bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in the setting of cochlear implantation: a retrospective analysis of 700 cases
Authors: Schaumann Katharina , Mütz D. , Althaus L. , Prinzen T. , Schipper J. , Klenzner T. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Postoperative wound infections after cochlear implantation are rare but sometimes serious and can lead to explantation. Therefore, perioperative antibiotic administration is often recommended. However, in clinical practice, the type and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis varies between different centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing postoperative complications.

Methods
700 patients who underwent cochlear implantation between 2007 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated with regard to wound infections within the first 28 postoperative days. These were classified into major and minor complications. Data were analyzed using the IBM statistical program SPSS.

Results
In 670 out of 700 patients the type and duration of perioperative antibiotic administration could be reconstructed from the records. Of these 67 patients (10%) received antibiotics as a single shot, 158 patients (23.6%) were treated with antibiotics for a period of 48 h, and 445 patients (66.4%) received prolonged antibiotic therapy for more than 72 h. In total 64 patients (9.5%) showed abnormalities in wound assessment within the first 28 postoperative days after implantation. Major infections (1.6%) were detected in 11 patients. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in wound infection rates between the group receiving single-shot antibiosis and the group receiving 48 h prophylaxis or antibiotic treatment > 72 h (p = 0.46).

Conclusion
Patients receiving an antibiotic single shot do not appear to be at significantly increased risk for postoperative wound infections compared with patients with prolonged antibiotic treatment. Continuation of data collection across centers seems reasonable.
Power output at the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition decreases in a non-linear fashion during prolonged exercise
Authors: Gallo Gabriele , Faelli Emanuela Luisa , Ruggeri Piero , Filipas Luca , Codella Roberto , Plews Daniel J. , Maunder Ed 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The aims of this study were to: (i) describe the time course of the decrease in power output at the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition during prolonged exercise; (ii) investigate the association between durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition and exercise capacity; and (iii) explore physiological correlates of durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition.

Methods
Twelve trained cyclists (age: 40 ± 8 y, $$\dot{\text{V}}$$

V
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O2peak: 52.3 ± 5.2 mL·min−1·kg−1) performed an exhaustive cycling protocol involving alternating incremental exercise tests to determine power output at the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition via the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), and 30-min bouts at 90% of the power output at the previously estimated VT1 in the rested state. The individual time course of VT1 was modelled using linear and second-order polynomial functions, and time to a 5% decrease in VT1 (Δ5%VT1) was estimated using the best-fitting model.

Results
Power output at VT1 decreased according to a second-order polynomial function in 11 of 12 participants. Time-to-task failure (234 ± 66 min) was correlated with Δ5%VT1 (139 ± 78 min, rs = 0.676, p = 0.016), and these were strongly correlated with absolute and relative rates of fat oxidation at specific exercise intensities measured during the incremental test performed in the rested state.

Conclusions
These data: (i) identify a non-linear time course of decreases in the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition during prolonged exercise; (ii) support the importance of durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition in prolonged exercise capacity; and (iii) suggest durability of the moderate-to-heavy intensity transition is related to fat oxidation rates.
The role of motor inhibition in implicit negation processing: two Go/No-Go behavioral studies
Authors: Montalti Martina , Calbi Marta , Umiltà Maria Alessandra , Gallese Vittorio , Cuccio Valentina 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSeveral studies demonstrated that explicit forms of negation processing (e.g., “I don’t know”) recruits motor inhibitory mechanisms. However, whether this is also true for implicit negation, in which the negative meaning is implicated but not explicitly lexicalized in the sentence (e.g., “I ignore”), has never been studied before. Two Go/No-Go studies, which differed only for the time-windows to respond to the Go stimulus, were carried out. In each, participants (N = 86 in experiment 1; N = 87 in experiment 2) respond to coloured circle while reading task-irrelevant affirmative, explicit negative and implicit negative sentences. We aimed to investigate whether: (i) the processing of implicit negations recruits inhibitory mechanisms; (ii) these inhibitory resources are differently modulated by implicit and explicit negations. Results show that implicit negative sentences recruit the inhibitory resources more strongly when compared to explicit ones, probably due to their inferential nature, likely requiring deeper processing of the negative meaning. Implicit and inferential meaning (i.e., pragmatic information) are grounded too in the same mechanisms that integrate action with perception. Such findings provide further evidence to the embodied account of language, showing that even abstract aspects, like implicit negation, are grounded in the sensory-motor system, by means of functional link between language and motor activity.
Unveiling the role of PYGB in pancreatic cancer: a novel diagnostic biomarker and gene therapy target
Authors: Ren Li-kun , Lu Ri-shang , Fei Xiao-bin , Chen Shao-jie , Liu Peng , Zhu Chang-hao , Wang Xing , Pan Yao-zhen 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant tumor that poses a severe threat to human health. Brain glycogen phosphorylase (PYGB) breaks down glycogen and provides an energy source for tumor cells. Although PYGB has been reported in several tumors, its role in PC remains unclear.

Methods
We constructed a risk diagnostic model of PC-related genes by WGCNA and LASSO regression and found PYGB, an essential gene in PC. Then, we explored the pro-carcinogenic role of PYGB in PC by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Results
We found that PYGB, SCL2A1, and SLC16A3 had a significant effect on the diagnosis and prognosis of PC, but PYGB had the most significant effect on the prognosis. Pan-cancer analysis showed that PYGB was highly expressed in most of the tumors but had the highest correlation with PC. In TCGA and GEO databases, we found that PYGB was highly expressed in PC tissues and correlated with PC's prognostic and pathological features. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that high expression of PYGB promoted the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PC cells. Through enrichment analysis, we found that PYGB is associated with several key cell biological processes and signaling pathways. In experiments, we validated that the MAPK/ERK pathway is involved in the pro-tumorigenic mechanism of PYGB in PC.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that PYGB promotes PC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, leading to poor patient prognosis. PYGB gene may be a novel diagnostic biomarker and gene therapy target for PC.
An investigation of the effect of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function in Iranian women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Soleymani Moghadam Mahboobeh , Parvizifard Aliakbar , Foroughi Aliakbar , Ahmadi Seyed Mojtaba , Farshchian Negin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Breast cancer is an extremely unpleasant and unbearable experience that can have a profound impact on a person’s life. Compared to other types of cancer, breast cancer has a more severe psychological impact on women.

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function in Iranian women with breast cancer.

Method
A sample of 30 women with breast cancer were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The research was conducted in the oncology division of Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah by the clinical trial method with a two-group pretest–posttest design and a 2 month follow-up. Participants in the intervention group received Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy for eight sessions. The intervention was carried out individually in weekly 60 min sessions. While the control group received self-help treatment (through an educational book). A demographic questionnaire, Demoralization Scale (DS-II), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used to collect data. For data analysis, means and standard deviations were calculated and repeated measures and the Bonferroni test was conducted using SPSS 26.

Results
The results showed the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on demoralization, body image, and sexual function (p < 0.05). Concerning demoralization in the intervention group, the pre-test mean was 16.73 ± 3.33, and it reduced to 11.93 ± 1.49 in the post-test. The body image mean score showed a decreasing trend in the intervention group, from 12.47 ± 1.88 in the pre-test to 8.80 ± 3.21 in the post-test. The mean score for sexual function showed an increasing trend, increasing from 18.06 ± 2.29 in the pre-test to 23.07 ± 0.91 in the post-test. There was no significant difference in the mean score of the post-test compared to the pre-test and follow-up in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
MICBT can be used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals and medical treatments to improve the psychological symptoms of women with breast cancer, according to this study’s results.
Trial registration (IRCT20160103025817N6). 2022-04-06.
The value of cryoablation in orbital surgery
Authors: Herta Johannes , Matula Christian , Wadiura Lisa , Millesi Matthias 
Published: March 2024

Summary
Aim of this article is to give an overview of the technical background and the advantages of modern devices for different applications of cryoablation in cranio-orbital neurosurgery.
The treatment of orbital lesions is complicated by the complex and potentially inapparent anatomy due to retro-orbital fat. With the help of cryoprobes different well-defined lesions such as cavernous venous malformations can be safely and effectively removed thanks to the cryoadhesive effect. Their use has been described in several different approaches including traditional lateral or transcranial orbitotomy but also anterior transconjunctival as well as transnasal endoscopic approaches. Recently, single-use devices were introduced that allow the use of cryosurgery also without the need for large investment or service costs.
Numerical Semigroups with Monotone Apéry Set and Fixed Multiplicity and Ratio
Authors: Robles-Pérez Aureliano M. , Rosales José Carlos 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe characterise the numerical semigroups with a monotone Apéry set (MANS-semigroups for short). Moreover, we describe the families of MANS-semigroups when we fix the multiplicity and the ratio.
Capillary zone electrophoresis method for quantification of therapeutic peptide glatiramer acetate
Authors: Niaei Navid , Vališ Martin , Petr Jan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study presents the development and validation of a novel capillary zone electrophoresis method for the precise determination of glatiramer acetate and its amino acid constituents. A 120 mmol dm−3 phosphoric acid solution adjusted to pH 1.9 with Tris, supplemented with 20 mmol dm−3 triethylamine to achieve a final of pH 2.1, resulted in a repeatable analysis of glatiramer acetate. The method demonstrated a limit of detection and quantification of 39.2 µg cm−3 and 130.7 µg cm−3, respectively. This method allows for the rapid control of glatiramer acetate-based pharmaceuticals and distinguishes glatiramer acetate from the amino acids used in its synthesis.
Graphical abstract
Thermal effects on nonlinear vibration of nonlocal nanobeam embedded in nonlinear elastic medium
Authors: Mamu Redwan Mohammed , Togun Necla 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNanotechnology has an impact on our lives in a many ways, from better medical treatments and more efficient energy sources to stronger and lighter materials and advanced electronics and this article presents the implementation of a perturbation method for the vibration analysis of simply supported and clamped–clamped Euler–Bernoulli nanobeams resting on nonlinear elastic foundations in thermal environment using nonlocal elasticity theory. Hamilton's principle is used to construct the differential equation of motion of a nanobeam in conjunction with appropriate boundary conditions. The equations of motion of the Euler–Bernoulli nanobeam are determined using nonlocal elasticity theory. It is shown how thermal loadings affect the vibration of the Euler–Bernoulli nanobeam. The multiple scale method, which is one of the perturbation method, is used to get an approximated solution for the presented system. The effects of temperature, Winkler, Pasternak and nonlinear foundation parameters on the vibration analysis of simply supported and clamped–clamped nanobeams are determined and results are given in tables and graphs.
Pulmonary surfactant impacts in vitro activity of selected antifungal drugs against Candida krusei and Candida albicans
Authors: Nussbaumer-Pröll Alina , Matzneller Peter , Eberl Sabine , Zeitlinger Markus 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates how surfactants affect the in-vitro anti-infective efficacy of micafungin, caspofungin, anidulafungin, and amphotericin B in treating pulmonary mycoses.

Methods
MIC values for antifungal agents were determined against Candida krusei (now Pichia kudriavzevii) ATCC 6258, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, and 18 clinical isolates using the broth microdilution method in RPMI medium, following EUCAST recommendations. MIC assays included testing with and without Curosurf® surfactant at 1 mg/mL for C. krusei ATCC 6258 and all C. krusei isolates. Subsequent Time-kill studies in Sabouraud broth involved testing both C. albicans ATCC 90028 and C. krusei ATCC 6258 strains at concentrations equal their respective MIC values, with and without surfactant, using all four antifungals. CFU/mL were assessed at multiple time points up to 24 h. TKCs with different surfactant concentrations for C. krusei ATCC 6258 and mini-TKCs at various concentrations relative to the MIC of C. krusei isolates and the reference strain were conducted with micafungin, anidulafungin, and caspofungin.

Results
MIC results showed that 1 µg/mL surfactant reduced killing of micafungin and anidulafungin against C. krusei, while caspofungin was unaffected. Amphotericin B's MIC decreased by half. TKCs demonstrated significant effects of surfactant on micafungin and anidulafungin against C. krusei, with complete abolition of anidulafungin's activity against C. albicans.

Conclusion
This in-vitro study highlights the concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of surfactant on antifungal activity against C. krusei and, to some extent, C. albicans, necessitating further clinical validation for invasive lung mycoses treatment.
Using sequential statistical tests for efficient hyperparameter tuning
Authors: Buczak Philip , Groll Andreas , Pauly Markus , Rehof Jakob , Horn Daniel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHyperparameter tuning is one of the most time-consuming parts in machine learning. Despite the existence of modern optimization algorithms that minimize the number of evaluations needed, evaluations of a single setting may still be expensive. Usually a resampling technique is used, where the machine learning method has to be fitted a fixed number of k times on different training datasets. The respective mean performance of the k fits is then used as performance estimator. Many hyperparameter settings could be discarded after less than k resampling iterations if they are clearly inferior to high-performing settings. However, resampling is often performed until the very end, wasting a lot of computational effort. To this end, we propose the sequential random search (SQRS) which extends the regular random search algorithm by a sequential testing procedure aimed at detecting and eliminating inferior parameter configurations early. We compared our SQRS with regular random search using multiple publicly available regression and classification datasets. Our simulation study showed that the SQRS is able to find similarly well-performing parameter settings while requiring noticeably fewer evaluations. Our results underscore the potential for integrating sequential tests into hyperparameter tuning.
A Data Augmentation Methodology to Reduce the Class Imbalance in Histopathology Images
Authors: Escobar Díaz Guerrero Rodrigo , Carvalho Lina , Bocklitz Thomas , Popp Juergen , Oliveira José Luis 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDeep learning techniques have recently yielded remarkable results across various fields. However, the quality of these results depends heavily on the quality and quantity of data used during the training phase. One common issue in multi-class and multi-label classification is class imbalance, where one or several classes make up a substantial portion of the total instances. This imbalance causes the neural network to prioritize features of the majority classes during training, as their detection leads to higher scores. In the context of object detection, two types of imbalance can be identified: (1) an imbalance between the space occupied by the foreground and background and (2) an imbalance in the number of instances for each class. This paper aims to address the second type of imbalance without exacerbating the first. To achieve this, we propose a modification of the copy-paste data augmentation technique, combined with weight-balancing methods in the loss function. This strategy was specifically tailored to improve the performance in datasets with a high instance density, where instance overlap could be detrimental. To validate our methodology, we applied it to a highly unbalanced dataset focused on nuclei detection. The results show that this hybrid approach improves the classification of minority classes without significantly compromising the performance of majority classes.
Hierarchies of description enable understanding of cognitive phenomena in terms of neuron activity
Authors: Coward L. Andrew 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOne objective of neuroscience is to understand a wide range of specific cognitive processes in terms of neuron activity. The huge amount of observational data about the brain makes achieving this objective challenging. Different models on different levels of detail provide some insight, but the relationship between models on different levels is not clear. Complex computing systems with trillions of components like transistors are fully understood in the sense that system features can be precisely related to transistor activity. Such understanding could not involve a designer simultaneously thinking about the ongoing activity of all the components active in the course of carrying out some system feature. Brain modeling approaches like dynamical systems are inadequate to support understanding of computing systems, because their use relies on approximations like treating all components as more or less identical. Understanding computing systems needs a much more sophisticated use of approximation, involving creation of hierarchies of description in which the higher levels are more approximate, with effective translation between different levels in the hierarchy made possible by using the same general types of information processes on every level. These types are instruction and data read/write. There are no direct resemblances between computers and brains, but natural selection pressures have resulted in brain resources being organized into modular hierarchies and in the existence of two general types of information processes called condition definition/detection and behavioral recommendation. As a result, it is possible to create hierarchies of description linking cognitive phenomena to neuron activity, analogous with but qualitatively different from the hierarchies of description used to understand computing systems. An intuitively satisfying understanding of cognitive processes in terms of more detailed brain activity is then possible.
Evidence of cross-channel dispersal into England of the forest pest Ips typographus
Authors: Inward Daegan J. G. , Caiti Emilio , Barnard Kerry , Hasbroucq Séverine , Reed Katy , Grégoire Jean-Claude 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA breeding population of the tree-killing European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus was detected in England for the first time in 2018 and was initially assumed to have arrived with infested timber. To test the hypothesis that the beetles are dispersing naturally across the English channel, extensive trap networks were deployed in 2021 and 2022 to track the flight activity of the beetles from an outbreak hotspot in France and Belgium to southern England, including parallel ‘coastal’ traps on either side of the channel. Beetles were caught all along the transect, decreasing in abundance with distance from the outbreak area. Linear modelling indicates that beetles dispersed into England during 2021 and 2022, and that during a large-scale dispersal event in June 2021, beetles could have penetrated more than 160 km inland. The 2021 dispersal event initiated new incursions of the beetle in southeast England and demonstrates the extraordinary distance I. typographus may move under outbreak conditions. Our findings support the hypothesis of a damaging forest pest aerially dispersing across the barrier of the English channel and suggest that future incursions of this and other plant-associated pests may move via the same pathway.
Water voles of Lake Hula: assessing their past, present, and future
Authors: Marom Nimrod , Peretz Adva Olga , Lazagabaster Ignacio A. , Meiri Meirav , Meiri Shai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe southernmost population of Eurasian water vole (Arvicola amphibius) inhabited Lake Hula in the upper Jordan Valley until the lake was drained in the 1950s. Considering the continuous conservation and restoration initiatives in the Hula Valley, we set out to verify the extinction of the Hula water vole population using trap surveys, field sign surveys, and owl pellets’ content. Having confirmed its recent extirpation, we used museum and archaeological specimens to study the morphological and genetic similarity of the extirpated Hula water voles to both modern conspecifics in Eurasia and to local Pleistocene specimens. Our results suggest that the Hula population represented an admixture of extinct local Pleistocene and extant, probably European, ancestors. The recent anthropogenic extirpation of this unique population could justify its reintroduction. Species distribution modelling, however, suggests future deterioration of habitat suitability over the coming decades. This calls for careful consideration of how sustainable a reintroduction would be.