bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New insights in thyroid diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Pitoia Fabian , Trimboli Pierpaolo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe prevalence of thyroid disease continues to rise. As a consequence, the research in the thyroid field has significantly increased over time. Thus, clinicians, and endocrinologists first, have to be aware of the important continuous progress achieved, in particular of thyroid cancer, to better manage their patients. This themed issue, titled “New Insights in Thyroid Diagnosis and Treatment,” delves deep into contemporary hot topics in thyroid field. These papers included in the present issue are focused on several aspects in this area, such as imaging, molecular analysis, machine learning and radiomics, nuclear medicine, clinical, and laboratory. Seven papers centers around thyroid cancer. Three papers review imaging modalities for thyroid nodule/cancer assessment. Two papers report a comprehensive review of metabolic issues involving thyroid gland. Finally, a large overview about genetics of Graves’ disease is reported in another study. Clinicians will find this issue very interesting.
Alcohol and Loneliness: Their Entanglement and Social Constitution
Authors: Schmid Ulla 
Published: December 2023

AbstractI develop an externalist perspective and analysis of the relatedness of loneliness and (harmful) alcohol use and the concept of loneliness. I depart from twenty qualitative interviews with people undergoing inpatient treatment for alcohol dependence. Both, loneliness and its relatedness to alocohol dependence turn out to be complex relational and interactional phenomena whose occurrence and dynamics depend on the social and situational conditions under which they arise. Despite huge variations in interviewees’ experiences of loneliness, they share a common phenomenological and analytical structure. Loneliness arises when instances of social interaction fail to arrive at mutual understanding within a certain social context. Loneliness is neither reducible to individual experiences nor to distinctive characteristics of a person. Rather, it presents an evaluative and interactional phenomenon, a person’s awareness of his/her failure to establish mutual understanding with others in social interaction. The relatedness of alcohol dependence and loneliness is neither conceptual nor causal nor explainable by facts about the individuals concerned, but depends on the kind of loneliness involved and the function habitual ways of drinking alcohol have in a person’s everyday life and social environment.
Schwerpunktthemen der quantitativ-empirischen Forschung mit Bezug zur Digitalisierung in der kulturellen Bildung: Eine kartierende Forschungssynthese
Authors: Christ Alexander , Smolarczyk Kathrin , Kröner Stephan 
Published: December 2023

ZusammenfassungIm Kontext des digitalen Wandels haben sich auch kulturelle Aktivitäten verändert. „Klassische“ Aktivitäten wurden digital überformt, neue, genuin digitale Aktivitäten sind entstanden. Darauf beziehen sich viele Studien aus verschiedenen Fachdisziplinen, die bislang noch nicht einer simultanen Kartierung nach untersuchter Facette kultureller Aktivität und übergreifenden Themen unterzogen wurden. Für einen Überblick über Schwerpunkte und Desiderate quantitativ-empirischer Arbeiten am Schnittpunkt von Digitalisierung und Kultureller Teilhabe eignen sich kartierende Forschungssynthesen (Mapping Reviews). Angesichts der Vielzahl einzubeziehender Arbeiten ist Textmining samt Priority Screening mittels Predictive Modeling hilfreich. Nach Sichtung von n = 8500 potenziell relevanten Arbeiten aus einem Suchergebnis von n > 250.000 Arbeiten via Predictive Modeling wurden n = 3846 Arbeiten inkludiert und durch Topic Modeling nach untersuchten Facetten kultureller Aktivität sowie übergreifenden Themen kartiert. Für die übergreifenden Themen resultierten Topics wie Unterricht und Schule, Motivation und Spaß und Kreativität und Projekte zum kulturellen Erbe. Zu allen Facetten kultureller Aktivitäten, nicht jedoch zu allen Kombinationen mit übergreifenden Themen wurde eine substantielle Menge an Arbeiten identifiziert. Es wird diskutiert, welche Implikationen die identifizierten Schwerpunkte und Desiderate für themenspezifische Forschungssynthesen sowie für weitere Originalarbeiten haben. Zusätzlich werden Implikationen für die Weiterentwicklung der angewendeten Verfahren diskutiert.
Reelin’ In The Years: Age and Selective Restriction of Liberty in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Motorniak David , Savulescu Julian , Giubilini Alberto 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, focused protection strategies including selective lockdowns of the elderly were proposed as alternatives to general lockdowns. These selective restrictions would consist of isolating only those most at risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and subsequent use of healthcare resources. The proposal seems to have troubling implications, including the permissibility of selective lockdown on the basis of characteristics such as ethnicity, sex, disability, or BMI. Like age, these factors also correlated with an increased risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. In this paper, we argue that age has meaningful differences as a morally relevant characteristic in the justification for selective restrictions of liberty. Thus, it might justify selective freedom restrictions in a way in which other factors might not. We offer four moral domains that separate age from other proxies: empiricism, operationality, discrimination, and disparity.
ASF1 regulates asexual and sexual reproduction in Stemphylium eturmiunum by DJ-1 stimulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Shi , Liu Xiaoman , Xiong Chenlin , Gao Susu , Xu Wenmeng , Zhao Lili , Song Chunyan , Liu Xiaoyong , James Timothy Y. , Li Zhuang , Zhang Xiuguo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMost fungi display a mixed mating system with both asexual and sexual reproduction. The timing of the two modes of reproduction must be carefully coordinated through signal perception and coordination in the cell along with chromatin modification. Here, we investigated coordination of reproductive output by investigating the function of the histone chaperone anti-silencing factor 1 (ASF1) in a fungal species amenable to characterization of both asexual and sexual reproduction. We used knockout approach to show that SeASF1 influenced asexual and sexual reproduction in Stemphylium eturmiunum. SeASF1-deleted strains failed to produce pseudothecia, but produce abnormal conidia and showed an irregular distribution of nuclei in mycelium. Transcriptome sequencing was then used to identify genes with altered expression in the SeASF1-deleted strains. The transcriptional expression of the identified SeDJ-1 was strongly regulated by SeASF1. The interaction of SeDJ-1 and SeASF1 was confirmed using Y2H, Co-IP, and pull-down. Due to some components of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway were known to interact with DJ-1 in mammals, we verified SePI3K, an element of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in S. eturmiunum, was directly linked to SeDJ-1 and then these two proteins were defined as a coordinator of reproduction. However, knockout of SeDJ-1 or SePI3K altered the asexual and sexual reproduction, but SePI3K recovered the asexual and sexual development of ∆Sedj-1. The SeDJ-1-M6 segment of SeDJ-1 was essential for its interaction with SePI3K and played a critical role in restoring sexual reproduction in the ∆Sepi3k, providing a deep understanding of the regulatory mechanism of SeDJ-1 in S. eturmiunum development. Summarily, SeASF1 is able to trigger SeDJ-1 and SeDJ-1can also activate SePI3K, which is orchestrally involved in asexual and sexual reproduction in S. eturmiunum. All these results reveal that SeASF1 manipulates asexual and sexual reproduction in S. eturmiunum by SeDJ-1 perception of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These data highlight the deep similarities in coordinating asexual and sexual processes in both fungi and eukaryotes in general.
Fast-Response Fiber-Optic FPI Temperature Sensing System Based on Modulated Grating Y-Branch Tunable Laser
Authors: Cheung Yang , Jing Zhenguo , Liu Qiang , Li Ang , Liu Yueying , Guo Yihang , Zhang Sen , Zhou Dapeng , Peng Wei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this paper, a cost-effective and miniaturized instrument is proposed, which is based on a tunable modulated grating Y-branch (MG-Y) laser for rapid temperature measurement using a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) sensor. The FPI sensor with a 1 463-µm cavity length is a short segment of a capillary tube sandwiched by two sections of single-mode fibers (SMFs). This system has a broad tunable range (1 527 nm–1 567 nm) with a wavelength interval of 8 pm and a tuning rate of 100 Hz. Temperature sensing experiments are carried out to investigate the performance of the system by demodulating the absolute cavity length of the FPI sensor using a cross-correlation algorithm. Experimental results show that the sensor can reach the response time as short as 94 ms with the sensitivity of 802 pm/°C. Benefiting from the homemade and integrated essential electrical circuits, the entire system has the small size, low cost, and practical application potential to be used in the harsh environment for rapid temperature measurement.
The growth of Soviet music in the scope of Chinese cinema in the early period of the establishment of New China: an example of the interlude “Oh, the snowball tree is in blossom” in the film and television works of Ivan Perilyev
Authors: Wang Mingjie , Xiao Yan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn the early days of the founding of New China, there was an international situation with close political contact between China and the Soviet Union. I still remember the title of “Big Brother of the Soviet Union”, which shows the political and cultural exchange and blending between these two countries. In the film industry culture, Soviet films and their unique musical melodies and content materials have inspired the development of Chinese films. The musical elements in the films can make the film works more valuable, and it is easier for them to have emotional impacts and fluctuations to invoke empathy and association. This article will analyze and discuss the films in the early days of the founding of New China through the development and influence of Soviet music in China at that time and through the detailed analysis of the specific work “Happy Life” by Ivan Pyryev to search for and summarize the clues of the rooted development of Soviet music in the Chinese film industry and its role and significance in future film and television development.
Enhanced multi-scale networks for semantic segmentation
Authors: Li Tianping , Cui Zhaotong , Han Yu , Li Guanxing , Li Meng , Wei Dongmei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMulti-scale representation provides an effective answer to the scale variation of objects and entities in semantic segmentation. The ability to capture long-range pixel dependency facilitates semantic segmentation. In addition, semantic segmentation necessitates the effective use of pixel-to-pixel similarity in the channel direction to enhance pixel areas. By reviewing the characteristics of earlier successful segmentation models, we discover a number of crucial elements that enhance segmentation model performance, including a robust encoder structure, multi-scale interactions, attention mechanisms, and a robust decoder structure. The attention mechanism of the asymmetric non-local neural network (ANNet) is merged with multi-scale pyramidal modules to accelerate model segmentation while maintaining high accuracy. However, ANNet does not account for the similarity between pixels in the feature map channel direction, making the segmentation accuracy unsatisfactory. As a result, we propose EMSNet, a straightforward convolutional network architecture for semantic segmentation that consists of Integration of enhanced regional module (IERM) and Multi-scale convolution module (MSCM). The IERM module generates weights using four or five-stage feature maps, then fuses the input features with the weights and uses more computation. The similarity of the channel direction feature graphs is also calculated using ANNet’s auxiliary loss function. The MSCM module can more accurately describe the interactions between various channels, capture the interdependencies between feature pixels, and capture the multi-scale context. Experiments prove that we perform well in tests using the benchmark dataset. On Cityscapes test data, we get 82.2% segmentation accuracy. The mIoU in the ADE20k and Pascal VOC datasets are, respectively, 45.58% and 85.46%.
Density and regional distribution of radiologists in a low-income country: the Ghana situation
Authors: Sarkodie Benjamin Dabo , Ohene-Botwe Benard , Mensah Yaw B. , Tagoe Edmund , Jimah Bashiru Babatunde , Brakohiapa Edmund Kwakye , Dzefi-Tettey Klenam 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
This study assessed the density and distribution of radiologists across all 16 regions in Ghana to generate reference information for planning and policy formulation to encourage radiology specialization and in designing systems to improve the dissemination of radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.

Method
A cross-sectional design was used to collect secondary data on all radiologists (n = 93) registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDCG) as of December 2022. This information collected on the records of the MDCG was confirmed with records from the Ghana Association of Radiologists. Population and land area data were also collected from the National Statistical Service of Ghana for each region in the country. The Stata statistical software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected.

Results
There were 93 radiologists in the country. The majority were male (n = 60, 65%) and about one-third of the radiologists were female. The national density of radiologists was 1.9 radiologists per 5000 km2. Only 3 of the 16 regions in the country had a better distribution of radiologists per 5000 km2. There were three radiologists per million people in Ghana with a skewed regional distribution. Seven out of the 16 regions lacked radiologists. The proportion of female radiologists stationed within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions was 87.9% (29/33). The Bono, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions had one female radiologist each.

Conclusions
Actions are needed to improve the shortage and skewed distribution of radiologists. The outcome will help to improve radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.
A Novel Framework for Detection of Harmful Snakes Using YOLO Algorithm
Authors: Naresh E. , Babu J. Ananda , Darshan S. L. Shiva , Murthy S. V. N. , Srinidhi N. N. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe spotlight of our discussion here is on developing a model for detecting snakes present in the agricultural fields using cameras and machine learning algorithms. The idea is to construct a machine learning model to identify the snakes, which will be trained on a vast set of images of snakes. These images will be carefully selected to include the snake patterns, skin color of different species of snakes (extraction of the unique features). This is done to train the model properly to identify different types of snakes that the farmer encounters in the fields. Most famers are unaware and have a need for a way to detect these snakes so that they can either avoid them or get rid of them. Hence, this system can be implemented to prevent thousands of deaths and can help famers alleviate the repercussions of snake bites. Mistakes in recognizing potentially harmful animal species based only on visual cues are major contributors to the high death toll from venomous animal attacks. Since they spend so much time in the fields, where rice and wheat are cultivated, farmers are at a higher risk of being bitten by a snake than the general population. Because of their ignorance, illiterate farmers are more inclined to believe in superstitions, which can lead to their untimely deaths from snakebites despite medical intervention. Animals that would normally pose no threat to humans are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people every year because of environmental factors. However, because it is hard for humans to recognize these dangers, a new design paradigm has been developed to make it simpler. Researchers in the field of animal biology can use it to search for endangered species. Predators may enter gardens and green areas like tea and coffee plantations. There is not yet a plan in place to implement automated sorting for discovering distinctions. By applying the suggested framework to photographs of potentially dangerous animals, several factors useful for studying animal organization may be easily identified. For the classifier to run in real-time, it is suggested that YOLO be utilized for double processing within the framework. Furthermore, the YOLO technique enables quick animal recognition in a similar fashion. First, the YOLO method will be used to determine whether a snake is present in the proposed work. Here, 87 percent precision is also reached in the detection of snakes.
Comparing Artificial Intelligence Classification Models to Improve an Image Comparison System with User Inputs
Authors: Jardim Sandra , Valente Jorge , Almeida Artur , Mora Carlos 
Published: December 2023

AbstractData science techniques have increased in popularity over the last decades due to its numerous applications when handling complex data, but also due to its high precision. In particular, Machine (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) systems have been explored in many unique applications, owing to their high precision, flexible customization, and strong adaptability. Our research focuses on a previously described image detection system and analyses the application of a user feedback system to improve the accuracy of the comparison formula. Due to the non-traditional requirements of our system, we intended to assess the performance of multiple AI techniques and find the most suitable model to analyze our data and implement possible improvements. The study focuses on a set of test data, using the test results collected for one particular image cluster. We researched some of the previous solutions on similar topics and compared multiple ML methods to find the most suitable model for our results. Artificial Neural networks and binary decision trees were among the better performing models tested. Reinforcement and Deep Learning methods could be the focus of future studies, once more varied data are collected, with bigger comparison weight diversity.
Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten im Medizinstudium – Erprobung eines Lehrkonzepts in Lehrpraxen
Authors: Bleckwenn Markus , Legutke Richard , Gehres Vera , Weckbecker Klaus , Engel Bettina 
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Mit der neuen Approbationsordnung soll das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten stärker in das Medizinstudium integriert werden.

Ziel der Arbeit/Fragestellung
Daher sollte im Fachgebiet Allgemeinmedizin überprüft werden, wie die Integration einer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit mit Patient*innen in das bestehende Curriculum von den Studierenden umgesetzt werden kann und wie die Lehrärzt*innen diese Erweiterung der Lehre annehmen.

Material und Methoden
Dazu sollten die Medizinstudierenden Patienten*innen mit einer Allopurinolbehandlung in Hausarztpraxen untersuchen. Hierfür sollten neben einer persönlichen Befragung der Patient*innen auch Daten aus den Patient*innenakten entnommen werden. Die Eintragungen in den Untersuchungsbögen wurden anschließend anhand der Patienten*innenakten auf die korrekte Dateneingabe überprüft. Zudem wurden die Lehrärzt*innen anhand eines Fragebogens zur dem Lehrprojekt befragt.

Ergebnisse
An dem Lehrprojekt nahmen 35 Studierende in 29 Lehrpraxen teil. In sieben Lehrpraxen (25 %) wurden wie geplant Patient*innen mit einer Gichtbehandlung untersucht. Dichotome Items und Fragen zu Personendaten wurden durchweg korrekt von den Studierenden dokumentiert. Fehler bei der Dokumentation konnten bei komplexeren Items, wie z. B. bei der Abfrage der Vormedikation oder den Vorerkrankungen, beobachtet werden. Die Lehrärzt*innen gaben Zeit- und Personalprobleme und Schwierigkeiten bei der Patient*innenrekrutierung an.

Schlussfolgerungen
Für eine erfolgreiche Integration einer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit in eine bestehende Lehrveranstaltung sollten sich alle beteiligten Lehrkräfte mit den wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter*innen möglichst frühzeitig zusammensetzen und die zukünftige Durchführung der wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten gemeinsam planen.
Older adults’ and caregivers’ perceptions about urinary tract infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria guidelines: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Durkin Michael J. , Schmitz Viktoria , Hsueh Kevin , Troubh Zoe , Politi Mary C. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective:
To explore older adults’ and caregivers’ knowledge and perceptions of guidelines for appropriate antibiotics use for bacteria in the urine.

Design:
Semi-structured qualitative interviews.

Setting:
Infectious disease clinics, community senior living facilities, memory care clinics, and general public.

Participants:
Patients 65 years or older diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) in the past two years, or caregivers of such patients.

Methods:
We conducted interviews between March and July 2023. We developed an interview guide based on the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation-behavior) behavior change framework. We thematically analyzed written transcripts of audio-recorded interviews using inductive and deductive coding techniques.

Results:
Thirty participants (21 patients, 9 caregivers) enrolled. Most participants understood UTI symptoms such as pain during urination and frequent urination. However, communication with multiple clinicians, misinformation, and unclear symptoms that overlapped with other health issues clouded their understanding of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and UTIs. Some participants worried that clinicians would be dismissive of symptoms if they suggested a diagnosis of ASB without prescribing antibiotics. Many participants felt that the benefits of taking antibiotics for ASB outweighed harms, though some mentioned fears of personal antibiotic resistance if taking unnecessary antibiotics. No participants mentioned the public health impact of potential antibiotic resistance. Most participants trusted information from clinicians over brochures or websites but wanted to review information after clinical conversations.

Conclusion:
Clinician-focused interventions to reduce antibiotic use for ASB should also address patient concerns during clinical visits, and provide standardized high-quality educational materials at the end of the visit.