bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing detection, distribution and population dynamics of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in an altered environment in north-eastern Brazil
Authors: Mascarenhas-Junior Paulo B. , Strickland Bradley A. , Heithaus Michael R. , Simões Pedro I. , Correia Jozelia M. S. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Nocturnal spotlight surveys have been historically used to determine patterns in crocodylians’ space-time ecology. This approach provides reliable insights about their conservation, especially when is based on long-term monitoring. We assessed how weather, habitat features, and anthropogenic factors influence distribution and population trends of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in an altered Atlantic Forest habitat in north-eastern Brazil. From 2015 to 2022, we conducted night counts to detect caimans, measure several abiotic variables and assess human activity. To account for changes in encounter rates based on abiotic variables, we employed a Generalized Linear Modeling approach and a single-species occupancy model to predict caiman probability of occurrence within the reservoir. Average caiman encounter rate in the reservoir was 1.3 ind/km, consistent with estimates conducted in other locations in Brazil. The population size remained stable over the study period, although adults encounter rates increased. Water temperature and humidity positively affected caiman detection, whereas rainfall and cloud coverage had a negative influence on counts, likely due to their impacts on caiman metabolism and foraging behavior. Caimans were distributed throughout the reservoir, with a preference for the river channel and forested sectors, which offered protection from humans and possibly provided greater resources availability. The presence of gillnets was positively correlated with caiman distribution, explained by caimans opportunistically feeding on tangled fish. Our findings comprise the first long-term study of a broad-snouted caiman population dynamics in Brazil and provide useful guidelines for determining priority areas for caiman conservation within the highly threatened Atlantic Forest biome.
Couching of Intra-ocular lens in microphthalmic eyes with irido-fundal coloboma - Revisiting the historical technique
Authors: Kannan Naresh Babu , Goswami Ananya , Vallinayagam Muthukrishnan , Sarkar Avik Dey 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose: Cataract surgery in microphthalmic eyes is challenging due to anatomical restraints, hard bulky nucleus. This series aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of couching of intraocular lens in irido-fundal coloboma with microphthalmos.
Setting: Tertiary care centre in South India
Design: Retrospective non-comparative study in eyes with irido-fundal coloboma, corneal diameter <7mm and brown cataract. Visual acuity less than 6/60 in other eye.
Methods: Anterior chamber entry made, zonules broken and lens dislocated into the vitreous cavity in a controlled manner. Baseline Clinico-demographic details, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), Intra-ocular pressure (IOP), corneal diameter, axial length, lens status and post-surgery CDVA, IOP and complications recorded and followed up for atleast 6 months.
Results: 15 eyes of 15 subjects were evaluated with a mean age 49.4 ±10.9 years. At baseline, mean IOP 14.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, mean axial length 19.3 ± 0.5 mm, mean corneal diameter was 6.5 ± 0.34 mm and CDVA 2 logMAR which improved to 1.5 logMAR at 3 months (p value 0.002). Transient spike in IOP in 33.3% subjects was medically managed with no significant difference in IOP (p > 0.05) at baseline (14.5 ± 3.8 mmHg), 3 months post-surgery (16±2.8 mmHg) and 6 months post-surgery (14.9 ± 2.5 mmHg). One patient underwent re-couching. No other major complications were noted.
Conclusion: Couching of Intra-ocular lens is an effective and safe method in microphthalmic eyes with irido-fundal coloboma with an ambulatory gain of visual acuity in previously non-ambulatory subjects. Corneal measurements help in determining the subset of patients where couching offers viable option.
A Model Based Material Removal Simulation for Vacuum Suction Blasting of Composites
Authors: Brieskorn Leander , Hintze Wolfgang , Rajanna Shivdeep Doddagopenahallli 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Automated scarfing of carbon reinforced plastic (CFRP) layers is on its way to support commercial aircraft repair. In the industry, still, the manual scarfing operation is the qualified method. However, automated techniques as milling, laser removal and water jet cutting are in development and showed already good results. Another promising method is vacuum suction blasting (VSB) that was until now in particular used for the roughening of surfaces before adhesive bonding. To find the right adjustment for the parameters many experiments would be necessary accordingly to different CFRP parts with changing layer thicknesses. Simulation is a way to avoid this and to predict the removal result and the settings for the machining parameters. The VSB model uses a pixel method dividing the simulated part surface into smaller volume elements. Experimental data of VSB static blasting spots are the basic for the source matrix. The simulation feeds the matrix with the blasted depth and removal volume for different blasting times. A shifting of columns of the source matrix in the blasting movement direction simulates the movement of the blasting nozzle on the work piece surface. With this, the model can also predict the nozzle feed to remove exactly one complete layer for each scarfing step. In addition, it visualizes the seamless overlapping distance between two blasted tracks. With further adjustments, the model will predict the dynamic removal for varying input parameters such as negative pressure and nozzle distance or blasting agent.
CLASSIFICATIO CODES
MSC: 26B15, 65L12, 97G30, 15A24
JEL: C20
Sequential fusion-based defence strategy against sophisticated Byzantine attacks in cognitive IoT networks
Authors: ZEMO Flavien DONKENG , Bakkali Sara 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
5G and 6G promise to be catalysts for the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling ultra-massive and mission-critical IoT. The requirements of new IoT applications and the large number of connected objects announced will exacerbate the thorny problem of spectrum scarcity in wireless communications. Cognitive radio is positioned as a revolutionary technology that promises to mitigate the problem of spectrum scarcity through more efficient use of spectrum. Integrating cognitive radio into the IoT allows objects to opportunistically access spectrum resources already allocated to another user (primary user, PU) without causing interference. Spectrum sensing allows objects to be aware of the spectrum occupancy status of the target PU. In radio environments where the PU signal is subject to multipath and shadowing effects, making spectrum sensing by a single object very difficult, cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) has been proposed to improve detection performance. However, this cooperation between objects has opened the way to a new form of attack known as the Spectrum Sensing Data Falsification (SSDF) or Byzantine attack. In our paper, we propose a sophisticated Byzantine attack model that generalizes known simple attacks. Then we propose a new innovative and intelligent weighted sequential hypothesis testing scheme that ensures CSS security by significantly reducing the average number of samples required for global decision-making in a highly hostile IoT network. Simulation results under various attack scenarios clearly show that our security mechanism leads to better performance compared to other mechanisms such as classical WSPRT, SPRT and majority rule.
The Semi-implicit DLN Algorithm for the Navier Stokes Equations
Authors: Pei Wenlong 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Dahlquist, Liniger, and Nevanlinna design a family of one-leg, two-step meth- ods (the DLN method) that is second order, A− and G− stable for arbitrary, non-uniform time steps. Recently, the implementation of the DLN method can be simplified by the refactorization process (adding time filters on the backward Euler scheme). Due to these fine properties, the DLN method has strong potential for the numerical simulation of time-dependent fluid models. In the report, we propose a semi-implicit DLN algorithm for the Navier Stokes equations (avoid- ing non-linear solver at each time step) and prove the unconditional, long-term stability and second-order convergence with the moderate time step restriction. Moreover, the adaptive DLN algorithms by the required error or numerical dis- sipation criterion are presented to balance the accuracy and computational cost. Numerical tests will be given to support the main conclusions.
Twelve-hour Normothermic Liver Perfusion in a Rat Model: Characterization of the Changes in the Ex-situ Bio-molecular Phenotype and Metabolism
Authors: Daniele Dondossola , Caterina Lonati , Michele Battistin , Luigi Vivona , Alberto Zanella , Marco Maggioni , Valentina Vaira , Laimdota Zizmare , Christoph Trautwein , Andrea Schlegel , Stefano Gatti 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The partial understanding of the biological events that occur during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) and particularly during prolonged perfusion might hinder its deployment in clinical transplantation. The aim of our study was to implement a rat model of prolonged NMP to characterize the bio-molecular phenotype and metabolism of the perfused organs.
Livers (n=5/group) were procured and underwent 4h (NMP4h) or 12h (NMP12h) NMP, respectively, using a perfusion fluid supplemented with an acellular oxygen carrier. Organs that were not exposed to any procedure served as controls (Native).
All perfused organs met clinically derived viability criteria at the end of NMP. Factors related to stress-response and survival were increased after prolonged perfusion. No signs of oxidative damage were detected in both NMP groups. Evaluation of metabolite profiles showed preserved mitochondrial function, activation of Cori cycle, induction of lipolysis, acetogenesis and ketogenesis in livers exposed to 12h-NMP. Increased concentrations of metabolites involved in glycogen synthesis, glucuronidation, bile acid conjugation, and antioxidant response were likewise observed.
In conclusion, our NMP12h model was able to sustain liver viability and function, thereby deeply changing cell homeostasis to maintain a newly developed equilibrium. Our findings provide valuable information for the implementation of optimized protocols for prolonged NMP.
Effects of Systemic Treatment on the Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriasis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yeon Seok , Lee Yu Jin , Lee Jung Min , Lee June Hyunkyung , Han Tae Young , Choi Jae Eun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Psoriasis has been linked to various comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases. Recently, biologics have become widely used for their remarkable effectiveness and favorable safety profile. Nonetheless, many patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis persist in using immunosuppressants, often driven by insurance-related constraints; the use of immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, may give rise to concerns regarding the additional cardiovascular burden attributed to the drug. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of systemic treatment on the risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with psoriasis. A customized database from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea spanning the years 2002 to 2019 served as the primary data source for this study. Propensity score matching was conducted in a 1:1 ratio between patients diagnosed with psoriasis who underwent systemic treatment and those who did not. The diagnoses of psoriasis and individual cardiovascular diseases were established using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. The systemic treatment group was divided into distinct and non-overlapping cohorts, including cyclosporine, methotrexate, mixed immunosuppressant, biologics, and phototherapy cohorts. We calculated the incidence rates of each cardiovascular disease and subsequently assessed the association between systemic treatment and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases using a Cox proportional hazards model. Patients with psoriasis who received any systemic treatment had a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) for hypertension, dyslipidemia and MACE than those who did not (HR 1.43, 1.60, 1.77). The mixed immunosuppressant cohort had the highest HRs for hypertension, dyslipidemia and MACE (HR 3.49, 4.08, 4.94), followed by methotrexate (HR 2.82, 2.73, 4.52), cyclosporine (HR 2.09, 2.36, 2.92), biologics (HR 1.46, 2.33, 1.98), and phototherapy cohorts (HR 1.00, 1.14, 0.96). In summary, our findings indicate that the mixed immunosuppressant cohort exhibited the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases, with methotrexate, cyclosporine, biologics, and phototherapy cohorts following in descending order. It remains unclear whether it is derived from the psoriasis itself or the treatment, as the disease severity could not be adjusted. Nevertheless, our results suggest that biologics may offer a more favorable choice for mitigating potential cardiovascular comorbidities in individuals with psoriasis when compared to immunosuppressant therapies.
Femoral neck system interferes less with the gluteus medius muscle than cannulated compression screws in patients with Pauwels' type III femoral neck fracture: a retrospective study of 103 cases
Authors: zhao gongyin , Wu Hao , Zhou Weibo , Chen Wei 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
The femoral neck system (FNS) shows promise as an effective alternative for treating femoral neck fractures, particularly Pauwels type III fractures. However, limited literature exists on comparative studies investigating the effects of FNS versus cannulated compression screws (CCS) on the gluteus medius (GM) muscle. This study aims to compare the impact of FNS and CCS interventions on the GM in Pauwels type III femoral neck fracture treatment.
Methods
This study included 103 patients diagnosed with Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures, treated between January 2019 and September 2021. Among them, 54 patients underwent FNS treatment (FNS group), while 49 patients received CCS fixation (CCS group). Changes in GM area were assessed through ultrasound at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, and hip function was assessed by Harris hip score.
Results
At 3-, and 6-months post-surgery, the GM area was notably reduced on the operated side in the CCS group compared to the healthy side (p < 0.0001), while no significant disparity was observed in the FNS group (p = 0.402 at 3 months, p = 0.989 at 6 months). The Harris hip score, reflecting postoperative recovery, was significantly superior in the FNS group compared to the CCS group both in March (84.5 ± 3.9 vs. 82.7 ± 4.4, P = 0.029) and June (91.4 ± 4.4 vs. 89.7 ± 4.0, P = 0.037).
Conclusion
FNS internal fixation for Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures minimally impacts the GM compared to compression screws, suggesting its potential to improve hip function, facilitate gait, and enhance overall hip joint rehabilitation.
Congenital anomalies of the pulmonary arterial system in a paediatric cohort: a single- center 28-year experience
Authors: Brunet-Garcia Laia , Bellon Juan Manuel Carretero , Zuccarino Flavio 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background and objective
Congenital anomalies of the pulmonary arterial system are rare. They include left pulmonary artery sling (LPAS), unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) and anomalous origin of unilateral pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta (AOPA) or hemitruncus. Our aim was to review 21 paediatric cases and describe their presentation, , diagnosis, management and long-term follow-up.
Material and methods
A retrospective observational study of all paediatric patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities diagnosis (May 1995-March 2023) was conducted. Patients underwent systematic evaluation (medical and family history; echocardiogram; angiography and/or computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography).
Results
21 paediatric patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities (LPAS n=11, UAPA n=6 and AOPA n=4) were included. The median age at diagnosis was 2.0 [0.1-12.0] months, the median follow-up time 2.4 [0.4-11.7] for all patients and 8.0 [0.7-12.5] years for survivors. 2 patients (9.5%) were prenatally diagnosed. Echocardiography diagnosed 18 patients (85.7%). The diagnosis was confirmed by MR (n=1), CT (n=17) or angiography (n=3). There were 5 deaths (23.8%) (median age 1.4 [0.6-5.9] months).
Conclusion
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities is paramount to diminish post-operative residual lesions and morbidity, as demonstrated in our study. Nevertheless, further studies including larger cohorts are required not only to better define consensus regarding surgical management of congenital abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial system but also to improve their aetiology understanding and associated anomalies. These will enhance the clinical delineation of these entities leading to an increase of clinicians’ awareness.
Does enhanced recovery after surgery affect pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty?
Authors: Yin Jinneng , Xing Guangwei , Xu Mingjie , Jing Xiaobo 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The incidence of pain catastrophizing, depression and anxiety is not uncommon in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), and Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) schemes can improve peri-operative stress responses of the patients. The aim of this study is to to determine the effect of ERAS protocol on patient satisfaction, pain catastrophizing and hospital-related anxiety and/or depression following primary total hip arthroplasty.
Methods
Data were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent primary THA between 2017 and 2020. Patients in the control group who received conventional treatment were matched with the ERAS group following the ERAS protocol using a 1:1 ratio by baseline characteristics. All cases in both groups were evaluated and analyzed for pain catastrophizing, depression and anxiety using Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at postoperative 1 weeks, 6weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
Results
A total of 182 patients in the ERAS group and 182 patients in the control group were found using propensity score matching. When compared to preoperative outcomes, both groups experienced sizable improvements in all Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) at the follow-up periods. Compared with the control group, the ERAS group’s satisfaction was significantly higher (p = 0.002), the pain catastrophizing degree of ERAS group was significantly decreased at 1 week (p < 0.001), 6 weeks (p < 0.001) and 3 months (p = 0.015), and the anxiety degree was significantly decreased at 1 week (p < 0.001) and 6 weeks (p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, depression decreased significantly at 1 week (p < 0.001), 6 weeks (p = 0.004), 3 months (p < 0.001) and 6 months (p = 0.021), respectively. Patients in the ERAS group experienced faster relief from pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety disorders than those in the control group, and maintained a relatively stable mental state at minimum 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions
Patients undergoing THA following ERAS protocol have a better effect on improving peri-operative patient-reported depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing screenings than those following traditional scheme. Therefore, ERAS intervention and management may be beneficial for patients with pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety who are planning to undergo THA.
Level of evidence III.
Prediction of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules Based on Multicenter Ultrasound Images
Authors: Liu Xueping , Ren Xinqu , Wu Lei , Fu Zuojun , Liu Xiaoying , Zhou Yuwang , Fang Yun , Yu Lingfei 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose Thyroid cancer is a prevalent form of cancer, ranking ninth in terms of incidence rate worldwide. To leverage the advancements in deep learning for medical imaging, we successfully developed a dynamic integration model that combines the transformer and convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures to estimate benignity or malignancy. Methods We recruited 202 patients with thyroid nodules from Quzhou People’s Hospital and 102 patients from the public Thyroid Ultrasound Images (DDTI) dataset. We randomly divided the data into a training set (429 ultrasound images) and testing set (70 ultrasound images) at a 7:3 ratio. To address the inherent imbalance in the dataset, we employed a data augmentation strategy that adds 1 noise as a compensatory measure. A dynamic integration strategy, DiTNet, which is based on Vision Transformer, ResNet, and DenseNet, is proposed, using a CNN and self-attention mechanism to extract image features. Results To evaluate the performance of DiTNet, its relevant indicators were assessed based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC). ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95, accompanied by accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values of 0.89. Conclusion DiTNet exhibited excellent performance in the face of imbalanced datasets and complex and diverse samples, verifying the effectiveness of data augmentation strategies and the ability of different basic models to learn different features.
A Novel Nutrition-Related Prognostic Biomarker for Predicting Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cai Hao , Chen Yu , Jia Houjun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a major global malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Accurate prognostic assessment plays a vital role in the management of CRC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of red blood cell count (RBC), and develop a comprehensive biomarker based on RBC and Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) to predict the prognosis of resectable CRC patients.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 210 CRC patients who underwent radical resection between January 2015 and January 2017. Various clinical and hematological factors were assessed, including RBC, albumin, hemoglobin, and OPNI. A novel comprehensive biomarker, R-OPNI, was introduced, combining preoperative RBC with OPNI. The correlation between these factors and patient survival was analyzed, and the independent prognostic value of R-OPNI was assessed based on univariate and multivariate Cox models.
Results
Patients with higher RBC levels (≥ 3.9 x1012/L) experienced significantly improved overall survival compared to those with lower RBC levels (p < 0.001). High OPNI values were also associated with prolonged survival (p < 0.001). Notably, patients with lower R-OPNI scores (0 or 1) had notably poorer overall survival (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed R-OPNI's independent prognostic significance (HR: 0.273, 95% CI: 0.098–0.763, p = 0.013). Furthermore, factors such as tumor site, albumin levels, albumin to globulin ratio, hemoglobin levels, and total protein levels demonstrated significant prognostic value in CRC survival.
Conclusion
R-OPNI is significantly associated with the survival of resectable CRC patients and serves as an independent prognostic predictor. The study also highlights the prognostic importance of RBC in CRC and emphasizes the value of assessing the preoperative nutritional status.