bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methadone pharmacokinetics in opioid agonist treatment: Influencing factors and clinical implications
Authors: Chalabianloo Fatemeh , Fadnes Lars Thore , Johansson Kjell Arne , Høiseth Gudrun , Vold Jørn Henrik , Kringen Marianne K. , Spigset Olav , Bramness Jørgen G. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundA considerable inter‐individual variability has been reported in the relationship between methadone doses applied and serum concentrations achieved in methadone maintenance treatment. However, the underlying causes for this variability are not fully understood.ObjectivesWe investigated the influence of genetic, pathophysiological and pharmacological factors on serum methadone concentration‐to‐dose ratio (CDR) and discussed the clinical implications of the findings.MethodsWe used data from two retrospective laboratory databases and a prospective cohort study to investigate the impact on methadone CDR of hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme system (CYP) genetic polymorphisms, age, sex, concomitant medication, liver fibrosis and body mass index through linear mixed model analyses.FindingsA positive association was found between CDR and the homozygous CYP2B6*6 genotype, concurrent treatment with CYP3A4 inhibitors and body mass index. CDR was lower among women and during concomitant use of CYP inducers. CDR was not associated with age or the degree of liver fibrosis in our investigations.ConclusionsThis research work supports the need for individually tailored dosage considering the various factors that influence methadone CDR. The gained knowledge can contribute to reducing the risks associated with the treatment and optimizing the desired outcomes.
Drivers of sunbird‐plant interactions on Mount Cameroon: Between neutrality and niche‐based processes
Authors: Uceda‐Gómez Guillermo , Chmel Kryštof , Janečková Petra , Mlíkovský Jiří , Klomberg Yannick , Ewome Francis Luma , Molua Lucas Lyonga , Njie Marcus Mokake , Tropek Robert , Janeček Štěpán 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe drivers behind plant‐pollinator interactions still need to be fully understood. Previous research has suggested that observed interactions result from either neutral interaction between species based on their abundance or from niche‐based processes, which are reflected in the adaptations of both plants and pollinators. Furthermore, the importance of both scenarios can differ depending on seasonal dynamics translated into differences in resource availability. Extensive research has been conducted on New‐World hummingbirds (Trochilidae), whereas much less is known about Old World nectar‐feeding sunbirds (Nectariniidae). Our study aimed to explore whether sunbird‐plant interactions are explained by neutral and/or niche‐based processes. Thus, we tested the effects of abundance, morphology, and nectar sugar content on the observed interactions and the link between sunbirds and plant traits. Moreover, we explored the effects of robbing on these mechanisms. Finally, we investigated the partitioning of bird pollination niches, based on floral traits. We used a dataset of sunbird‐plant interactions collected at Mount Cameroon during two seasons (dry and wet seasons). Our study shows that sunbird‐plant interactions are influenced by both neutral and niche‐based processes. Neutral processes and nectar reward were the main mechanisms underlaying the observed interactions in the dry season. However, as more ornithophilous plants bloom during the rainy season, morphological trait‐matching becomes more important. We found a correlation between bill length and floral tube dimensions and observed niche overlap among the sunbird species. Considering this and other research, we suggest that plant‐pollinator interactions are influenced by a combination of both neutral and niche‐based processes.
Areas of endemism of Pteridaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Brazil: a first approach
Authors: Possamai Della Aline , Prado Jefferson 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAreas of endemism (AoE) comprise regions host to two or more endemic taxa, whose distributional limits are congruent and not random. These areas are important for two reasons: they comprise the smallest geographic units for biogeographic analyses and they are priority targets for conservation actions. Ferns are a monophyletic group that despite having a wide geographic distribution, concentrates great species richness and endemism in some regions (centres). The southern and southeastern regions of Brazil comprise one of these centres for the Neotropics. This study aims to verify the AoE of Pteridaceae in Brazil and examine whether the results obtained here are congruent with areas already delimited for other groups and whether there is spatial correspondence between the AoE and Conservation Units. To this end, a database was created with collection records of the 205 Pteridaceae species occurring in Brazil based on a review of herbaria. We analysed 23 815 records for 205 Pteridaceae species using Endemicity Analysis (NDM‐VNDM), selecting the fill and assumed parameters, and 1°, 2° and 3° grid‐cells. The consensus of 158 AoE, using different grid sizes, was calculated, and subsequently, generalized AoE were established. The Guiana Shield, southern Brazil, southeastern Brazil, and southeastern Bahia were considered generalized AoE. These areas correspond to those found for animals and angiosperms, and in previous studies with ferns. Furthermore, two areas, Acre and Mato Grosso do Sul, were recovered only on grids with 2° and 3°. It will be essential to conduct more research to confirm the persistence of both AoE (Acre and Mato Grosso do Sul), especially after expanding sampling. Most endemic species distribution points occur outside protected areas, demonstrating an alarming situation regarding the conservation of these taxa. In addition, fern distribution data could (and should) be used in conservation practices, programmes and policies, given that they are good ecological indicators and that the distribution of ferns may not reflect that of angiosperms and animals.
Tripartite‐structure transformer for hyperspectral image classification
Authors: Wan Liuwei , Zhou Meili , Jiang Shengqin , Bai Zongwen , Zhang Haokui 
Published: December 2023

AbstractHyperspectral images contain rich spatial and spectral information, which provides a strong basis for distinguishing different land‐cover objects. Therefore, hyperspectral image (HSI) classification has been a hot research topic. With the advent of deep learning, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have become a popular method for hyperspectral image classification. However, convolutional neural network (CNN) has strong local feature extraction ability but cannot deal with long‐distance dependence well. Vision Transformer (ViT) is a recent development that can address this limitation, but it is not effective in extracting local features and has low computational efficiency. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a hybrid classification network that combines the strengths of both CNN and ViT, names Spatial‐Spectral Former(SSF). The shallow layer employs 3D convolution to extract local features and reduce data dimensions. The deep layer employs a spectral‐spatial transformer module for global feature extraction and information enhancement in spectral and spatial dimensions. Our proposed model achieves promising results on widely used public HSI datasets compared to other deep learning methods, including CNN, ViT, and hybrid models.
A study of collagen refractility in dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans using diffractive microscopy
Authors: Brailsford Caroline , Khamdan Fatema , Dirr McKenzie A. , Sagut Pelin , Nietert Paul J. , Elston Dirk 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundDiffractive microscopy creates contrast within samples that are otherwise uniform under bright light. This technique can highlight subtle differences in refractive indices within birefringent samples containing varying amounts of mature collagen. Dermatofibroma (DF) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) possess differences in their mature collagen content and, therefore, may be distinguishable using diffractive microscopy.MethodsTwo hundred forty‐two DF and 85 DFSP hematoxylin–eosin (H&E)‐stained specimens were analyzed using diffractive microscopy. Data regarding the distribution pattern and strength of refractility was recorded.ResultsDFSP was more frequently found to be focally, weakly, or non‐refractile (82.9%; n = 68) under diffractive microscopy, while DF more often showed diffusely bright refractility (52.9%; n = 128). DFSP samples with diffuse refractility in portions of the lesion (17.1%; n = 14) also exhibited a unique checkerboard pattern distinct from that which was seen in DF samples.ConclusionsThe absence of diffuse refractility was more closely associated with DFSP, as was the presence of a unique checkerboard diffraction pattern. Despite high sensitivity (Sn = 82.9%), absent refractility was not a specific test (Sp = 52.9%), with 47.1% (n = 114) of DF samples sharing this feature. The distinction between DF and DFSP is often diagnosed using H&E alone. In difficult cases, examination of collagen under diffractive microscopy may be useful in distinguishing DFSP from DF and provide an alternative cost‐effective tool to immunohistochemical staining.
Tumor necrosis factor‐α inhibitor treatment of acne fulminans – a clinical and literature review
Authors: Taudorf Elisabeth Hjardem , Jensen Mikkel Bak , Bouazzi Dorra , Sand Carsten , Thomsen Simon Francis , Jemec Gregor Borut Ernst , Saunte Ditte Marie Lindhardt 
Published: December 2023

SummaryAcne fulminans (AF) is a rare, serious, sudden‐onset and long‐lasting skin disease that causes scarring of face and body. Standard treatment with combined long‐term isotretinoin and prednisolone is not always sufficient and has a well‐known propensity for adverse effects leaving an unmet need for improved therapy. Case reports suggest that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α inhibitors may play a role in the management of AF. In a 3‐year retrospective data collection from two dermatology centers and literature review of clinical cases of acne fulminans treated with anti‐TNF‐α therapy, three clinical cases and twelve literature cases were identified. A total of five different TNF‐α inhibitors have been tested, with adalimumab being the most commonly used. Clinical response was seen after 1 month in 2/3 (67%) clinical cases and 5/12 (42%) literature cases, respectively, and treatment was successful in 2/3 (67%) and 11/12 (92%) after a median 3–7 months. All reported adverse effects were mild and reversible. Anti‐TNF‐α treatment may provide rapid improvement in patients with AF when initial treatment with isotretinoin and prednisolone fails. However, randomized controlled trials are lacking, and exact dosage and timing need to be explored before clinical implementation.
An attention‐based deep learning method for right ventricular quantification using 2D echocardiography: Feasibility and accuracy
Authors: Kampaktsis Polydoros N. , Bohoran Tuan A. , Lebehn Mark , McLaughlin Laura , Leb Jay , Liu Zhonghua , Moustakidis Serafeim , Siouras Athanasios , Singh Anvesha , Hahn Rebecca T. , McCann Gerry P. , Giannakidis Archontis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimTo test the feasibility and accuracy of a new attention‐based deep learning (DL) method for right ventricular (RV) quantification using 2D echocardiography (2DE) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as reference.Methods and ResultsWe retrospectively analyzed images from 50 adult patients (median age 51, interquartile range 32–62 42% women) who had undergone CMR within 1 month of 2DE. RV planimetry of the myocardial border was performed in end‐diastole (ED) and end‐systole (ES) for eight standardized 2DE RV views with calculation of areas. The DL model comprised a Feature Tokenizer module and a stack of Transformer layers. Age, gender and calculated areas were used as inputs, and the output was RV volume in ED/ES. The dataset was randomly split into training, validation and testing subsets (35, 5 and 10 patients respectively).Mean RVEDV, RVESV and RV ejection fraction (EF) were 163 ± 70 mL, 82 ± 42 mL and 51% ± 8% respectively without differences among the subsets. The proposed method achieved good prediction of RV volumes (R2 = .953, absolute percentage error [APE] = 9.75% ± 6.23%) and RVEF (APE = 7.24% ± 4.55%). Per CMR, there was one patient with RV dilatation and three with RV dysfunction in the testing dataset. The DL model detected RV dilatation in 1/1 case and RV dysfunction in 4/3 cases.ConclusionsAn attention‐based DL method for 2DE RV quantification showed feasibility and promising accuracy. The method requires validation in larger cohorts with wider range of RV size and function. Further research will focus on the reduction of the number of required 2DE to make the method clinically applicable.
A plurality of morphological characters need not equate with phylogenetic accuracy: A rare genomic change refutes the placement of Solifugae and Pseudoscorpiones in Haplocnemata
Authors: Gainett Guilherme , Klementz Benjamin C. , Setton Emily V. W. , Simian Catalina , Iuri Hernán A. , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Peretti Alfredo V. , Sharma Prashant P. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractRecent advances in higher‐level invertebrate phylogeny have leveraged shared features of genomic architecture to resolve contentious nodes across the tree of life. Yet, the interordinal relationships within Chelicerata have remained recalcitrant given competing topologies in recent molecular analyses. As such, relationships between topologically unstable orders remain supported primarily by morphological cladistic analyses. Solifugae, one such unstable chelicerate order, has long been thought to be the sister group of Pseudoscorpiones, forming the clade Haplocnemata, on the basis of eight putative morphological synapomorphies. The discovery, however, of a shared whole genome duplication placing Pseudoscorpiones in Arachnopulmonata provides the opportunity for a simple litmus test evaluating the validity of Haplocnemata. Here, we present the first developmental transcriptome of a solifuge (Titanopuga salinarum) and survey copy numbers of the homeobox genes for evidence of systemic duplication. We find that over 70% of the identified homeobox genes in T. salinarum are retained in a single copy, while representatives of the arachnopulmonates retain orthologs of those genes as two or more copies. Our results refute the placement of Solifugae in Haplocnemata. Subsequent reevaluation of putative interordinal morphological synapomorphies among chelicerates reveals a high incidence of homoplasy, reversals, and inaccurate coding within Haplocnemata and other small clades, as well as Arachnida more broadly, suggesting existing morphological character matrices are insufficient to resolve chelicerate phylogeny.
Osseous pathologic changes in the lumbar region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post‐mortem study in three breeds
Authors: Spoormakers Tijn J. P. , Veraa Stefanie , Graat E. A. M. , van Weeren P. René , Brommer Harold 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundData on equine lumbar pathology hardly exist in breeds other than Thoroughbreds.ObjectivesTo describe pathological changes of the osseous lumbar vertebral column in Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies and Konik horses.Study designDescriptive post‐mortem study.MethodsThe lumbar vertebral columns of 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses were examined by computed tomography (CT). Osteoarthritis (OA) of articular processes (APJs), OA of intertransverse joints (ITJs), intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous (SPs) and transverse (TPs) processes and spondylosis were scored. Breed differences in prevalence and severity of pathologies were analysed by linear regression analysis and by calculating Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rs).ResultsIn Warmblood horses, the prevalence of OA of APJs, impingement of SPs and TPs was respectively 90%, 36%, and 35%, significantly higher than in the other breeds (p < 0.001). In Konik horses, IVD mineralisation (40%) and spondylosis (10%) were more frequent than in Warmbloods and Shetland ponies (p = 0.03). Severity score for OA of ITJs was highest in Shetland ponies (p < 0.001). For impingement of SPs, severity score was highest in Warmbloods (p = 0.03), and of TPs lowest in Shetland ponies (p = 0.003). For all parameters, except for spondylosis in Shetland ponies, there was a positive correlation between percentage of vertebrae affected and age, with IVD mineralisation scores increasing faster in Konik horses (p < 0.001). In all breeds, there was also a positive relation between scores of severity and age for OA of APJs and ITJs and for IVD mineralisation, with severity scores increasing faster in Shetland ponies (p = 0.04). Strong left/right correlations of the severity scores were seen for OA of the APJ, ITJ, impingement of TPs, and paramedian spondylosis (rs = 0.74–0.86, all p < 0.001).Main limitationsClinical histories were not available.ConclusionsThere are distinct breed differences between prevalence and severity of osseous pathologies of the lumbar spine. Warmblood horses have higher scores for most pathologies with IVD mineralisation being more important in Konik horses and OA of ITJs in Shetland ponies.
Value generation from academic activities in a public higher education: A lean perspective
Authors: Klein Leander Luiz , Vieira Kelmara Mendes , Dorion Eric Charles Henri , Costa Luana Brondani , Moreira Patricia Kruel Froner 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe concept of value, in a context of higher education institutions (HEIs), simply refers to meeting or exceeding customer requirements and expectations. HEIs have a fundamental role in the dissemination of knowledge, in addition to developing new skills and awareness for future professionals, in relation to local, regional and national issues. The aim of this research is to analyse the academic activities and outcomes influence on value generation perception in a public university students' perspective. A survey, built from a structured questionnaire, was carried out in a Brazilian HEI, the Federal University of Santa Maria, with students who are in their course final stage. Data collection came out with a valid sample of 389 respondents. It was analysed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor and regression analyses. The findings suggest that among the services and resources that the university may offer to its students, the ones that present the most impact refer to cognitive and social abilities emerging from specific teaching practices and strategies from the professors. This research presents useful insights and applicable elements from which public managers can utilize to enhance engagement, create value and build a more rigorous and relevant practice.
Integrated sun protection advice for the South African population
Authors: Tod Bianca , Whitaker Dagmar , Visser Willie , Isaacs Thuraya , Jacobs Tarryn , Wiid Kim , Dlova Ncoza C. , Wright Caradee Y. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractExposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is associated with several cutaneous adverse effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, in South Africa there are no formal guidelines on sun protection. A group of South African dermatologists and researchers convened over the course of 1 year to deliberate on integrated advice for sun protection among the multi‐ethnic South African population. For people with light skin and those with genetic skin disorders (e.g., oculocutaneous albinism), sun protection was identified as critical to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and photoaging. The evidence is less clear for people with medium and darker skin types, especially the latter, in whom melanin may confer a degree of protection against some parts of the solar spectrum. Recent studies have demonstrated that visible light can cause pigmentary changes in individuals with darker skin types in particular. Sun protection for people of all skin colors is beneficial to protect against photoaging and ocular damage. Herein sun protection advice is suggested for South Africans of all skin colors to reduce morbidity and mortality from sun exposure, particularly relating to skin cancer. Several knowledge gaps are identified as future research priorities.
A typology of disinformation intentionality and impact
Authors: French Aaron , Storey Veda C. , Wallace Linda 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn contemporary society, the increased reliance on social media as a vital news source has facilitated the spread of disinformation that has potential polarising effects. Disinformation, false information deliberately crafted to deceive recipients, has escalated to the extent that it is now acknowledged as a significant cybersecurity concern. To proactively tackle this issue, and minimise the risk of negative outcomes associated with disinformation, this research presents a typology of disinformation intentionality and impact (DII) to understand the intentionality and impact of disinformation threats. The typology draws upon information manipulation theory and risk management principles to evaluate the potential impact of disinformation campaigns with respect to their virality and polarising impact. The intentionality of disinformation spread is related to its believability among susceptible consumers, who are likely to propagate the disinformation to others if they assess it to be believable. Based on the dimensions of intentionality and impact, the DII typology can be used to categorise disinformation threats and identify strategies to mitigate its risk. To illustrate its utility for evaluating the risk posted by disinformation campaigns, the DII typology is applied to a case study. We propose risk mitigation strategies as well as recommendations for addressing disinformation campaigns spread through social media platforms.