bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
F‐SHARP: a Phase I/II trial of focal salvage high‐dose‐rate brachytherapy for Radiorecurrent prostate cancer
Authors: Solanki Abhishek A. , Yoo Ryan K. , Adams William , Davicioni Elai , Mysz Michael L. , Shea Steven , Gupta Gopal N. , Showalter Timothy , Garant Aurelie , Hentz Courtney , Farooq Ahmer , Baldea Kristin , Small William , Harkenrider Matthew M. 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundIntraprostatic local radiorecurrence (LRR) after definitive radiation is being increasingly identified due to the implementation of molecular positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging for the evaluation of biochemical recurrence. Salvage high‐dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy offers a promising local therapy option, with encouraging toxicity and efficacy based on early series. Furthermore, the incorporation of advanced imaging allows for focal HDR to further reduce toxicity to maximise the therapeutic ratio. The objectives of the ‘focal salvage HDR brachytherapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer in patients treated with prior radiotherapy’ (F‐SHARP) trial are to determine the acute and late toxicity and efficacy outcomes of focal salvage HDR brachytherapy for LRR prostate cancer.Study DesignThe F‐SHARP is a multi‐institutional two‐stage Phase I/II clinical trial of salvage focal HDR brachytherapy for LRR prostate cancer enrolling patients at three centres.EndpointsThe primary endpoint is the acute radiation‐related Grade ≥3 Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version 4.03) genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity rate, defined as within 3 months of brachytherapy. Secondary endpoints include acute and late CTCAE toxicity, biochemical failure, patterns of clinical progression, disease‐specific and overall survival, and health‐related quality of life, as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score and 26‐item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite instruments.Patients and MethodsKey eligibility criteria include: biopsy confirmed LRR prostate adenocarcinoma after prior definitive radiation therapy using any radiotherapeutic modality, no evidence of regional or distant metastasis, and cT1–3a Nx or N0 prostate cancer at initial treatment. All patients will have multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and molecular PET/CT imaging if possible. In Stage 1, seven patients will be accrued. If there are two or more GI or GU Grade ≥3 toxicities, the study will be stopped. Otherwise, 17 additional patients will be accrued (total of 24 patients). For Stage 2, the cohort will expand to 62 subjects to study the efficacy outcomes, long‐term toxicity profile, quality of life, and compare single‐ vs multi‐fraction HDR. Transcriptomic analysis of recurrence biopsies will be performed to identify potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
Lightweight Curvature Estimation on Point Clouds with Randomized Corrected Curvature Measures
Authors: Lachaud J.‐O. , Coeurjolly D. , Labart C. , Romon P. , Thibert B. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe estimation of differential quantities on oriented point cloud is a classical step for many geometry processing tasks in computer graphics and vision. Even if many solutions exist to estimate such quantities, they usually fail at satisfying both a stable estimation with theoretical guarantee, and the efficiency of the associated algorithm. Relying on the notion of corrected curvature measures [LRT22, LRTC20] designed for surfaces, the method introduced in this paper meets both requirements. Given a point of interest and a few nearest neighbours, our method estimates the whole curvature tensor information by generating random triangles within these neighbours and normalising the corrected curvature measures by the corrected area measure. We provide a stability theorem showing that our pointwise curvatures are accurate and convergent, provided the noise in position and normal information has a variance smaller than the radius of neighbourhood. Experiments and comparisons with the state‐of‐the‐art confirm that our approach is more accurate and much faster than alternatives. The method is fully parallelizable, requires only one nearest neighbour request per point of computation, and is trivial to implement.
Influence of straight versus angulated screw channel titanium bases on failure loads of two‐piece ceramic and titanium implants restored with screw‐retained monolithic crowns: An in‐vitro study
Authors: Helal E. , Gierthmuehlen P. C. , Bonfante E. A. , Campos T. M. B. , Prott L. S. , Langner R. , Spitznagel F. A. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the influence of titanium‐base (straight [SSC]/angulated‐screw‐channel [ASC]) on failure‐loads and bending‐moments of two‐piece ceramic and titanium–zirconium implants restored with monolithic‐zirconia crowns after fatigue.Materials and MethodsThirty‐two anterior monolithic‐screw‐retained zirconia crowns were divided into four groups (n = 8/group) according to the factors: (1) type of implant material: two‐piece titanium–zirconium implant (Ti–Zr; control‐group) versus two‐piece ceramic implant (CI; test‐group) and (2) type of titanium‐base: SSC (0° angle) versus ASC (25°). An intact implant was used for field emission gun‐scanning electronic microscopy (FEG‐SEM) characterization and Raman spectroscopy for phase analyses and residual stress quantification. All samples were exposed to fatigue with thermodynamic loading (1.2‐million‐cycles, 49 N, 1.6 Hz, 5–55°C) at a 30° angle. Surviving specimens were loaded until failure (SLF) and bending moments were recorded. Failed samples were examined using light microscope and SEM. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U‐test.ResultsRaman‐spectroscopy revealed the presence of residual compressive stresses. FEG‐SEM revealed a roughened surface between threads and polished surface at the cervical‐collar of the ceramic implant. All samples survived fatigue and were free of complications. Mean bending‐moments (±SD) were: Ti‐Zr‐0: 241 ± 45 N cm, Ti‐Zr‐25: 303 ± 86 N cm, CI‐0: 326 ± 58 N cm, CI‐25: 434 ± 71 N cm. Titanium‐base and implant‐material had significant effects in favor of ASC titanium bases (p = .001) and ceramic‐implants (p < .001). Failure analysis after SLF revealed severe fractures in ceramic implants, whereas titanium implants were restricted to plastic deformation.ConclusionsCeramic and titanium implants exhibited high reliability after fatigue, with no failures. From a mechanical perspective, titanium bases with ASC can be recommended for both ceramic and titanium implants and are safe for clinical application.
GV‐971 attenuates α‐Synuclein aggregation and related pathology
Authors: Yu Zhenwei , Yang Ying , Chan Robin Barry , Shi Min , Stewart Tessandra , Huang Yang , Liu Zongran , Lan Guoyu , Sheng Lifu , Tian Chen , Yang Dishun , Zhang Jing 
Published: August 2023

AbstractRationaleSynucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), share a distinct pathological feature, that is, a widespread accumulation of α‐synuclein (α‐syn) in the brain. There is a significant clinical unmet need for disease‐modifying treatments for synucleinopathies. Recently, a seaweed‐derived mixture of oligosaccharides sodium oligomannate, GV‐971, was approved for Phase 2 clinical trials for PD. This study aimed to further evaluate the therapeutic effects of GV‐971 on synucleinopathies using cellular and animal models and explore its associated molecular mechanisms.Methodsα‐Syn aggregation was assessed, in vitro and ex vivo, by ThT assay. A dopaminergic neuron cell line, Prnp‐SNCAA53T mice, and brain slices from PD and DLB patients were used to determine the efficacy of GV‐971 in ameliorating α‐syn pathology. Measurements of motor functions, including pole, cylinder, and rotarod tests, were conducted on Prnp‐SNCAA53T mice 4 weeks after intragastric administration of GV‐971 (200 mg day−1 kg−1).ResultsGV‐971 effectively prevented α‐syn aggregation and even disassembled pre‐aggregated α‐syn fibrils, in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, GV‐971 was able to rescue α‐syn‐induced neuronal damage and reduced release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), likely via modulating Alix expression. In the Prnp‐SNCAA53T mouse model, when treated at the age of 5 months, GV‐971 significantly decreased α‐syn deposition in the cortex, midbrain, and cerebellum regions, along with ameliorating the motor dysfunctions.ConclusionsOur results indicate that GV‐971, when administered at a relatively early stage of the disease process, significantly reduced α‐syn accumulation and aggregation in Prnp‐SNCAA53T mice. Furthermore, GV‐971 corrected α‐syn‐induced inhibition of EVs release in neurons, contributing to neuronal protection. Future studies are needed to further assess GV‐971 as a promising disease‐modifying therapy for PD and other synucleinopathies.
Critical thinking as the ability to sort and qualify the information available, to form one's own judgement
Authors: Pasquinelli Elena , Richard Olivier 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn an era marked by an excessive exposure to information and disinformation, this article explores how the public in France engages with critical thinking on the topics of scientific information and knowledge, as well as associated debates. First, a panel survey was carried out in 2022 by the science education centre Universcience in Paris in collaboration with the survey institute GECE. A total of 3,218 respondents participated in the survey in France. The survey questions focused on three themes: (1) the substantial relationship between respondents' scientific reasoning and critical thinking; (2) sources that respondents used for information, particularly on scientific subjects, to form an understanding of current events; (3) respondent relationships to discourses in the sciences and otherness in reasoning. In this study, critical thinking was defined as the ability to sort and make sense of available information and to question one's opinions. Also, the ability to discern trustworthy sources and information. In this approach, critical thinking is a condition for correctly assessing information on science topics. This is understood to include knowledge about science, its processes of knowledge production, and quality sources of information in the natural sciences. In this study, a Barometer of Critical Thinking was developed, and a survey was carried out. Survey results and the development of the barometer are described. Finally, we discuss how developing scientific literacy (knowledge about scientific facts, methods, practices and sources) is crucial in order to foster critical thinking on scientific information, knowledge, debates, and beyond.
Defining standards for rankings: An investigation of global university rankings according to the Berlin Principles
Authors: Belenkuyu Cüneyt , Karadag Engin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe role of universities as the engines of knowledge‐based economies drives global internationalisation of higher education. This contributes to a competitive environment where higher education rankings indicate market value. Even though rankings are influential and are used a lot, ranking systems have been heavily critiqued. One of the problems is that there are few if any external checks on how rankings are created. The purpose of the study on which this article reports was to evaluate ranking systems. Within the scope of the study, we have sought to reveal to what extent current ranking systems comply with the Berlin Principles—prepared to create certain rules for rankings, and to ensure that rankings represent quality. A document analysis of publicly available documents online was carried out together with a review of printed and electronic publications on ranking systems. An evaluation form was prepared and used in this study for field experts to fill in. Findings show that ranking systems comply with the Berlin Principles in terms of methodology, transparency, and acceptability at a level that ranges from moderate to low. Overall, rankings do not consider differences in higher education and are not transparent about the processes by which rankings are developed. Rankings should for this reason be interpreted carefully and methodological weaknesses of rankings that can lead to false inferences should be recognised.
Pregnancy and fetal outcomes following maternal exposure to glatiramer acetate in all three trimesters of pregnancy
Authors: Kaplan Sigal , Zeygarnik Mikhail , Stern Tal , Hellwig Kerstin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackground and purposeData on disease‐modifying therapy (DMT) exposure throughout pregnancy in patients with multiple sclerosis are scarce. In this analysis, we assessed pregnancy and fetal outcomes following maternal glatiramer acetate (GA) exposure in all three trimesters among cases reported between 1997 and 2020.MethodsPregnancy reports of maternal in utero exposure to 20 and 40 mg/mL GA in all three trimesters from 1997 to 2020 were eligible. Both prospective pregnancy data, reported prior to knowledge of pregnancy outcome, and retrospective data were included. The primary endpoint was major congenital malformations (MCMs) based on the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies and Twins (EUROCAT) classification. Additional endpoints included fetal death, preterm birth, and low birth weight. The MCM rate was compared to the EUROCAT background rate.ResultsA total of 618 GA‐exposed pregnancies in all three trimesters resulted in 634 fetuses, including 14 twin pregnancies. One fetal death was reported. All 414 fetuses with data reported prior to knowledge of pregnancy outcome (prospective data) were live births and no fetal death was reported. Preterm birth was reported in 23/213 (10.8%) pregnancies with known gestational age. Low birth weight was reported in 13/203 (6.4%) infants with known birth weight. The prevalence of MCM in prospective live births ranged from 2.2% to 2.4%, which was similar to background rates (2.1%–3.0%). The frequency of these pregnancy and infant outcomes was comparable across GA doses.ConclusionsIn utero exposure to 20 and 40 mg/mL GA in three trimesters of pregnancy does not appear to be related to adverse pregnancy or infant outcomes.
Does media richness influence job applicants' experience in asynchronous video interviews? Examining social presence, impression management, anxiety, and performance
Authors: Rizi Mehdi Salimian , Roulin Nicolas 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAsynchronous video interviews (AVIs) have become a popular alternative to face‐to‐face interviews for screening or selecting job applicants, in part because of their increased flexibility and lower costs. However, AVIs are often described as anxiety‐provoking or associated with negative applicant reactions. Building on theories of media richness and social presence, we explore if increasing the media richness of AVIs, by replacing “default” text‐based introductions and written questions with video‐based ones, can positively influence interviewees' experience. In an experimental study with 151 interviewees (Mage = 28.08, 56% female) completing a mock interview, we examine the (direct and indirect) impact of media richness on perceived social presence, interview anxiety, use of honest and deceptive impression management (IM) tactics, and ultimately interview performance. Results showed that media richer AVIs help increase interviewees perceived social presence and improve their interview performance. Higher perceived social presence was also associated with lower interview anxiety and facilitated using IM (especially other‐focused tactics). Our findings highlight that there might be ways for organizations to embrace the practical benefits of AVIs while still ensuring a positive experience for interviewees.
Alternative reproductive tactics in goby fishes of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Zarini Sina , Poli Federica , Balshine Sigal 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHere we report on the reproductive morphology and histology of three Gobiidae species (the Caspian monkey goby, Neogobius pallasi; the Caspian goby, Neogobius caspius; and the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus) from the Iranian coastline of the Caspian Sea. Based on ageing, reproductive histology, and internal and external morphological measures, it appears that all three of these goby species have two types of reproductive males, a large courting, territorial, male type and a small cuckolding parasitic male type, a phenomenon known as alternative reproductive tactics (ART). Although ARTs have been reported previously for one of these species, the round goby, all reports stem from its invasive range; ARTs have never been reported before in any fish species in the Caspian Sea. In all three goby species there was a large, older male type, with a wide head, dark body colouration, and a large investment in accessory glands (AG), an organ important for female attraction and parental care. But there was also a small, light, younger male type, with a narrow head, longer urogenital papilla, and little investment in AGs. The Caspian goby were the largest of the three species, and in this species the smaller, lighter, presumably cuckolding male morph was quite rare (only about 5% of the reproductive male population). In contrast, many of the round goby and monkey goby males were the small, lighter parasitic type, making up nearly half the population of reproductive males (48% and 40%, respectively). Round goby and Caspian goby males had a prominent mesorchial gland, a fibrous sheath of pheromone‐releasing connective tissue that attaches the testes to the dorsal body wall, but all the monkey goby specimens examined lacked this structure. Although ARTs are well documented across fish species and appear to be particularly common in gobies, our study provides the first evidence for ARTs in goby fishes from the Caspian Sea.
Nursing assistants' use of best practices and pain in older adults living in nursing homes
Authors: Song Yuting , Bolt Sascha , Thorne Trina , Norton Peter , Poss Jeff , Fu Fangfang , Squires Janet , Cummings Greta , Estabrooks Carole A. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundInadequate pain management persists in nursing homes. Nursing assistants provide the most direct care in nursing homes, and significantly improving the quality of care requires their adoption of best care practices informed by the best available evidence. We assessed the association between nursing assistants' use of best practices and residents' pain levels.MethodsWe performed a cross‐sectional analysis of data collected between September 2019 and February 2020 from a stratified random sample of 87 urban nursing homes in western Canada. We linked administrative data (the Resident Assessment Instrument‐Minimum Data Set [RAI‐MDS], 2.0) for 10,093 residents and survey data for 3547 nursing assistants (response rate: 74.2%) at the care unit level. Outcome of interest was residents' pain level, measured by the pain scale derived from RAI‐MDS, 2.0. The exposure variable was nursing assistants' use of best practices, measured with validated self‐report scales and aggregated to the unit level. Two‐level random‐intercept multinomial logistic regression accounted for the clustering effect of residents within care units. Covariates included resident demographics and clinical characteristics and characteristics of nursing assistants, unit, and nursing home.ResultsOf the residents, 3305 (30.3%) were identified as having pain. On resident care units with higher levels of best practice use among nursing assistants, residents had 32% higher odds of having mild pain (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.71; p = 0.040), compared with residents on care units with lower levels of best practice use among nursing assistants. The care units did not differ in reported moderate or severe pain among residents.ConclusionsWe observed that higher unit‐level best practice use among nursing assistants was associated with mild resident pain. This association warrants further research to identify key individual and organizational factors that promote effective pain assessment and management.
Interaction between benzodiazepines and prescription opioids on incidence of hard braking events in older drivers
Authors: Liang Zipei , Chihuri Stanford , Andrews Howard F. , Betz Marian E. , DiGuiseppi Carolyn , Eby David W. , Hill Linda L. , Jones Vanya , Mielenz Thelma J. , Molnar Lisa J. , Strogatz David , Li Guohua 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundPolypharmacy use among older adults is of increasing concern for driving safety. This study assesses the individual and joint effects of benzodiazepines and prescription opioids on the incidence of hard braking events in older drivers.MethodsData for this study came from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers project—a multisite, prospective cohort study of 2990 drivers aged 65–79 years at enrollment (2015–2017). Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hard braking events (defined as maneuvers with deceleration rates ≥0.4 g and commonly known as near‐crashes) were estimated through multivariable negative binominal modeling.ResultsOf the 2929 drivers studied, 167 (5.7%) were taking benzodiazepines, 163 (5.6%) prescription opioids, and 23 (0.8%) both drugs at baseline. The incidence rates of hard braking events per 1000 miles driven were 1.14 (95% CI 1.10–1.18) for drivers using neither benzodiazepines nor prescription opioids, 1.25 (95% CI 1.07–1.43) for those using benzodiazepines only, 1.55 (95% CI 1.35–1.76) for those using prescription opioids only, and 1.63 (95% CI 1.11–2.16) for those using both medications. Multivariable modeling revealed that the use of prescription opioids was associated with a 19% increased risk of hard braking events (aIRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03–1.36). There existed a positive interaction between the two drugs on the additive scale but not on the multiplicative scale.ConclusionConcurrent use of benzodiazepines and prescription opioids by older drivers appears to affect driving safety through increased incidence of hard braking events.
Bridges that bind worlds: The emergence of diplomacy from below between Chiapas and Italy (1996–2001)
Authors: Ghilarducci Dario , Finzi Giacomo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFollowing the 2021 Zapatista tour in Europe, this article offers a reconstruction of the genealogy of the practice of diplomacy from below, based on the meeting between the Italian post‐autonomous collectives and the Zapatista rebel communities of the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, and sets out its continuity after more than two decades. The research hypothesis is that this practice was born as a joint political construction thanks to the collaboration between two collective political subjects, organized and structured in their respective territories as constituent expressions of counterpower and in opposition to the hegemonic neoliberal model. How these collective actors relate to each other demonstrates the existence of two different political identities and cultures that, in the reciprocal encounter, recognize and feed each other—changing, hybridizing and, finally, strengthening each other.