bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shared alterations in hippocampal structural covariance in subjective cognitive decline and migraine
Authors: Tsai Chia-Lin , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lee Pei-Lin , Liang Chih-Sung , Kuo Chen-Yuan , Lin Guan-Yu , Lin Yu-Kai , Hsu Yi-Chih , Ko Chien-An , Yang Fu-Chi , Lin Ching-Po 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) and migraine are often comorbid. Hippocampal structural abnormalities have been observed in individuals with both SCD and migraine. Given the known structural and functional heterogeneity along the long axis (anterior to posterior) of the hippocampus, we aimed to identify altered patterns of structural covariance within hippocampal subdivisions associated with SCD and migraine comorbidities.MethodsA seed-based structural covariance network analysis was applied to examine large-scale anatomical network changes of the anterior and posterior hippocampus in individuals with SCD, migraine and healthy controls. Conjunction analyses were used to identify shared network-level alterations in the hippocampal subdivisions in individuals with both SCD and migraine.ResultsAltered structural covariance integrity of the anterior and posterior hippocampus was observed in the temporal, frontal, occipital, cingulate, precentral, and postcentral areas in individuals with SCD and migraine compared with healthy controls. Conjunction analysis revealed that, in both SCD and migraine, altered structural covariance integrity was shared between the anterior hippocampus and inferior temporal gyri and between the posterior hippocampus and precentral gyrus. Additionally, the structural covariance integrity of the posterior hippocampus-cerebellum axis was associated with the duration of SCD.ConclusionThis study highlighted the specific role of hippocampal subdivisions and specific structural covariance alterations within these subdivisions in the pathophysiology of SCD and migraine. These network-level changes in structural covariance may serve as potential imaging signatures for individuals who have both SCD and migraine.
The reliability of a subtype-determining questionnaire in efficient benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis in geriatrics
Authors: Wan Yichen , Li Yingxuan , Sun Jianjun 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of dizziness, especially for older adults, exposes patients to the lethal risk of falling. However, the diagnosis of BPPV in this population can be more elusive as they present few characteristic symptoms. Therefore, we explored the application of a subtype-determining questionnaire in BPPV diagnosis among the geriatric population.MethodsPatients were assigned to the aware and unaware groups. In the aware group, the technician would directly test the suspected canal indicated by the questionnaire, whereas, in the unaware group, the technician performed the regular positional test. The diagnostic parameters of the questionnaire were examined.ResultsThe accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of questions 1–3 for diagnosing BPPV were 75.8, 77.6, and 74.7%, respectively. Question 4 demonstrated an accuracy of 75.6% in ascertaining the BPPV subtype, question 5 showed an accuracy of 75.6% in determining the affected side, and question 6 yielded an accuracy of 87.5% in distinguishing canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis. Examination time was shorter in the aware group than that in the unaware group (P &lt; 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups for treatment time (P = 0.153).ConclusionThis subtype-determining questionnaire is practical in daily use and capable of providing instructive information for an efficient diagnosis in geriatric patients with BPPV.
Construction of an M2 macrophage-related prognostic model in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Song Huangqin , Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhang Chao , He Jiefeng 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundM2 macrophages play a crucial role in promoting tumor angiogenesis and proliferation, as well as contributing to chemotherapy resistance and metastasis. However, their specific role in the tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their impact on the clinical prognosis remain to be further elucidated.Materials and methodsM2 macrophage-related genes were screened using CIBERSORT and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), while subtype identification was performed using unsupervised clustering. Prognostic models were constructed using univariate analysis/least absolute shrinkage selector operator (LASSO) Cox regression. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and mutation analysis were used for further analysis. The relationship between the risk score and tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), immunotype, and the molecular subtypes were also investigated. Moreover, the potential role of the risk score was explored using the ESTIMATE and TIDE (tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion) algorithms and stemness indices, such as the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and the DNA methylation-based index (mDNAsi). In addition, the R package “pRRophetic” was used to examine the correlation between the risk score and the chemotherapeutic response. Finally, the role of TMCC1 in HepG2 cells was investigated using various techniques, including Western blotting, RT-PCR and Transwell and wound healing assays.ResultsThis study identified 158 M2 macrophage-related genes enriched in small molecule catabolic processes and fatty acid metabolic processes in HCC. Two M2 macrophage-related subtypes were found and a four-gene prognostic model was developed, revealing a positive correlation between the risk score and advanced stage/grade. The high-risk group exhibited higher proliferation and invasion capacity, MSI, and degree of stemness. The risk score was identified as a promising prognostic marker for TACE response, and the high-risk subgroup showed higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., sorafenib, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and mitomycin) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments. The expression levels of four genes related to the macrophage-related risk score were investigated, with SLC2A2 and ECM2 showing low expression and SLC16A11 and TMCC1 exhibiting high expression in HCC. In vitro experiments showed that TMCC1 may enhance the migration ability of HepG2 cells by activating the Wnt signaling pathway.ConclusionWe identified 158 HCC-related M2 macrophage genes and constructed an M2 macrophage-related prognostic model. This study advances the understanding of the role of M2 macrophages in HCC and proposes new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Microbial interactions and metabolisms in response to bacterial wilt and black shank pathogens in the tobacco rhizosphere
Authors: Tang Qianjun , Liu Tianbo , Teng Kai , Xiao Zhipeng , Cai Hailin , Wang Yunsheng , Xiao Yunhua , Chen Wu 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundTobacco bacterial wilt (TBW) and black shank (TBS) are responsible for substantial economic losses worldwide; however, microbial interactions and metabolisms in response to TBW and TBS pathogens in the tobacco rhizosphere remain unclear.MethodsWe explored and compared the response of rhizosphere microbial communities to these two plant diseases with the incidences in moderate and heavy degrees by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons and bioinformatics analysis.Results and discussionsWe found that the structure of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) changed from the incidences of TBW and TBS, which also led to decreased Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness. Compared with the healthy group (CK), the OTUs with significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased relative abundances were mostly affiliated with Actinobacteria (e.g., Streptomyces and Arthrobacter) in the diseased groups, and the OTUs with significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased relative abundances were mainly identified as Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. Also, molecular ecological network analysis showed that the nodes (&lt;467) and links (&lt;641) were decreased in the diseased groups compared with the control group (572; 1056), suggesting that both TBW and TBS weakened bacterial interactions. In addition, the predictive functional analysis indicated that the relative abundance of genes related to the biosynthesis of antibiotics (e.g., ansamycins and streptomycin) was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased due to incidences of TBW and TBS, and antimicrobial tests showed that some Actinobacteria strains (e.g., Streptomyces) and their secreted antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin) could effectively inhibit the growth of these two pathogens.
RAN-related neural-congruency: a machine learning approach toward the study of the neural underpinnings of naming speed
Authors: Christoforou Christoforos , Theodorou Maria , Fella Argyro , Papadopoulos Timothy C. 
Published: June 2023

ObjectiveNaming speed, behaviorally measured via the serial Rapid automatized naming (RAN) test, is one of the most examined underlying cognitive factors of reading development and reading difficulties (RD). However, the unconstrained-reading format of serial RAN has made it challenging for traditional EEG analysis methods to extract neural components for studying the neural underpinnings of naming speed. The present study aims to explore a novel approach to isolate neural components during the serial RAN task that are (a) informative of group differences between children with dyslexia (DYS) and chronological age controls (CAC), (b) improve the power of analysis, and (c) are suitable for deciphering the neural underpinnings of naming speed.MethodsWe propose a novel machine-learning-based algorithm that extracts spatiotemporal neural components during serial RAN, termed RAN-related neural-congruency components. We demonstrate our approach on EEG and eye-tracking recordings from 60 children (30 DYS and 30 CAC), under phonologically or visually similar, and dissimilar control tasks.ResultsResults reveal significant differences in the RAN-related neural-congruency components between DYS and CAC groups in all four conditions.ConclusionRapid automatized naming-related neural-congruency components capture the neural activity of cognitive processes associated with naming speed and are informative of group differences between children with dyslexia and typically developing children.SignificanceWe propose the resulting RAN-related neural-components as a methodological framework to facilitate studying the neural underpinnings of naming speed and their association with reading performance and related difficulties.
Detect, Deny, Degrade, Disrupt, Destroy, Deceive: which is the greatest in OCO?
Authors: Grant Tim 
Published: June 2023

In the cyber kill chain literature, possible courses of action are listed as detect, deny, degrade, disrupt, destroy, and deceive (a.k.a. “the 6Ds”). These verbs denote defensive action to be taken against an intruder. By comparison, military doctrine for cyberspace operations encompasses cyberspace exploitation and attack, as well as defence. The question arises whether the 6Ds are also applicable to offensive action, i.e. exploitation and attack, or whether additional action verbs are needed. Military doctrine is evolving towards all-domain operations, in which action in cyberspace is integrated with action in the physical domains of land, sea, air, and space. This prompts the question as to whether the 6Ds are also suited to action in a physical domain. A pilot study of actual military operations that integrated cyber and physical action suggests that deception, delay, and denial of organisational and cyber entities is suited to cyber action, while seizure, capture, and destruction of physical entities is suited to physical action. Preference among action verbs may indicate when it is best to engage targets using cyber or physical resources and which action is preferred. This paper identifies which action verbs are best suited to offensive cyber operations in the context of all-domain operations. The paper reviews related theory on cyberspace and the cyber kill chain. It identifies action verbs in US Department of Defense (DoD) doctrine on information and cyberspace operations, comparing them to those in the US DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. After discussing the findings, the paper draws conclusions and recommends further work.
Legal Response to Social Media Disinformation on National Level
Authors: Watney Murdoch 
Published: June 2023

Social media has an enormous impact on the manner in which society communicates and shares information. Digital is no longer a supplementary channel, but is the first place most people go to for news, information and communication. The transmission of social media disinformation has increased dramatically across the world and it necessitates a response. The discussion focuses on the response to social media disinformation on a national level. The discussion does not focus on foreign state or state-sponsored actors of misinformation. The focus and publicity may - within the context of cybersecurity - predominantly have been on cyberattacks, such as ransomware attacks. However, recent incidents - unrelated to foreign state interference and cyberattacks - illustrate that cybersecurity law must encompass the threat of disinformation. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 Washington, DC, United States, and South African as well as the 2023 Brazil riots illustrate the harmfulness of social media disinformation. Cognisance should be taken of the lessons learnt from the examples of social media disinformation as it may assist in determining a response to disinformation. There are various responses to national social media disinformation, such as legislative social media platform regulation, censorship, and criminalisation of the disinformation by itself. The response within the context of a cybersecurity threat landscape necessitates scrutiny as the response may impact on human rights. The trade-off between security and human right protection may be the violation of human rights to prevent harm from disinformation.
Determination of the end device risk likelihood using the Bayesian network tools
Authors: Ncubukezi Tabisa 
Published: June 2023

All institutions use end devices for information processing which includes sending and receiving on the network. This process helps them to improve their business production as well as perform daily activities at a faster rate. However, the increased usage of end devices by both employees and criminals raises concerns and exposes businesses to a range of cyber risks. End devices can sometimes be used as agents and weapons to expose internal business operations. The vulnerability of the end devices to cyber threats and attacks compromises business data, its safety, and security. This paper determines the risk likelihood of the end devices using the Bayesian network tools. To achieve this, the study illustrates the connections of the end device variables to simulate the risk likelihood and its impact. The analysis and interpretation of the simulation are performed using decision tree analysis (DTA), scenario analysis, and sensitivity analysis techniques (Tornado graphs, conditional probability tables (CPT), and value of information configuration (VOI)). The relationship of the variables is demonstrated on the AgenaRisk package. Results revealed variables that influence the risk probability and its impact. End device risks can be caused by insiders and cyber criminals. The risks associated with end devices are influenced by the level of security implementation on different levels. The impact of the cyber risks was also accounted for and the concluding remarks were also made.
Reconnaissance Techniques and Industrial Control System Tactics Knowledge Graph
Authors: Heverin Thomas 
Published: June 2023

In the initial stages of industrial control system (ICS) penetration testing, pentesters conduct reconnaissance by using various tools including Nmap, Shodan, Maltego, Google, Google Hacking Database (GHDB), Recon-ng and more. Testers use various reconnaissance techniques (RTs) within the tools to directly access ICS devices. Many novice ICS-pentesters stop their reconnaissance work upon successfully accessing an ICS device. However, continuing to conduct reconnaissance after initial access can lead to pentesters finding even more information to find more ICS devices, ICS networks, and ways to make ICS exploitation more effective. Our research motivation stems from finding ways to explicitly model the continuation of using RTs once an ICS device is accessed. Knowledge graphs offer an approach for linking RTs together and creating chains of RTs.

MITRE ATT&CK ICS provides a matrix of ICS adversarial behaviours. The matrix consists of main exploit tactics and techniques used to accomplish these tactics. Example techniques include ICS alarm suppression, blocking command messages, starting a device, and stopping services. ATT&CK ICS also provides ICS data sources that defenders use to detect the adversarial techniques. Application logs, files, logon sessions, network traffic, and operational databases represent some of the ICS data sources. We reasoned that if adversaries could find the ICS data sources and discover the ability to modify the data sources, then adversaries could cover their tracks to successfully carry out ICS tactics. For example, ICS attackers could modify log entries to hide the attacker’s steps or ICS attackers could delete alarm notifications that showed that ICS attackers changed ICS settings.

In this work in progress research, we used knowledge-graph modelling techniques to link together RTs with ICS data sources, the ability to modify the data sources, the ability to then cover tracks of ICS techniques, and the impact of techniques on accomplishing ICS tactics. We named the graph RT-ICS Graph. With knowledge graph queries and shortest-path algorithms run over the RT-ICS graph, we showed how RTs can explicitly lead to impacts on adversaries carrying out ICS tactics. The accomplishment of ICS tactics can cause severe damage or harm.
Mini-invasive technologies in the treatment of patients with acute adhesion small intestinal obstruction
Authors: Ivanchov P. V. , Lissov O. I. , Peresh Ye. Ye. 
Published: June 2023

Modern technologies in surgery lead to an increase in the number of surgical interventions, which in turn increases the number of patients with peritoneal adhesions disease. Patients with acute adhesive small intestinal obstruction make up to 70 %. Acute adhesion small intestinal obstruction takes the leading place among mechanical forms of intestinal obstruction and reaches 63–80 %, and the mortality rate is 5.1–8.4 %.
The aim. Improvement of minimally invasive technologies in the treatment of patients with adhesive small intestinal obstruction.
Materials and methods. The main group – 99 (58.6 %) patients with adhesions of the small intestine, who underwent minimally invasive treatment technologies. The comparison group included 70 (41.4 %) patients with acute adhesion small intestinal obstruction, who were treated with traditional methods.
Results. Based on clinical laboratory and instrumental research results, 21 (12.4 %) patients out of 169 patients underwent emergency surgery: 7 (10.0 %) patients of the comparison group and 14 (14.1 %) patients of the main group. Minimally invasive surgical intervention was performed in 45 (45.5 %) patients of the main group with viscerolysis in 29 (29.3 %) patients and conversion was performed in 16 (16.2 %) patients. Median laparotomy was performed in 54 (54.5 %) patients of the main group and in 70 (100.0 %) patients of the comparison group.
The complications of acute adhesive small intestinal obstruction and the complications of the postoperative period in the comparative analysis of the results of the treatment of patients were taken into account. The grading of postoperative complications was carried out in accordance with the classification of P. A. Clavien and D. Dindo (2009), according to which a statistically significant difference is noted in the studied groups: 14 (14.1 %) of the main group and 23 (32.8 %) of the comparison group, III, IV and V degrees of complications were preferred. Relaparotomy was performed in 5 (7.1 %) patients of the comparison group and in 2 (2.0 %) patients of the main group. Mortality decreased from 6 (8.5 %) in the comparison group to 2 (2.0 %) in the main group.
Conclusions. The use of an improved approach in diagnostics and treatment of patients with acute adhesion small intestinal obstruction ensured improved results of surgical treatment. The use of mini-invasive technologies in diagnosis and treatment made it possible to reduce the frequency of postoperative complications from 32.8 % to 14.1 %, the mortality rate from 8.5 % to 2.0 %, which confirms the effectiveness of the use of mini-invasive technologies in the treatment of patients with acute adhesion small intestinal obstruction.
A clinical case of small intestinal intussusception caused by metastatic melanoma
Authors: Zavhorodnii S. M. , Kubrak M. A. , Danyliuk M. B. , Bulba P. O. 
Published: June 2023

Intestinal obstruction is observed in about 9.0 % of patients with acute surgical pathology of the abdominal cavity. The disease occurs at any age, but more often between 25–50 years. Mixed intestinal obstruction is only 3–7 %. The most common form of mixed intestinal obstruction is intestinal invasion. The most common cause of intussusception in adults is an intestinal tumor. Early diagnosis and the optimal amount of surgical treatment are the main components of successful treatment of the patient.
Aim: to familiarize practitioners with a rare case of intestinal obstruction in adults and its management strategies in a surgical hospital.
Materials and methods. The patient was treated in the surgical department of the Communal Non-Profit Enterprise “City Hospital No. 7” Zaporizhzhia City Consul. The patient underwent preoperative preparation and surgical intervention.
Results. The patient underwent an emergency median laparotomy under total intravenous anesthesia with artificial lung ventilation. During the examination of the abdominal cavity, multiple distended loops of the small intestine were visualized. During the revision, at a distance of 1.5 meters from the ligament of Treitz, a volumetric formation of the small intestine of dense-elastic consistency, represented by small-intestinal invasion, up to 10 cm long, was detected. The proximal sections of the small intestine are distended, light purple in color. The sections of the small intestine that were distal to the site of invasion were inflamed. Manual disinvagination of the small intestine was performed. The visual examination showed that the intestine was viable. There was a tumor was found on the antrumeral margin, measuring 1.8 × 2.5 cm, dense in consistency, finely tuberculated, dark purple heterogeneous in color, infiltrating and deforming the wall of the small intestine. Resection of the invaded area of the small intestine with the tumor was performed with the imposition of a small-small intestinal anastomosis “side to side” with two-row nylon sutures.
Conclusions. In this clinical case, it was possible to establish the final diagnosis and determine further surgical strategy only intraoperatively. Only early diagnosis of melanoma will allow avoiding the complications identified in this patient.