from COVID-19.
Feasibility and safety of a novel plastic stent designed specifically for endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage
Authors: Fukuda Soma , Hijioka Susumu , Nagashio Yoshikuni , Maruki Yuta , Ohba Akihiro , Agarie Daiki , Hagiwara Yuya , Hara Hidenobu , Okamoto Kohei , Yamashige Daiki , Yagi Shin , Kuwada Masaru , Chatto Mark , Kondo Shunsuke , Morizane Chigusa , Ueno Hideki , Saito Yutaka , Okusaka Takuji 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic
duct drainage (EUS-PD) is emerging as an effective alternative treatment for obstructive
pancreatitis after unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). However, the high
incidence of adverse events associated with EUS-PD (approximately 20%) remains an issue.
Recently, we developed a novel plastic stent for EUS-PD, with a radiopaque marker positioned
at approximately one-third of the length from the distal end of the stent and side holes
positioned exclusively distal to the marker. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and
safety of using this stent in EUS-PD.
Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed data from 10
patients who underwent EUS-PD with the novel plastic stent at the National Cancer Center
Hospital between March 2021 and October 2023. Technical and clinical success, procedure times,
adverse events (AEs), recurrent pancreatic duct obstruction (RPO), and time to RPO were
assessed.
Results Of the 10 patients, five had postoperative benign
pancreaticojejunal anastomotic strictures and five had malignant pancreatic duct obstruction.
The technical and clinical success rates were both 100% (10/10). An AE (self-limited abdominal
pain) occurred in one patient (10.0%). Two patients (20.0%) died of their primary disease
during the follow-up period (median, 44 days; range, 25–272 days). The incidence of RPO was
10.0% (1/10), and the 3-month non-RPO rate was 83.3%.
Conclusions The novel plastic stent shows potential as a useful
and safe tool in EUS-PD.
Effectiveness of Mediterranean Diet on Daytime Sleepiness among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Oman
Authors: AlAufi Najwa Salim , Chan Yoke Mun , Chin Yit Siew , Ahmad Norliza , Mohd-Yusof Barakatun Nisak , Waly Mostafa I , Al Busaidi Noor , Al-Shuriqi Sulaiman , Al Amri Khadija , Al Bulushi Fatma , Al Bulushi Sajda 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background Sleep disturbance is a major complaint among individuals with diabetes mellitus and may be augmented by dietary interventions. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effectiveness of a Mediterranean diet intervention on daytime sleepiness among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Oman.
Methods In total, 134 eligible individuals with T2DM (61 and 73 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively) were recruited. The intervention participants underwent a 6-month Mediterranean diet intervention consisting of individual dietary counseling, cooking classes, phone calls, and social media messages, while the control group continued with standard diabetes care. Daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. All data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).
Results Daytime sleepiness was evident, with ∼ 30% of the participants experiencing it, with no significant difference between control and intervention participants at baseline. There was a significant reduction in daytime sleepiness in both the intervention and control groups after 6 months, with daytime sleepiness significantly lower in the intervention group, with a modest difference of 42.56% (p < 0.001).
Conclusion Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is effective in reducing daytime sleepiness among individuals with T2DM.
Clinical Trial UMIN000041152
Assessment of Impact of Dietary Patterns on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients
Authors: Gunes Fatma Esra , Agan Kadriye , Aktac Sule , Karadeniz Derya , Sunter Gulin , Vural Ezgi , Benbir-Senel Gulcin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objective Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by episodic cessations of breathing due to upper airway obstruction during sleep, which may cause disturbances in dietary patterns resulting from appetite-related hormonal changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between OSAS and nutritional and dietary patterns.
Materials and Methods A total of 20 female and 53 male OSAS patients aged > 30 years were enrolled. Demographic data, as well as data on smoking and alcohol habits, were noted, anthropometric measures were made, and a questionnaire regarding chronic diseases including OSAS and four questionnaires on recent food intake frequency and content of nutrition were filled out. The content of nutrition was noted under seven categories: meat, legumes, milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, bread and cereals, fat and carbohydrates, and beverages.
Results The severity of OSAS (assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index. AHI) was positively correlated with the body mass index (BMI), the circumferences of the waist, chest, and buttocks, and, in males, with the circumference of the neck as well. There was no correlation between the AHI and nutritional habits in terms of the frequency of meals or snacks, the scores on the Snoring, Tiredness, Observed Apnea, and High Blood Pressure-Body Mass Index, Age, Neck Circumference, and Gender (STOP-BANG) Questionnaire and the corresponding macro- and micronutrients. Worsening apnea scores led to increased intake of macronutrients of carbohydrate and protein and micronutrients of niacin and pyridoxine (p < 0.05), and decreased intake of fat (p < 0.05).
Conclusion The present study demonstrated an association between OSAS severity and recent food intake, manifested in increased intake of carbohydrates, niacin, and pyridoxine, and decreased fat intake.
Xylopia aethiopica Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Hepatorenal Damage in Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats
Authors: Ibiam Udu A. , Uti Daniel E. , Ejeogo Chris C. , Orji Obasi U. , Aja Patrick M. , Nwamaka Ezeaani N. , Alum Esther U. , Chukwu Chukwuma , Aloke Chinyere , Itodo Matthew O. , Agada Samuel A. , Umoru Grace U. , Obeten Uket N. , Nwobodo Valentine O.G. , Nwadum Solomon K. , Udoudoh Mfon P. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objectives Xylopia aethiopica (XAE), commonly known as African pepper or Ethiopian pepper, is a plant native to West Africa and known for its aromatic and medicinal properties. It was used to investigate the antioxidative, antihepatotoxic, and antinephrotoxic potentials of XAE in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Wister albino rats.
Methods The proximate, and vitamin composition, oxidative stress indicators, and indices of kidney and hepatic functions were performed by standard methods.
Results The proximate composition of the XAE leaf showed varied concentrations of Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, Se, and Cl, as well as vitamins A, E, B3, D, C, K, B2, and Bi. The activities of catalase glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde levels, K, Na, Cl−, urea, uric acid, and creatinine in the kidney were increased in testosterone propionate (Tp)-induced BPH compared with the control groups. Total protein levels significantly decreased in Tp-induced BPH compared with XAE-treated groups increased on XAE treatment. The aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were not significantly different in Tp-induced BPH, XAE, and normal controls.
Conclusion The study revealed that XAE can be used in the management of oxidative stress and hepatorenal damage in BPH condition.