bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NEMA NU 2-2018 evaluation and image quality optimization of a new generation digital 32-cm axial field-of-view Omni Legend PET-CT using a genetic evolutionary algorithm
Authors: Smith Rhodri Lyn , Bartley Lee , O’Callaghan Christopher , Haberska Luiza , Marshall Chris 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
A performance evaluation was conducted on the new General Electric (GE) digital Omni Legend PET-CT system with 32 cm extended field of view. The first commercially available clinical digital bismuth germanate system. The system does not use time of flight (ToF). Testing was performed in accordance with the NEMA NU2–2018 standard. A comparison was made between two other commercial GE scanners with extended fields of view; the Discovery MI − 6 ring (ToF enabled) and the Discovery IQ (non-ToF). A genetic evolutionary algorithm was developed to optimize image reconstruction parameters from image quality assessments. The Omni demonstrated average spatial resolutions at 1 cm radial offset as 3.9 mm FWHM. The total system sensitivity at the center was 44.36 cps/kBq. The peak NECR was measured as 501 kcps at 17.8 kBq ml−1 with a 35.48% scatter fraction. The maximum count-rate error below NECR peak was 5.5%. Using standard iterative reconstructions, sphere contrast recovery coefficients were from 52.7 ± 3.2% (10 mm) to 92.5 ± 2.4% (37 mm). The PET-CT co-registration accuracy was 2.4 mm. In place of ToF, the Omni employs software corrections through a pre-trained neural network (PDL) (trained on non-ToF to ToF) that takes Bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction (Q.Clear) images as input. The optimum parameters for image reconstruction, determined using the genetic algorithm were a Q.Clear parameter, β, of 350 and a ‘medium’ PDL setting. Using standard iterative reconstructions, the Omni initially showed increased background variability compared to the Discovery MI. With optimized PDL reconstruction parameters selected using the genetic algorithm the performance of the Omni surpassed that of the Discovery MI on all NEMA tests. The genetic algorithm’s demonstrated ability to enhance image quality in PET-CT imaging underscores the importance of algorithm driven optimization and underscores the requirement to validate its use in the clinical setting.
Impact of increased protein intake in older adults: a 12-week double-blind randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wirth Janine , Segat Annalisa , Horner Katy , Crognale Domenico , Smith Thomas , O’Sullivan Maurice , Brennan Lorraine 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Emerging evidence suggests health-promoting properties of increased protein intake. There is increased interest in plant protein but a dearth of information in relation to its impact on muscle function. The objective of the present work was to examine the impact of intake of different types of proteins on muscle functional parameters including handgrip strength, biomarkers of metabolic health, sleep quality and quality of life in a group of older adults.

Methods
Healthy men and women aged 50 years and older entered a double-blinded, randomised, controlled nutritional intervention study with three parallel arms: high plant protein, high dairy protein and low protein. Participants consumed once daily a ready-to-mix shake (containing 20 g of protein in high protein groups) for 12 weeks. Changes in handgrip and leg strength, body composition, metabolic health, quality of life and sleep quality were analysed by linear mixed models in an intention-to-treat approach.

Results
Eligible participants (n = 171) were randomly assigned to the groups (plant: n = 60, dairy: n = 56, low protein: n = 55) and 141 completed the study. Handgrip strength increased after the intervention (Ptime = 0.038), with no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference between groups for any other health outcomes.

Conclusions
In a population of older adults, increasing protein intake by 20 g daily for 12 weeks (whether plant-based or dairy-based) did not result in significant differences in muscle function, body composition, metabolic health, sleep quality or quality of life, compared with the low protein group.
PB-LKS: a python package for predicting phage–bacteria interaction through local K-mer strategy
Authors: Qiu Jingxuan , Nie Wanchun , Ding Hao , Dai Jia , Wei Yiwen , Li Dezhi , Zhang Yuxi , Xie Junting , Tian Xinxin , Wu Nannan , Qiu Tianyi 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Bacteriophages can help the treatment of bacterial infections yet require in-silico models to deal with the great genetic diversity between phages and bacteria. Despite the tolerable prediction performance, the application scope of current approaches is limited to the prediction at the species level, which cannot accurately predict the relationship of phages across strain mutants. This has hindered the development of phage therapeutics based on the prediction of phage–bacteria relationships. In this paper, we present, PB-LKS, to predict the phage–bacteria interaction based on local K-mer strategy with higher performance and wider applicability. The utility of PB-LKS is rigorously validated through (i) large-scale historical screening, (ii) case study at the class level and (iii) in vitro simulation of bacterial antiphage resistance at the strain mutant level. The PB-LKS approach could outperform the current state-of-the-art methods and illustrate potential clinical utility in pre-optimized phage therapy design.
Genomic hallmarks and therapeutic targets of ribosome biogenesis in cancer
Authors: Zang Yue , Ran Xia , Yuan Jie , Wu Hao , Wang Youya , Li He , Teng Huajing , Sun Zhongsheng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Hyperactive ribosome biogenesis (RiboSis) fuels unrestricted cell proliferation, whereas genomic hallmarks and therapeutic targets of RiboSis in cancers remain elusive, and efficient approaches to quantify RiboSis activity are still limited. Here, we have established an in silico approach to conveniently score RiboSis activity based on individual transcriptome data. By employing this novel approach and RNA-seq data of 14 645 samples from TCGA/GTEx dataset and 917 294 single-cell expression profiles across 13 cancer types, we observed the elevated activity of RiboSis in malignant cells of various human cancers, and high risk of severe outcomes in patients with high RiboSis activity. Our mining of pan-cancer multi-omics data characterized numerous molecular alterations of RiboSis, and unveiled the predominant somatic alteration in RiboSis genes was copy number variation. A total of 128 RiboSis genes, including EXOSC4, BOP1, RPLP0P6 and UTP23, were identified as potential therapeutic targets. Interestingly, we observed that the activity of RiboSis was associated with TP53 mutations, and hyperactive RiboSis was associated with poor outcomes in lung cancer patients without TP53 mutations, highlighting the importance of considering TP53 mutations during therapy by impairing RiboSis. Moreover, we predicted 23 compounds, including methotrexate and CX-5461, associated with the expression signature of RiboSis genes. The current study generates a comprehensive blueprint of molecular alterations in RiboSis genes across cancers, which provides a valuable resource for RiboSis-based anti-tumor therapy.
New techniques to identify the tissue of origin for cancer of unknown primary in the era of precision medicine: progress and challenges
Authors: Ma Wenyuan , Wu Hui , Chen Yiran , Xu Hongxia , Jiang Junjie , Du Bang , Wan Mingyu , Ma Xiaolu , Chen Xiaoyu , Lin Lili , Su Xinhui , Bao Xuanwen , Shen Yifei , Xu Nong , Ruan Jian , Jiang Haiping , Ding Yongfeng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Despite a standardized diagnostic examination, cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a rare metastatic malignancy with an unidentified tissue of origin (TOO). Patients diagnosed with CUP are typically treated with empiric chemotherapy, although their prognosis is worse than those with metastatic cancer of a known origin. TOO identification of CUP has been employed in precision medicine, and subsequent site-specific therapy is clinically helpful. For example, molecular profiling, including genomic profiling, gene expression profiling, epigenetics and proteins, has facilitated TOO identification. Moreover, machine learning has improved identification accuracy, and non-invasive methods, such as liquid biopsy and image omics, are gaining momentum. However, the heterogeneity in prediction accuracy, sample requirements and technical fundamentals among the various techniques is noteworthy. Accordingly, we systematically reviewed the development and limitations of novel TOO identification methods, compared their pros and cons and assessed their potential clinical usefulness. Our study may help patients shift from empirical to customized care and improve their prognoses.
Delayed maturation of the exoskeleton and muscle fibres in the ant Platythyrea punctata
Authors: Matte Arthur , Billen Johan , Shit Piuli , Heinze Jürgen , Bernadou Abel 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In many species of eusocial Hymenoptera, workers exhibit a division of labour based on age, wherein young workers remain protected within the nest before transitioning to foraging activities. These changes in tasks and in external stress exposure are accompanied by physiological and anatomical modifications. Although pigmentation changes in the exoskeleton are well documented in ants, limited information is available on muscle morphology and developmental changes in the adult cuticle. Here, we investigated the alterations in the exoskeleton and thoracic muscles across different age groups of the clonal ant Platythyrea punctata, in which reproduction is monopolized by one or a few dominant workers. Our findings revealed a significant thickening of the cuticle and muscle fibres in young workers during the intranidal period, reaching a final stage in forager individuals. We further tested the influence of reproductive status on body development and found variations only in muscle fibres between reproductive and nonreproductive individuals. This suggests that dominant individuals allocate resources in egg-laying by minimizing other metabolic costs. These findings shed light on how eusociality profoundly alters selection pressures and results in temporal shifts in individual development. This strategy probably provides advantages to colonies by minimizing nutritional waste and optimizing resource allocation.
Current spectrum and outcomes of infarct-related cardiogenic shock: insights from the CULPRIT-SHOCK registry and randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zeymer Uwe , Heer Tobias , Ouarrak Taoufik , Akin Ibrahim , Noc Marko , Stepinska Janina , Oldroyd Keith , Serpytis Pranas , Montalescot Giles , Huber Kurt , Windecker Stephan , Savonitto Stefano , Vrints Christiaan , Schneider Steffen , Desch Steffen , Thiele Holger 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
We analysed consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) who were enrolled into the CULPRIT-SHOCK randomized controlled trial (RCT) and those with exclusion criteria who were included into the accompanying registry.

Methods and results
In total, 1075 patients with infarct-related CS were screened for CULPRIT-SHOCK in 83 specialized centres in Europe; 369 of them had exclusion criteria for the RCT and were enrolled into the registry. Patients were followed over 1 year. The mean age was 68 years and 260 (25%) were women. 13.5%, 30.9%, and 55.6% had one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), respectively. Significant left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis was present in 8.0%. 54.2% of the patients had cardiac arrest before admission. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 patency of the infarct vessel after percutaneous coronary intervention was achieved in 83.6% of all patients. Mechanical circulatory support was applied in one-third of patients. Total mortality after 30 days and 1 year was 47.6% and 52.9%. Mortality after 1 year was highest in patients with LM coronary artery stenosis (63.5%), followed by three-vessel (56.6%), two-vessel (49.8%), and one-vessel CAD (38.6%), respectively. Mechanical complications were rare (21/1008; 2.1%) but associated with a high mortality of 66.7% after 1 year.

Conclusion
In specialized centres in Europe, short- and long-term mortality of patients with infarct-related CS treated with an invasive strategy is still high and mainly depends on the extent of CAD. Therefore, there is still a need for improvement of care to improve the prognosis of infarct-related CS.
Remote monitoring of atrial fibrillation recurrence using mHealth technology (REMOTE-AF)
Authors: Adasuriya Gamith , Barsky Andrey , Kralj-Hans Ines , Mohan Siddhartha , Gill Simrat , Chen Zhong , Jarman Julian , Jones David , Valli Haseeb , Gkoutos Georgios V , Markides Vias , Hussain Wajid , Wong Tom , Kotecha Dipak , Haldar Shouvik 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
This proof-of-concept study sought to evaluate changes in heart rate (HR) obtained from a consumer wearable device and compare against implantable loop recorder (ILR)-detected recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial tachycardia (AT) after AF ablation.

Methods and results
REMOTE-AF (NCT05037136) was a prospectively designed sub-study of the CASA-AF randomized controlled trial (NCT04280042). Participants without a permanent pacemaker had an ILR implanted at their index ablation procedure for longstanding persistent AF. Heart rate and step count were continuously monitored using photoplethysmography (PPG) from a commercially available wrist-worn wearable. Photoplethysmography-recorded HR data were pre-processed with noise filtration and episodes at 1-min interval over 30 min of HR elevations (Z-score = 2) were compared with corresponding ILR data. Thirty-five patients were enrolled, with mean age 70.3 ± 6.8 years and median follow-up 10 months (interquartile range 8–12 months). Implantable loop recorder analysis revealed 17 out of 35 patients (49%) had recurrence of AF/AT. Compared with ILR recurrence, wearable-derived elevations in HR ≥ 110 beats per minute had a sensitivity of 95.3%, specificity 54.1%, positive predictive value (PPV) 15.8%, negative predictive value (NPV) 99.2%, and overall accuracy 57.4%. With PPG-recorded HR elevation spikes (non-exercise related), the sensitivity was 87.5%, specificity 62.2%, PPV 39.2%, NPV 92.3%, and overall accuracy 64.0% in the entire patient cohort. In the AF/AT recurrence only group, sensitivity was 87.6%, specificity 68.3%, PPV 53.6%, NPV 93.0%, and overall accuracy 75.0%.

Conclusion
Consumer wearable devices have the potential to contribute to arrhythmia detection after AF ablation.

Study Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05037136 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05037136
Validation and comparison of 2D grading scales and 3D volumetric measurements for outcome assessment of bone-grafted alveolar clefts in children
Authors: Lemberger Mathias , Benchimol Daniel , Pegelow Marie , Jacobs Reinhilde , Karsten Agneta 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Several methods have been proposed to assess outcome of bone-grafted alveolar clefts on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), but so far these methods have not been compared and clinically validated.

Objectives
To validate and compare methods for outcome assessment of bone-grafted clefts with CBCT and provide recommendations for follow-up.

Methods
In this observational follow-up study, two grading scales (Suomalainen; Liu) and the volumetric bone fill (BF) were used to assess the outcome of 23 autogenous bone-grafted unilateral alveolar clefts. The mean age at bone grafting was 9 years. The volumetric BF was assessed in five vertical sections. The bone-grafted cleft outcome was based on a binary coding (success or regraft) on a clinical multidisciplinary expert consensus meeting. Grading scales and volumetric assessment were compared in relation to the bone-grafted cleft outcome (success or regraft). Reliability for the different outcome variables was analyzed with intra-class correlation and by calculating kappa values.

Limitations
The study had a limited sample size. Clinical CBCT acquisitions had a varying tube current and exposure time.

Results
Volumetric 3D measurements allowed for outcome assessment of bone-grafted alveolar clefts with high reliability and validity. The two grading scales showed highly reliable outcomes, yet the validity was high for the Suomalainen grading scale but low for the Liu grading scale.

Conclusions
Volumetric 3D measurement as well as the Suomalainen grading can be recommended for outcome assessment of the bone-grafted cleft. Yet, one must always make a patient-specific assessment if there is a need to regraft.
To be or not to be: orb, the fusome and oocyte specification in Drosophila
Authors: Barr Justinn , Diegmiller Rocky , Colonnetta Megan M , Ke Wenfan , Imran Alsous Jasmin , Stern Tomer , Shvartsman Stanislav Y , Schedl Paul 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, two cells in a cyst of 16 interconnected cells have the potential to become the oocyte, but only one of these will assume an oocyte fate as the cysts transition through regions 2a and 2b of the germarium. The mechanism of specification depends on a polarized microtubule network, a dynein dependent Egl:BicD mRNA cargo complex, a special membranous structure called the fusome and its associated proteins, and the translational regulator orb. In this work, we have investigated the role of orb and the fusome in oocyte specification. We show here that specification is a stepwise process. Initially, orb mRNAs accumulate in the two pro-oocytes in close association with the fusome. This association is accompanied by the activation of the orb autoregulatory loop, generating high levels of Orb. Subsequently, orb mRNAs become enriched in only one of the pro-oocytes, the presumptive oocyte, and this is followed, with a delay, by Orb localization to the oocyte. We find that fusome association of orb mRNAs is essential for oocyte specification in the germarium, is mediated by the orb 3′ UTR, and requires Orb protein. We also show that the microtubule minus end binding protein Patronin functions downstream of orb in oocyte specification. Finally, in contrast to a previously proposed model for oocyte selection, we find that the choice of which pro-oocyte becomes the oocyte does not seem to be predetermined by the amount of fusome material in these two cells, but instead depends upon a competition for orb gene products.
Special Alternating Knots Are Band Prime
Authors: Boninger Joe , Evan Greene Joshua 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
We prove that a special alternating knot does not decompose as a non-trivial band sum. This restricts concordances from special alternating knots, and we conjecture that special alternating knots are ribbon concordance minimal. We verify our conjecture in many cases. This work is motivated by another conjecture of Owens and the second author, which posits that the set of alternating knots is downward closed under ribbon concordance.
Range expansion of a declining forest species, the Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus), into semiarid woodland
Authors: Sultaire Sean M , Montgomery Robert A , Jackson Patrick J , Millspaugh Joshua J 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Globally, animals that are range-restricted are frequently becoming species of conservation concern, in part due to competitive exclusion by phylogenetically and ecologically similar species that are more tolerant of human disturbance. However, climate and land use changes to natural landscapes can create pockets of refugia for range-restricted species. Western gray squirrels (Sciurus griseus) are native to the west coast of North America, principally California and western Oregon. Over the past several decades, Western Gray Squirrel populations have declined in human-dominated areas, with increased competition from introduced congeneric species native to eastern North America cited as a primary driver. Despite declines in their established range west of the Pacific Crest in western North America, western gray squirrels are extending their range into the Great Basin, where they were not historically found. Using a network of remote camera traps deployed across the Sierra Nevada–Great Basin ecotone in northwestern Nevada, we detected western gray squirrels across 16 of 100 camera-trapping sites. The majority of detections were located in piñon–juniper woodland, a land cover type not previously occupied by this species. Occupancy modeling revealed that western gray squirrels were equally likely to occur in piñon–juniper woodland compared to mature pine forest that they occupy elsewhere in their range. A species distribution model parameterized with historical gray squirrel observations (pre-1950), indicated increased climatic suitability for the species on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in recent decades, which may have facilitated this range expansion. Our findings reveal the potential for species declining in their historical range to colonize novel habitats that become increasingly suitable as a result of human-driven changes to ecosystems.
‘Unleash the tiger within your soul’: Interplays among professionalism, socializing discourses, and work–life management in adventure work
Authors: Coker Michael C , Godager Emily A , Pink Kari J 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Socializing messages shape individuals’ perceptions of professionalism and meaningful work. For individuals in the USA, many anticipatory socialization messages consist of normative notions of work; socializing discourses often draw from dominant ideologies. However, not all workers align their understandings and enactments of work with socializing discourses and/or dominant ideologies. This study draws on 14 interviews with adventure workers (AWs) to examine how socializing messages interplay with their conceptualizations of meaningful work and professionalism, as well as take shape in their work–life management. AWs simultaneously resisted and retooled professionalism depending on the value they associated with work, illuminating ways that professionalism can be a resource and constraint in particular contexts. Our findings illustrate how AWs’ perceptions of work–life management, notions of meaningfulness, and enactments of professionalism are co-constituted. We situate our findings alongside work–life scholarship and call for future investigations of the interplay between meaningfulness and professionalism in nonnormative work.
Evaluation of the Pedagogical Impact of “Traum’Cast” Podcast: A Pilot Study Based on Metacognition
Authors: Pouessel Kafka Tara , Soniak Claire , Benbrika Widad , Vacher Antony , Boutonnet Mathieu , Martinez Thibault 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction
With the evolution of educational tools, the French Military medical service has created a podcast program, Traum’Cast, about the principles of war medicine, accessible online for free.

Method
Our objective was to measure the learning effect of the Traum’Cast program’s first episode. A non-randomized pilot trial between July and December 2021 included 80 health care providers: 40 in the video podcast group compared to 40 in a group reading a pdf file providing the same information. Using a 10 MCQs, we evaluated knowledge acquisition before, just after, and 2 weeks after the intervention. It was measured using metacognition tools based on confidence marking (number of correct answers, score weighted by certainty level, and realism).

Results
Knowledge acquisition was better in the podcast group than in the pdf file group immediately after the intervention (correct answers: 9.0 [9.0–10.0] vs 9.0 [7.8–9.0], P = 0.015; weighted score: 177.0 [159.0–198.0] vs 160.0 [129.5–176.5], P = 0.020). This difference was persistent 2 weeks after (weighted score: 127.5 [101.8–145.2] vs 105.5 [74.2–128.5], P = 0.023).

Conclusion
This podcast is an innovative teaching tool which has proven to strengthen the knowledge of the principles of war medicine.