bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Relation of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve to Inferior Thyroid Artery and Extralaryngeal Nerve Branching May Increase the Risk of Vocal Cord Paralysis in Thyroidectomy
Authors: Aygun Nurcihan , Unlu Mehmet Taner , Caliskan Ozan , Kostek Mehmet , Isgor Adnan , Uludag Mehmet 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) are common during thyroidectomy. We aimed to evaluate the risk of RLN paralysis in case of its anatomical variations, retrospectively.
Methods
The patients with primary thyroidectomy between January 2016 and December 2019 were enrolled. The effect of age, gender, surgical intervention, neuromonitorisation type, central neck dissection, postoperative diagnosis, neck side, extralaryngeal branching, non-RLN, relation of RLN to inferior thyroid artery (ITA), grade of Zuckerkandl tubercle on vocal cord paralysis (VCP) were investigated.
Results
This study enrolled 1070 neck sides. The extralaryngeal branching rate was 35.5%. 45.9% of RLNs were anterior and 44.5% were posterior to the ITA, and 9.6% were crossing between the branches of the ITA. The rate of total VCP was 4.8% (transient:4.5%, permanent: 0.3%). The rates of total and transient VCP were significantly higher in extralaryngeal branching nerves compared to nonbranching nerves (6.8% vs 3.6%, p = 0.018; 6.8% vs 3.2%, p = 0.006, respectively). Total VCP rates were 7.2%, 2.5%, and 2.9% in case of the RLN crossing anterior, posterior and between the branches of ITA, respectively (p = 0.003). The difference was also significant regarding the transient VCP rates (p = 0.004). Anterior crossing pattern increased the total and transient VCP rates 2.8 and 2.9 times, respectively.
Conclusion
Anatomical variations of the RLN cannot be predicted preoperatively. This study is the first one reporting that the relationship between RLN and ITA increased the risk of VCP. Thus, RLN should be identified definitely till the entry of the larynx to preserve all its branches.
Prediction of compressive strength of concrete based on IABC-MLP algorithm
Authors: Li Ping , Zhang Yanru , Gu Jiming , Duan Shiwei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
There are many factors that affect the compressive strength of concrete. The relationship between compressive strength and these factors is a complex nonlinear problem. Empirical formulas commonly used to predict the compressive strength of concrete are based on summarizing experimental data of several different mix proportions and curing periods, and their generality is poor. This article proposes an improved artificial bee colony algorithm (IABC) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) coupled model for predicting the compressive strength of concrete. To address the shortcomings of the basic artificial bee colony algorithm, such as easily falling into local optima and slow convergence speed, this article introduces a Gaussian mutation operator into the basic artificial bee colony algorithm to optimize the initial honey source position and designs an MLP neural network model based on the improved artificial bee colony algorithm (IABC-MLP). Compared with traditional strength prediction models, the ABC-MLP model can better capture the nonlinear relationship of the compressive strength of concrete and achieve higher prediction accuracy when considering the compound effect of multiple factors. The IABC-MLP model built in this study is compared with the ABC-MLP and particle swarm optimization (PSO) coupling algorithms. The research shows that IABC can significantly improve the training and prediction accuracy of MLP. Compared with the ABC-MLP and PSO-MLP coupling models, the training accuracy of the IABC-MLP model is increased by 1.6% and 4.5%, respectively. This model is also compared with common individual learning algorithms such as MLP, decision tree (DT), support vector machine regression (SVR), and random forest algorithms (RF). Based on the comparison of prediction results, the proposed method shows excellent performance in all indicators and demonstrates the superiority of heuristic algorithms in predicting the compressive strength of concrete.
Surgical Revascularization as a Procedure to Prevent Neurological Complications in children with Moyamoya Syndrome Associated with Neurofibromatosis I: a Single Institution Case Series
Authors: Morello Alberto , Scala Marcello , Schiavetti Irene , Diana Maria Cristina , Severino Mariasavina , Tortora Domenico , Piatelli Gianluca , Pavanello Marco 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background The optimal timing and surgical approach for surgical revascularization in patients with Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) associated with Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) remains so far elusive. We aimed to compare the long-term clinical, radiological, and cognitive effects of different revascularization procedures in a pediatric cohort of NF1-associated MMS.
Methods We reviewed the clinical, radiological, and surgical data of 26 patients with NF1-associated MMS diagnosed at our Institution between 2012 and 2022, at the clinical onset and last follow-up.
Results Indirect bypasses were performed in 12/26 patients (57.1%), while combined direct and indirect procedures in 9/26 subjects (42.9%); 5 patients did not undergo surgery. Through logistic regression analysis, pathological Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) at onset was found to be associated with symptom improvement at 1 year follow up (p =0.006). No significant differences were found in long-term neurocognitive outcome and stroke rate in patients receiving combined or indirect bypass (p>0.05).
Conclusions Currently, whether combined or indirect bypass should be considered the treatment of choice in pediatric patients with NF1-associated MMS remains unclear, as well as the optimal time approach. In our series, no significant differences were found in long-term neurocognitive outcome and stroke rate between patients treated with either of these two approaches. Clinical evidence supports the crucial role of early diagnosis and surgical revascularization in subjects with MMS – associated NF1, even in case of mildly symptomatic vasculopathy. This allows to achieve a good long-term outcome with improved intellectual function, and prevention of stroke and seizure in these patients.
High expression of ISG20L2 promotes proliferation and invasion of A549 cells and is associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Yu Dan , Liu Ming 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Interferon-stimulated 20kDa exonuclease-like 2 (ISG20L2) is a gene that exhibits differential expression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its expression and function in LUAD remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ISG20L2 in LUAD and its correlation with prognosis, as well as to explore its impact on the biological behavior of LUAD.
Methods
The researchers analyzed the expression of ISG20L2 using both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Enrichment analysis was performed using the "GOplot" and "clusterprofile" R packages. The correlation between ISG20L2 expression and prognosis of LUAD patients was assessed through IHC and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Additionally, the diagnostic value of ISG20L2 in LUAD was evaluated using ROC curve analysis. The relationship between ISG20L2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics was examined through IHC. Overexpression and knockout experiments of ISG20L2 were conducted via transient transfection. The biological properties of ISG20L2 in A549 cells, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion abilities, were investigated using assays such as cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and Transwell assays.
Results
The findings indicated that ISG20L2 was highly expressed in LUAD, and its high expression was closely associated with poor prognosis. In vitro experiments further confirmed a positive correlation between ISG20L2 expression level and the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of LUAD cells, while no significant effect on apoptotic ability was observed.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that ISG20L2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells, and its high expression predicts a poorer prognosis for LUAD patients. This study suggests that ISG20L2 has the potential to serve as a molecular marker for the treatment and prognosis of LUAD.
Functional adaptation of bone mechanical properties using a diffusive stimulus originated by dynamic loads in bone remodelling
Authors: Allena Rachele , Scerrato Daria , Bersani Alberto , Giorgio Ivan 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The present study proposes a mathematical model elucidating some aspects of the biomechanical stimulus involved in bone remodelling, which, in our assumptions, acts as a diffusive signalling agent for bones. The proposed mathematical model aims to scrutinize the behaviour of bone tissues and their evolution over time by better understanding the mechanisms of bone remodelling and offering new theoretical tools for developing more effective and efficient treatment strategies for bone defects, trauma, or diseases. The bone remodelling process involves adapting bone mechanical properties in response to dynamic loads. This adaptation is achieved through the diffusive stimulus created by these loads. The result is a functional adaptation of the bone, wherein it acquires the mechanical properties required to withstand the loads to which it is subjected. This phenomenon has significant implications for the study of bone physiology and biomechanics. As such, it is a topic of great interest to researchers and practitioners in the fields of orthopaedics, sports medicine, and related disciplines. In this contribution, the mechanical behaviour is modelled through a generalized three-dimensional deformable continuum that also takes into account the porous nature of the bone tissue with a nonlinear constitutive law. Since we have focused the study on the model of the stimulus and its interplay with the evolution of the tissue, an isotropic material symmetry is adopted to simplify the problem. This formulation is promising because it permits the bone tissue to evolve depending on the time-variability of the external mechanical loads, even if the source of the stimulus is assumed to be the strain energy density.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). 74L15 Biomechanical solid mechanics.
Fuzzy compensation disturbance observer-based adaptive tracking control for pure-feedback systems with deferred output constraint
Authors: Liu Mengru , Zhang Weihai 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In this paper, the concentration is on a tracking control issue for a class of deferred time-varying output-constrained pure-feedback systems subject to unknown external disturbance. In the control scheme design procedure, the nonlinearities are approximated by fuzzy logic systems. To obtain a virtual term, the mean value theorem is applied to separate the non-affine component of pure-feedback systems. A fuzzy compensation disturbance observer is proposed to further weaken the impact of disturbances on the system. An auxiliary system is designed to ensure that the compensation term is related to the error between the ideal and actual signals. The shifting function and the fractional barrier function are combined to achieve deferred constraints on the system output. The proposed strategy can be used to determine the boundary parameters of the barrier function immediately and to avoid the need for numerous simulation iterations. Two simulations are performed to confirm the validity of the presented strategy.
Oral exposure to bisphenol S is associated with alterations in the oviduct proteome of an ovine model, with aggravated effects in overfed females
Authors: Mahé Coline , Riviere Marie-Emilie Lebachelier de la , Lasserre Olivier , Tsikis Guillaume , Tomas Daniel , Labas Valérie , Elis Sébastien , Saint-Dizier Marie 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background
Bisphenol S (BPS) is a substitute for bisphenol A in plastic manufacturing and, as a potential endocrine disruptor, may alter the physiology of the oviduct, in which fertilization and early embryo development take place in mammals. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a daily dietary exposure to BPS combined with a contrasted diet on the oviduct fluid proteome using an ovine model.
Results
Eighty adult cyclic ewes were allotted to four groups (20/group): overfed (OF) consuming 50 µg/kg/day of BPS in their diet, underfed (UF) consuming 50 µg/kg/day of BPS, and non-exposed controls in each diet group. After three months, the mean body condition score and plasma levels of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids were significantly higher in over- than in underfed females. The proteins in collected OF samples (50 µg) were analyzed by nanoliquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). Overall, 1563 proteins were identified, among which 848 were quantified. Principal component analysis of the data revealed a clear discrimination of samples according to the diet and a segregation between BPS-exposed and non-exposed females in overfed ewes. Hierarchical clustering of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) identified two clusters of 101 and 78 DAPs according to the diet. Pairwise comparisons between groups revealed a stronger effect of BPS in OF than in UF females (70 vs. 24 DAPs) and a stronger effect of the diet in BPS-exposed than non-exposed females (56 vs. 36 DAPs). Functional analysis of DAPs showed an enrichment in metabolic processes, immune system, cell response to stress, and reproductive processes.
Conclusions
This work highlights for the first time the important impact of BPS on the oviduct proteome, with larger effects seen in OF than UF females. These results, together with previous ones, raise health concerns for everyone and call for a greater regulation of BPS in the food industry.
A Bayesian Framework for Learning Proactive Robot Behaviour in Assistive Tasks
Authors: Andriella Antonio , Cucciniello Ilenia , Origlia Antonio , Rossi Silvia 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Socially assistive robots represent a promising tool in assistive contexts to improve people's quality of life and well-being through social and emotional support, just like cognitive or physical. However, the effectiveness of interactions depends significantly on their ability to adapt to the needs of the assisted persons and act proactively in an anticipatory way, offering assistance before it is explicitly requested. Unfortunately, most of the previous work has only focused on what actions the robot should perform, rather than considering when to act and how confident it should be in a given situation. To address this gap, in this paper, we introduce a new data-driven framework that involves the use of a learning pipeline, consisting of 2 phases, with the ultimate goal of training an algorithm based on Influence Diagrams. The assistance scenario considered involves a sequential memory game where the robot learns autonomously what assistance to provide, when and with what confidence to take control and intervene. The results obtained from a user study showed that the proactive behaviour of the robot had a positive impact on the users' game performance. They obtained higher scores, made fewer mistakes, and requested less assistance from the robot. The study also highlighted the robot's ability to provide assistance tailored to users' specific needs and to anticipate their requests.
Multistage Attention Region Supplement Transformer for Fine-grained Visual Categorization
Authors: Mei Aokun , Huo Hua , Xu Jiaxin , Xu Ningya 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Fine-Grained Visual Categorization (FGVC) involves learning detailed features for images that are difficult to distinguish within the same subclass. This enables networks to differentiate between instances of different classes that share very similar visual content. Therefore, learning how to extract nuanced representations of selected object details is crucial. This paper introduces a novel fine-grained visual classification model with Vision Transformer (ViT) as the backbone, namely Multistage Attention Region Supplement Transformer (MARS-Trans). Our main contributions are as follows. First, we observed that in ViT's multi-head attention module, each Attention Head's softmaxed feature results are directly concatenated and multiplied by weights. Consequently, we propose a Multistage Attention Module (MAM) to grade the attention heads based on their weights. Additionally, we introduce a Region Supplement Module (RSM) to suppress non-critical regions and enhance edge information in key areas, further emphasizing the discriminative features. Finally, we use our proposed Approximate Adjust Method (AAM) to refine the final features and improve classification results. We conducted thorough experiments with MARS-Trans on four popular public fine-grained image datasets, validating the effectiveness of these modules. SOTA results are achieved on one dataset, and competitive performance is demonstrated on the other three datasets.The code is available at https://github.com/ArrikenMei/MARS-Trans.
Evaluation of Urban Land Cover Indices Affecting Urban Heat Island Formation Using Advanced Geo-Spatial Techniques
Authors: YILMAZ Dilara , OZTURK Sevgi 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Evaluation of land surface temperature during the climate change process is important in urban planning. The urban thermal environment is closely related to land surface characteristics. The relationship between land surface properties and land surface temperature (LST) is among the current research topics. As a result of advances in geospatial and remote sensing fields, remote sensing-based spectral indices have been developed to investigate land use/land cover (LULC) effects on the urban thermal environment. The study aims to investigate the impact of remote sensing-based LULC indices on LST in Ankara metropolitan city. LST values, which are an important representation of the urban heat island, were calculated from Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS data for 2013, 2018, and 2023. Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) was used to define the urban heat island effect from a thermal perspective. Additionally, to define the urban heat island effect in terms of land cover characteristics, temporal-spatial changes of the LULC indices which are Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Impervious Index (NDISI) has been evaluated. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of LULC indices on LST. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that NDVI and NDWI had a negative correlation with LST, while NDBI and NDISI had a positive correlation. The highest correlation values belong to 2023. NDVI (R²=0.4944) and NDWI (R²=0.2666) affect the 2023 LST negatively, while NDBI (R²=0.3664) and NDISI (R²=0.6010) affect it positively. While the results show the importance of green vegetation and water surfaces in reducing LST, they show that NDISI, which is a representation of impervious surfaces, has the most impact on increasing LST. The results of the study also reveal the impact and importance of spatial patterns of LULC indices on LST.
Evaluation of retention and wear resistance of different telescopic crown attachment materials in implant retained overdenture (an in vitro study)
Authors: Selima Rim Adel , hamid Sherif M. Abd el , Basiony Mohamed Z. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of using different types of telescopic crown attachment materials on the retention and wear resistance in implant-retained mandibular overdentures.
Methods: Thirty-three identical mandibular overdentures were fabricated on completely edentulous mandibular epoxy models supported by two implants in the canine region and retained to the implants with three different telescopic attachments materials. Study groups were divided into three categories: PEEK/PEEK, PEEK/ZrO2 and PEEK/CoCr.
Primary PEEK copings were fabricated for all the study groups, followed by fabrication of secondary copings from PEEK, ZrO2, and CoCr. Retention and wear between the three groups was evaluated.
Results: Highest retention was recorded for PEEK/PEEK combination, followed by PEEK/ZrO2 and PEEK/CoCr respectively. For wear resistance test, primary copings of all study groups were examined under stereomicroscope. Mesio-distal width was measured before the application of insertion-removal cycles and after completion of 1.000, 5.000 and 10.000 cycles. The highest level of wear resistance was recorded for PEEK/PEEK combination, while PEEK/ZrO2 and PEEK/CoCr showed no significant differences.
Conclusion: The materials used for telescopic crowns influence the absolute retention forces and the resistance to wear, even if the same crown design was chosen. Within the limitations of this study, PEEK-PEEK combination showed better outcome regarding retention and wear resistance followed by PEEK-ZrO2.
Evaluation of Ecosystem Service Value in Kenli District of Dongying
Authors: Zhang Junwei , Ma Yue-Wei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

This paper analyzes the ecosystem service function and its value in the Kenli District of Dongying City, a major town situated at the Yellow River estuary, using the Xiegaodi classification system and evaluation method. The spatio-temporal variations of four ecosystem service values—habitat quality, carbon storage, water conservation, and soil conservation—are examined from 2000 to 2020 employing the InVEST model and a grid-based approach. The findings reveal declining trends in habitat quality, carbon storage, and soil conservation, contrasted with an upward trend in water conservation from 2000 to 2020 in Dongying. Spatially, the habitat quality in the Kenli District of Dongying City displays a pattern of high values in the southeast and low values in the northwest. Higher carbon storage areas are primarily concentrated in the western, central, and northern regions of the Kenli District, with an observed eastward expansion. Water conservation transitions from low to high. Soil conservation values are higher, and the low-value areas shift from the central and southern parts to the southern regions, along with some parts of the northeast moving to the north. The value of ecosystem services in the Kenli District of Dongying City increases from 1.911 billion yuan in 2000 to 3.597 billion yuan in 2010 and further to 3.747 billion yuan in 2020. The impacts of cultivated land, wetland, and water bodies on the ecosystem service value in the region are more apparent. Specifically, the impacts of cultivated land on the ecosystem service value in 2000, 2010, and 2020 amount to 70.29%, 25.54%, and 25.63%, respectively, while those of wetland are 4.77%, 32.39%, and 31.07%, and for water bodies, the percentages are 33.96%, 45.51%, and 49.92%, respectively. From the perspective of ecological service functions, waste treatment, water conservation, and climate regulation exhibit greater importance. Over the study period, waste treatment contributes 29.25%, 32.19%, and 32.97% to the total value, whereas water conservation accounts for 15.51%, 25.86%, and 26.84%, and climate regulation constitutes 10.66%, 12.68%, and 12.05% of the total value, respectively.