bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Image quality of DWI at breast MRI depends on the amount of fibroglandular tissue: implications for unenhanced screening
Authors: Wielema Mirjam , Sijens Paul E. , Pijnappel Ruud M. , De Bock Geertruida H. , Zorgdrager Marcel , Kok Marius G. J. , Rainer Eva , Varga Raoul , Clauser Paola , Oudkerk Matthijs , Dorrius Monique D. , Baltzer Pascal A. T. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To compare image quality of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and contrast-enhanced breast MRI (DCE-T1) stratified by the amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) as a measure of breast density.

Methods
Retrospective, multi-reader, bicentric visual grading analysis study on breast density (A–D) and overall image and fat suppression quality of DWI and DCE-T1, scored on a standard 5-point Likert scale. Cross tabulations and visual grading characteristic (VGC) curves were calculated for fatty breasts (A/B) versus dense breasts (C/D).

Results
Image quality of DWI was higher in the case of increased breast density, with good scores (score 3–5) in 85.9% (D) and 88.4% (C), compared to 61.6% (B) and 53.5% (A). Overall image quality of DWI was in favor of dense breasts (C/D), with an area under the VGC curve of 0.659 (p < 0.001). Quality of DWI and DCE-T1 fat suppression increased with higher breast density, with good scores (score 3–5) for 86.9% and 45.7% of density D, and 90.2% and 42.9% of density C cases, compared to 76.0% and 33.6% for density B and 54.7% and 29.6% for density A (DWI and DCE-T1 respectively).

Conclusions
Dense breasts show excellent fat suppression and substantially higher image quality in DWI images compared with non-dense breasts. These results support the setup of studies exploring DWI-based MR imaging without IV contrast for additional screening of women with dense breasts.

Clinical relevance statement
Our findings demonstrate that image quality of DWI is robust in women with an increased amount of fibroglandular tissue, technically supporting the feasibility of exploring applications such as screening of women with mammographically dense breasts.

Key Points
• Image and fat suppression quality of diffusion-weighted imaging are dependent on the amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) which is closely connected to breast density.
• Fat suppression quality in diffusion-weighted imaging of the breast is best in women with a high amount of fibroglandular tissue.
• High image quality of diffusion-weighted imaging in women with a high amount of FGT in MRI supports that the technical feasibility of DWI can be explored in the additional screening of women with mammographically dense breasts.

Graphical Abstract
The heat is on: the impact of excessive temperature increments on complications of laser treatment for ureteral and renal stones
Authors: Tonyali Senol , von Bargen Maximilian Ferry , Ozkan Arif , Gratzke Christian , Miernik Arkadiusz 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Objective
Technological advancements in the field of urology have led to a paradigm shift in the management of urolithiasis towards minimally invasive endourological interventions, namely ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. However, concerns regarding the potential for thermal injury during laser lithotripsy have arisen, as studies have indicated that the threshold for cellular thermal injury (43 °C) can be exceeded, even with conventional low-power laser settings. This review aims to identify the factors that contribute to temperature increments during laser treatment using current laser systems and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes.

Materials and methods
To select studies for inclusion, a search was performed on online databases including PubMed and Google Scholar. Keywords such as 'temperature' or 'heat' were combined with 'lithotripsy', 'nephrolithotomy', 'ureteroscopy', or 'retrograde intrarenal surgery', both individually and in various combinations.

Results
Various strategies have been proposed to mitigate temperature rise, such as reducing laser energy or frequency, shortening the duration of laser activation, increasing the irrigation fluid flow rate, and using room temperature or chilled water for irrigation. It is important to note that higher irrigation fluid flow rates should be approached cautiously due to potential increases in intrarenal pressure and associated infectious complications. The utilization of a ureteral access sheath (UAS) may offer benefits by facilitating irrigation fluid outflow, thereby reducing intrapelvic pressure and intrarenal fluid temperature.

Conclusion
Achieving a balance between laser power, duration of laser activation, and irrigation fluid rate and temperature appears to be crucial for urologists to minimize excessive temperature rise.
Outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Minta Katarzyna Julia , Kannan Siddarth , Kaliaperumal Chandrasekaran 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus.

Methods
We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for articles published from 2000 to May 2023 (last search date May 6, 2023). Keywords searched included “endoscopic third ventriculostomy”, “ventriculoperitoneal shunting”, “paediatric population”, and “outcomes”. Using random-effects models, we compared success rates and complications of ETV and VPS. The primary outcome was ETV vs.VPS success rates, and the secondary outcome was post-treatment complications. Included studies reported on treatment success and complication rates.

Results
Out of 126 articles, 8 RCTs and 1 prospective study were included. Six studies reported primary outcome data (806 patients identified: 464 in ETV group, 342 in VPS group). Combined success rates were 81.8% (n = 283/346) for ETV and 86.7% (n = 182/210) for VPS (median follow-up 41 months). There was no difference in success rates between ETV and VPS groups (risk ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.80–0.90, I2 = 0%, p = 0.93). Combined complication rates were 4.6% (n = 16/346) in the ETV group and 27.1% (n = 57/210) in the VPS group. ETV had a lower rate of postoperative complications (risk ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.42–1.38, I2 = 53%, p = 0.04).

Conclusions
Both ETV and VPS are viable surgical options for the management of paediatric hydrocephalus with similar success rates when used as first-line treatment. However, our study concluded that VPS results in a higher complication rate.

Registration
This systematic review and meta-analysis was formally registered in the PROSPERO International database under the registration number CRD42023452907 on the 29th of August 2023.
Review: Toward sustainable management of groundwater in the deserts of Egypt
Authors: El-Agha Doaa E. , Molle Francois , Metwally Mohamed I. , Emara Sobhy R. , Shalby Ahmed , Armanuos Asaad M. , Negm Abdelazim , Gado Tamer A. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractTo achieve its ambitious plans to reclaim its deserts through mega projects, Egypt is heavily relying on fossil or little-recharged groundwater. This article revisits the results and methodologies of the studies conducted over the last two decades on groundwater management and uses in the Western Desert. Most previous studies aimed at simulating different groundwater abstraction scenarios by modeling local areas in aquifer systems, but with poor definitions of boundary conditions and limited historical data. Studies were constrained by the unavailability of data, access difficulties, and high collection costs in desert lands. Thus, to propose reliable sustainable groundwater resources development plans and recommendations for future protection strategies, an open-access monitoring network representing regional aquifers is needed. More investigations based on extensive field visits are essential to monitor environmental, economic, and social conditions, identify constraints, and learn lessons for reclaiming desert lands. Moreover, this review highlighted the need to frame a rational strategy for the long-term sustainable exploitation of non-renewable groundwater in the aquifer systems of Egypt and develop an appropriate exit strategy for desert communities in case of serious water resource depletion.
An analysis of perspectives on groundwater governance arrangements relating to the potential development of unconventional oil and gas in South Africa
Authors: Hemingway Jack R. , Gormally-Sutton Alexandra 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAn analysis of expert perspectives on groundwater governance arrangements in South Africa is presented, particularly those arrangements that are pertinent to the complex and socially and ecologically significant implications of exploiting unconventional oil and gas (UOG). The paper presents a detailed assessment of literature on groundwater governance research, the findings of which are applied as a framework for a series of expert interviews, comprising hydrogeologists, lawyers, engineers, and governance specialists. This methodological approach was adopted as a means to enable an analysis of opinions on the current situation of groundwater governance in South Africa and how fit-for-purpose this is for managing the exploitation of UOG. The analysis was also informed by observation of participants at several relevant decision-making and stakeholder events. Whilst the findings indicated a generally positive evaluation of the initial steps taken to assess UOG impacts and engage relevant communities, recurrent criticisms also are featured across the interviews. Key implications arising from the research include: (1) the need for continued stakeholder engagement, and government follow-through on the outcomes of these processes, (2) the necessity for detailed groundwater-specific regulations to be drafted at the earliest opportunity, to ensure that the energy policy vacuum does not have a negative knock-on effect for effective groundwater management, and (3) the prevalence of significant governance gaps, particularly regarding regulatory and institutional capacity, and the need for continued development of a functional network of institutions to effectively manage UOG exploitation alongside groundwater resources.
Tocilizumab treatment in MOGAD: a case report and literature review
Authors: Schirò Giuseppe , Iacono Salvatore , Andolina Michele , Bianchi Alessia , Ragonese Paolo , Salemi Giuseppe 
Published: November 2023

AbstractMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G associated disease (MOGAD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) which usually occurs with recurrent optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, acute disseminating encephalomyelitis, or brainstem encephalitis. To date, the anti-CD 20 drug rituximab (RTX) is employed in MOGAD although some authors reported the efficacy of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in refractory patients. We present the case of a woman affected by refractory MOGAD who was treated with TCZ after therapy with RTX had failed to prevent relapses. We also conducted a current literature review on TCZ use in MOGAD. A 57-year-old Caucasian woman affected by MOGAD with severe motor impairment and cognitive dysfunction was treated from 2020 to February 2022 with RTX. However, she experienced progressive clinical and cognitive worsening associated with white matter lesions mimicking leukodystrophy. In February 2022, the patient started therapy with TCZ administered with improvement of cognitive performance, walking ability, and brainstem functions. During TCZ, our patient reached the condition of NEDA-3 (no relapse, no increase in disability, no MRI activity on neuroimaging follow-up performed in September 2023). Moreover, the patient experienced paucisymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection that did not modify TCZ schedule. To date, there are few evidence on the efficacy and safety of TCZ in MOGAD. However, all the reviewed cases showed that TCZ represents an effective therapy in drug-resistant MOGAD. Our case highlights the efficacy of TCZ in drug resistant MOGAD and strengthens previous reports of TCZ safety and efficacy in MOGAD.
Joint knowledge graph approach for event participant prediction with social media retweeting
Authors: Zhang Yihong , Hara Takahiro 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOrganized event is an important form of human activity. Nowadays, many digital platforms offer organized events on the Internet, allowing users to be organizers or participants. For such platforms, it is beneficial to predict potential event participants. Existing work on this problem tends to borrow recommendation techniques. However, compared to e-commerce items and purchases, events and participation are usually of a much smaller frequency, and the data may be insufficient to learn an accurate prediction model. In this paper, we propose to utilize social media retweeting activity to enhance the learning of event participant prediction models. We create a joint knowledge graph to bridge the social media and the target domain, assuming that event descriptions and tweets are written in the same language. Furthermore, we propose a learning model that utilize retweeting information for the target domain prediction more effectively. We conduct comprehensive experiments in two scenarios with real-world data. In each scenario, we set up training data of different sizes, as well as warm and cold test cases. The evaluation results show that our approach consistently outperforms several baseline models in both warm and cold tests.
De Bello Homomorphico: Investigation of the extensibility of the OpenFHE library with basic mathematical functions by means of common approaches using the example of the CKKS cryptosystem
Authors: Prantl Thomas , Horn Lukas , Engel Simon , Iffländer Lukas , Beierlieb Lukas , Krupitzer Christian , Bauer André , Sakarvadia Mansi , Foster Ian , Kounev Samuel 
Published: November 2023

AbstractCloud computing has become increasingly popular due to its scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to handle large volumes of data. However, entrusting (sensitive) data to a third party raises concerns about data security and privacy. Homomorphic encryption is one solution that allows users to store and process data in a public cloud without the cloud provider having access to it. Currently, homomorphic encryption libraries only support addition and multiplication; other mathematical functions must be implemented by the user. To this end, we discuss and implement the division, exponential, square root, logarithm, minimum, and maximum function, using the CKKS cryptosystem of the OpenFHE library. To demonstrate that complex applications can be realized with this extended function set, we have used it to homomorphically realize the Box–Cox transform, which is used in many real-world applications, e.g., time-series forecasts. Our results show how the number of iterations required to achieve a given accuracy varies depending on the function. In addition, the execution time for each function is independent of the input and is in the range of ten seconds on a reference machine. With this work, we provide users with insights on how to extend the original restricted function set of the CKKS cryptosystem of the OpenFHE library with basic mathematical functions.
Ethool, a tool to enable legal decision-making in research involving humans using new technologies in Europe: design and usability validation
Authors: Garzo Ainara , Garay-Vitoria Nestor 
Published: November 2023

AbstractHuman participation in technological research projects has become more frequent in recent years. However, most of the technological researchers who organize such experimentation are unaware about the various ethical and legal implications involved. Further, when it is a medical device prototype that is being evaluated, the ethical and legal implications may be even more complex. A review of the laws, standards and recommendations in Europe has been drawn up regarding human participation in new technology co-design, development and evaluation, focusing on technological research for assistive and medical devices. An easy-to-use tool, called Ethool, which acts as a guideline for European technological researchers has been designed and developed. In this manuscript, the iterative usability evaluation of Ethool is explained as well as the improvements made, following participants’ feedback. Ethool was rated as acceptable and usable by participants obtaining a SUS score of 93.0 in its last evaluation. The tool is currently available to be used by any interested parties with the aim of gathering additional feedback.
Edge time series components of functional connectivity and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chumin Evgeny J. , Cutts Sarah A. , Risacher Shannon L. , Apostolova Liana G. , Farlow Martin R. , McDonald Brenna C. , Wu Yu-Chien , Betzel Richard , Saykin Andrew J. , Sporns Olaf 
Published: November 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the interrelationships of brain function as measured by resting-state magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological/behavioral measures in Alzheimer’s disease is key for advancement of neuroimaging analysis methods in clinical research. The edge time-series framework recently developed in the field of network neuroscience, in combination with other network science methods, allows for investigations of brain-behavior relationships that are not possible with conventional functional connectivity methods. Data from the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center sample (53 cognitively normal control, 47 subjective cognitive decline, 32 mild cognitive impairment, and 20 Alzheimer’s disease participants) were used to investigate relationships between functional connectivity components, each derived from a subset of time points based on co-fluctuation of regional signals, and measures of domain-specific neuropsychological functions. Multiple relationships were identified with the component approach that were not found with conventional functional connectivity. These involved attentional, limbic, frontoparietal, and default mode systems and their interactions, which were shown to couple with cognitive, executive, language, and attention neuropsychological domains. Additionally, overlapping results were obtained with two different statistical strategies (network contingency correlation analysis and network-based statistics correlation). Results demonstrate that connectivity components derived from edge time-series based on co-fluctuation reveal disease-relevant relationships not observed with conventional static functional connectivity.
Impact of microparticles released during murine systemic inflammation on macrophage activity and reactive nitrogen species regulation
Authors: Ortmann Weronika , Such Anna , Kolaczkowska Elzbieta 
Published: November 2023

AbstractMicroparticles (MPs) packaged with numerous bioactive molecules are essential vehicles in cellular communication in various pathological conditions, including systemic inflammation, Whereas MPs are studied mostly upon isolation, their detection in vivo is limited. Impact of MPs might depend on target cell type and cargo they carry; thus herein, we aimed at verifying MPs’ impact on macrophages. Unlike neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages are rather inactive during sepsis, and we hypothesized this might be at least partially controlled by MPs. For the above reasons, we focused on the detection of MPs with intravital microscopy (IVM) and report the presence of putative neutrophil-derived MPs in the vasculature of cremaster muscle of endotoxemic mice. Subsequently, we characterized MPs isolated not only from their blood but also from the peritoneal cavity and observed differences in their size, concentration, and cargo. Such MPs were then used to study their impact on RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line performance (cell viability/activity, cytokines, oxygen, and nitrogen reactive species). Addition of MPs to macrophages with or without co-stimulation with lipopolysaccharide did not affect respiratory burst, somewhat decreased mitochondrial activity but increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and NO production especially in case of plasma-derived MPs. The latter MPs carried more iNOS-controlling ceruloplasmin than those discharged into the peritoneal cavity. We conclude that MPs can be detected in vivo with IVM and their cellular origin identified. They are heterogeneous in nature depending on the site of their release. Consequently, microparticles released during systemic inflammation to various body compartments differentially affect macrophages.
Trademarks in the Age of Automated Commerce: Consumer Choice and Autonomy
Authors: Sevastianova Vera N. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIn the age of automated commerce, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) tools, the role of trademarks in shopping may be diminishing. For instance, the Alexa voice assistant will announce only a couple of purchase options under specific trademarks, concealing the plenitude of other products on its interface. Another example is that Amazon will pursue the shipping-then-shopping scenario, with trademarks being perceived by consumers only upon delivery. Moreover, it has been predicted that, in some cases, the new AI/ML tools will search for products irrespective of trademarks and will do so faster than any human being. Under those circumstances, consumer search costs will be lower, not because of trademarks but because of the new shopping architecture based on those tools. While lowering consumer search costs has traditionally been the role of trademarks, the availability of other tools for the same purpose may be a positive development. However, another trend is that the new AI/ML tools are constantly taking part in consumer decision-making, possibly reducing consumers’ freedom of choice and personal autonomy. In attempting to tackle this issue, it is worth approaching trademarks from the perspective of choice and autonomy. Seen from this angle, it may be possible to learn specific lessons from European Union (EU) trademark law that will assist in reshaping the automated – and autonomous – shopping architecture for the benefit of consumer well-being. In this exercise, close attention will be paid to the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, with its discourse on product alternatives, while due regard will be shown to the new legislation on the platform economy in the EU. In the end, this paper will demonstrate that trademarks are valuable not only because they help reduce search costs but also because they promote alternatives and, thus, improve consumers’ general autonomy.