bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A dynamic interpretation of κFLC index for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: a change of perspective
Authors: Toscano Simona , Chisari Clara Grazia , Lo Fermo Salvatore , Gulino Giuseppa , Zappia Mario , Patti Francesco 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
Previous studies attempted to define the best threshold for κ free light chains (κFLC) index, confirming higher sensitivity (Se) but less specificity (Sp) compared with IgG oligoclonal bands (OCB) for the diagnosis of MS.

Objective
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different κFLC index intervals in a miscellaneous cohort of neurological patients, proposing a procedural flowchart for MS diagnosis.

Methods
We analyzed data from 607 patients diagnosed with MS (179), CIS (116), other inflammatory (94) or non-inflammatory neurological diseases (218). Measures of diagnostic accuracy were reported for different potential thresholds of κFLC index, and for IgG OCB and IgG index. Binary logistic regression was to used to calculate the odds of being diagnosed with MS based on each increase of κFLC index.

Results
CSF IgG OCB showed 72.2% Se (CI 95% 68.4–75.7) and 95.2% Sp (CI 95% 93.1–96.7) in discriminating between MS/CIS and controls, with an AUC of 0.84 (CI 95% 0.80–0.87). The highest diagnostic accuracy was reported for κFLC index cut-off of 5.0 (Se = 85.4%, Sp = 90.4%, AUC = 0.88), while a threshold of 11.0 exhibited higher Sp (95.5%, 95% CI 93.1–97.1) than IgG OCB. AUCs for all thresholds between 4.25 and 6.6 were not significantly different from each other, but were significantly higher than the AUC of IgG OCB (p < 0.05). The odds of being diagnosed with MS/CIS increased by 17.1% for each unit increase of κFLC index (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.12–1.23; p < 0.001).

Conclusion
κFLC index performed better than CSF IgG OCB in supporting the diagnosis of MS/CIS, with the advantage of being a cost-effective and quantitative analysis.
Endoscopic management of acute sigmoid volvulus in high risk surgical elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Negm Said , Farag Ahmed , Shafiq Ahmed , Moursi Adel , Abdelghani Amr A. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
Most patients with sigmoid volvulus are of old age with multiple comorbidities. So, the risk of surgery for those elderly patients is usually associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Early intervention is required for managing sigmoid volvulus to avoid its serious complications; therefore, early endoscopic untwist of sigmoid colon can be performed followed by endoscopic fixation of sigmoid colon under sedation in this category of the patients to avoid development of high risk surgical complications following surgical fixation of sigmoid colon or sigmoidectomy after initial simple loop colostomy procedure to relieve obstruction.

Methods
This prospective randomized controlled clinical trial included all patients who developed acute sigmoid volvulus and were referred to the Zagazig University Hospital Emergency Department between December 2020 and August 2022. The study was prospectively approved by Zagazig University Faculty of Medicine Institutional Review Board (Approval Number: 9989/23-10-2022) and was retrospectively submitted in http://clinicaltrials.gov in November 2022 (http://clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT05620446). Included eligible patients were simply randomized at a 1:1 ratio to “Endoscopic Group (EG)” or “Surgical Group (SG)” via drawing of sealed envelopes containing computer-generated random numbers prepared by a third party before start of intervention.

Results
Sample size included 18 patients divided into 2 equal groups. (1) Endoscopic group included 9 patients who were subjected to endoscopic untwist of sigmoid colon followed by endoscopic fixation of sigmoid colon under sedation; (2) Surgical group included 9 patients who were subjected to surgical fixation of sigmoid colon or sigmoidectomy after initial simple loop colostomy under general anesthesia. In comparison between both groups, there were statistically significant differences regarding length of hospital stay and procedure time. Unfortunately, there were no statistically significant differences regarding postoperative complications and co-morbidities. Eight patients in the endoscopy group demonstrated excellent quality of life, and one demonstrated good quality of life; unlike the surgical group, there were 3 patients with excellent quality of life, 5 patients with good quality of life, and 1 patient with poor quality of life. So there was statistically significant difference regarding quality of life between both groups. During the 9-month follow-up period, both groups demonstrated no cases of recurrence post-fixation.

Conclusion
Endoscopic management of acute sigmoid volvulus is effective and safe in elderly high risk surgical patients (either in managing the intestinal obstruction caused by volvulus or in definitive treatment of volvulus).
Hsa_circ_0041150 serves as a novel biomarker for monitoring chemotherapy resistance in small cell lung cancer patients treated with a first-line chemotherapy regimen
Authors: Zhang Yang , Chao Fengmei , Lv Lihua , Li Ming , Shen Zuojun 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To explore the potential of circRNAs as biomarkers in non-invasive body fluids for monitoring chemotherapy resistance in SCLC patients.

Methods
CircRNAs were screened and characterized using transcriptome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, actinomycin D treatment, and Ribonuclease R assay. Our study involved 174 participants, and serum samples were collected from all chemotherapy-resistant patients (n = 54) at two time points: stable disease and progressive disease. We isolated and identified serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the patients using ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy, nanoflow cytometry, and western blotting analysis. The expression levels of serum and serum EVs circRNAs were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The impact of circRNA on the function of SCLC cells was assessed through various assays, including proliferation assay, scratch assay, transwell assay, and cisplatin resistance assay.

Results
Hsa_circ_0041150 was found to be upregulated in chemoresistant SCLC cells and played a role in promoting proliferation, invasion, migration, and cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, the expression levels of hsa_circ_0041150 in serum and serum EVs increased when SCLC patients developed resistance after a first-line chemotherapy regimen. When combined with NSE, the monitoring sensitivity (70.37%) and specificity (81.48%) for chemotherapy resistance significantly improved. Moreover, the expression level of hsa_circ_0041150 showed significant associations with time to progression from SD to PD, and high hsa_circ_0041150 levels after drug resistance were more likely to cause chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, hsa_circ_0041150 demonstrated valuable potential in monitoring the progression from initial diagnosis to chemotherapy resistance in SCLC patients.

Conclusion
Thus, EVs hsa_circ_0041150 holds promise as a biomarker for monitoring chemotherapy resistance in SCLC patients.
New characterizations of strategy-proofness under single-peakedness
Authors: Jennings Andrew B. , Laraki Rida , Puppe Clemens , Varloot Estelle M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWe provide novel representations of strategy-proof voting rules applicable when voters have uni-dimensional single-peaked preferences. In particular, we introduce a ‘grading curve’ representation which is particularly useful when introducing variable electorates. Our analysis recovers, links and unifies existing results in the literature, and provides new characterizations when strategy-proofness is combined with other desirable properties such as ordinality, participation, consistency, and proportionality. Finally, the new representations are used to compute the strategy-proof methods that maximize the ex-ante social welfare for the $$L_2$$

L
2

-norm and a uniform prior. The resulting strategy-proof welfare maximizer is the linear median (or ‘uniform median’), that we also characterize as the unique proportional strategy-proof voting rule.
Periodic linear groups in which permutability is a transitive relation
Authors: Ferrara Maria , Trombetti Marco 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA PT-group is a group in which the relation of being a permutable subgroup is transitive. The main aim of this paper is to show that a (homomorphic image of a) periodic linear group is a soluble PT-group if and only if each subgroup of a Sylow subgroup is permutable in the corresponding Sylow normalizer (see Theorem 4.7); for a fixed prime p, the latter condition is denoted by $$\mathfrak {X}_p$$

X
p

. In order to prove our main theorem, we need (i) to characterize (homomorphic images of) periodic linear groups that are PT-groups (see Sect. 2), (ii) to develop a fusion theory for locally finite groups (see Sect. 3), (iii) to carefully study (homomorphic images of) periodic linear groups with the property $$\mathfrak {X}_p$$

X
p

for a fixed prime p (see for instance Theorem 4.6). As a by-product we obtain (among other results) a characterization of (homomorphic images of) periodic linear $$\mathfrak {X}_p$$

X
p

-groups in terms of pronormality (see Theorem 4.11) that will allow us to show that, on some occasions, the property $$\mathfrak {X}_p$$

X
p

is inherited by subgroups.
Quantitative modelling and analysis of BDI agents
Authors: Archibald Blair , Calder Muffy , Sevegnani Michele , Xu Mengwei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBelief–desire–intention (BDI) agents are a popular agent architecture. We extend conceptual agent notation (Can)—a BDI programming language with advanced features such as failure recovery and declarative goals—to include probabilistic action outcomes, e.g. to reflect failed actuators, and probabilistic policies, e.g. for probabilistic plan and intention selection. The extension is encoded in Milner’s bigraphs. Through application of our BigraphER tool and the PRISM model checker, theprobabilityof success (intention completion) under different probabilistic outcomes and plan/event/intention selection strategies can be investigated and compared. We present a smart manufacturing use case. A significant result is that plan selection has limited effect compared with intention selection. We also see that the impact of action failures can be marginal—even when failure probabilities are large—due to the agent making smarter choices.
COVID-19 Testing of United States-Bound Agricultural Workers in Mexico
Authors: Teleaga Jessica , White Zachary A. , Cervantes Joaquin , Assael Roberto , Barrera Gerardo , Toney Sean , Marano Nina , Rodriguez Lainz Alfonso , Assael Chantal , Ortega Alexandra , Chappelle Courtney G. , Bustamante Nirma , Moser Kathleen , Posey Drew L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic presents global health, welfare, and economic concerns. The agricultural workforce has experienced adverse effects, placing the U.S. food supply at risk. Agricultural workers temporarily travel to the United States on H-2A visas to supplement the agricultural workforce. Approximately 300,000 agricultural workers enter the United States with H-2A visas each year; over 90.0% are from Mexico. During February–May 2021, a COVID-19 testing pilot was performed with Clínica Médica Internacional (CMI), a clinic that performs medical examinations for US-bound immigrants, to determine the SARS-CoV-2 infection status of H-2A agricultural workers in Mexico before entry to the US. The CerTest VIASURE Real Time PCR Detection Kit was used. Participants’ demographic information, test results, and testing turnaround times were collected. Workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 completed isolation before US entry. During the pilot, 1195 H-2A workers were tested; 15 (1.3%) tested positive. Average reporting time was 31 h after specimen collection. This pilot demonstrated there is interest from H-2A employers and agents in testing the H-2A community before US entry. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 can yield public health benefit, is feasible, and does not delay entry of temporary agricultural workers to the US.
Cross-Cultural Contact and Norwegian Language Skills Among Ethnic Minority Women in Norway, and Relationship with Physical Activity in Pregnancy and Postpartum: The STORK-Groruddalen Cohort Study
Authors: Bennetter Karin Elisabeth , Waage Christin Wiegels , Jenum Anne Karen , Vøllestad Nina Køpke , Robinson Hilde Stendal , Richardsen Kåre Rønn 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThere are few studies of the migration context factors and physical activity (PA) level among minority ethnic women in Europe. We investigated the association between migration context factors and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among minority ethnic women. Objectively recorded MVPA were obtained from 487 minority ethnic women included in the STORK-Groruddalen Cohort Study at three time points in pregnancy/postpartum. We investigated the associations between (a) contact with ethnic Norwegians and (b) Norwegian language skills and. No associations were observed in pregnancy. Postpartum, women who reported contact with ethnic Norwegians accumulated 17 MVPA min/day (95% CI: -.60, 34.54) more than women with no contact. In complete case analyses, this difference was significant (27 MVPA min/day (95% CI: 8.60, 44.54)). In early postpartum women with contact with ethnic Norwegians seems to be more physically active than women without contact. No associations were observed in pregnancy.
Body temperature NiTi alloys: effect of the heat treatment on the functional thermo-mechanical properties
Authors: Ninarello Davide , Passaretti Francesca , Nespoli Adelaide 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe design process of devices based on shape memory alloys (SMA) is particularly demanding. It is fundamental the investigation of parameters describing the thermo-mechanical behavior of these materials, such as the phase transformation temperatures and the Clausius-Clapeyron coefficient (CCC). The aim of this study is to determine how heat treatment (HT) affects the above-mentioned parameters on two commercially available body-temperature NiTi alloys. This analysis is accomplished through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and strain recovery (SR) tests. Finally, the two NiTi alloys have been compared to determine whether exists a significant difference between different casting batches of the same commercial alloy conformed to the ASTM F2063. It results that both alloys present a similar overall trend of Af as a function of HT temperature and time, even if the values significantly differ for treatment at temperatures higher than 773 K for all HT times. Furthermore, it is noted that the HT time presents a minor effect on the value of Af. After the SR analysis, it has been possible to highlight the effect of the HT on the values of CCC for As, Ms and Rs. The overall trend is similar between the two NiTi alloys. These results lead to the conclusion that HT highly affect not only the transformation temperatures but also the transformation path of the alloy, thus its mechanical properties.
Renewing the social contract for education: Governing education as a common good
Authors: Locatelli Rita 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn its report published in 2021, the UNESCO International Commission on the Futures of Education invited the international community to forge a “new social contract for education” in order to repair past injustices and build a more equitable and sustainable planet. This new social contract should involve all education stakeholders and be governed by the principle of education as a common good. However, neither the concept of the new social contract nor the principle of education as a common good appear to be clearly defined in the 2021 UNESCO report, and this results in a lack of political discussion regarding the relationship among the institutions that should govern the new social contract for education. This article discusses the extent to which the notion of education as a common good provides the political framing for such a new social contract. It recalls the theoretical background of this concept and identifies some key areas that may be relevant to the discussion on the governance arrangements required to forge a new social contract for education with a view to revisiting existing hierarchies of power and strengthening democratic processes.
The Balance Between the Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of [177Lu]Lu-NeoB in a Preclinical Prostate Cancer Model
Authors: Verhoeven Marjolein , Haeck Joost , de Blois Erik , Orlandi Francesca , Barbato Donato , Tedesco Mattia , Konijnenberg Mark , Dalm Simone U. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Radiolabeled NeoB is a promising gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)–targeting radiopharmaceutical for theranostics of GRPR-expressing malignancies, e.g., prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of [177Lu]Lu-NeoB on the balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety in a preclinical PCa model.

Procedures
To determine the efficacy of [177Lu]Lu-NeoB, PC-3 xenografted mice received 3 sham injections (control group) or 3 injections of 30 MBq/300 pmol, 40 MBq/400 pmol, or 60 MBq/600 pmol [177Lu]Lu-NeoB (groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) 1 week apart. To quantify tumor uptake, single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging was performed 4 h after the first, second, and third injection on a separate group of animals. For safety evaluations, pancreatic and renal tissues of non-tumor-bearing mice treated with the abovementioned [177Lu]Lu-NeoB doses were evaluated 12 and 24 weeks post-treatment.

Results
Treatment of PC-3 tumors with all three studied [177Lu]Lu-NeoB doses was effective. Median survival times were significantly (p < 0.0001) improved for treatment groups 1, 2, and 3 versus the control group (82 days, 89 days, 99 days versus 19 days, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed between treatment groups. Quantification of SPECT/CT images showed minimal differences in the average absolute radioactivity uptake, especially after the third injection. Histopathological analysis revealed no clear signs of treatment-related pancreatic toxicity. For the kidneys, atrophy and fibrosis were observed for one animal from group 1 and a chronic inflammatory response was observed for both animals from group 3 at 24 weeks post-treatment.

Conclusions
Treatment with [177Lu]Lu-NeoB is effective in a preclinical PCa model. Adjusting the administered dose could positively impact the risk-benefit balance as a higher dose might not lead to an increased therapeutic effect, but it may lead to an increase in toxicological effects in healthy organs such as the kidneys.
Relationship Between Criminal and Status Offense Behaviors, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Carney Tara , Myers Bronwyn , Browne Felicia A. , Kline Tracy , Bonner Courtney Peasant , Ndirangu Jacqueline , Wechsberg Wendee M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the relationship between externalizing behaviors, substance use, and sexual risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Cape Town, South Africa, who experience social disadvantage characterized by poverty and school dropout. We analyzed baseline data from 500 AGYW in a cluster-randomized trial who had dropped out of school. Multivariate logistic regression models explored associations between self-reported criminal behaviors and other status offenses, heavy episodic drinking, polydrug use, and condomless sex. Engagement in status offenses was associated with heavy episodic drinking (OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.05–6.20), while crimes against other people were associated with polydrug use (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.03–2.63). Drug-related illegal behavior was associated with polydrug use (OR = 7.78, 95% CI: 3.53–8.69) and reduced odds of condom use during last sexual episode, after adjusting for drug use (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 4.00–5.15). As externalizing behaviors are prevalent among this sample of AGYW and associated with greater likelihood of problem substance use and condomless sex, interventions to improve the physical and mental well-being of AGYW should assess for and address engagement in criminal and status offenses.
Biological age is superior to chronological age in predicting hospital mortality of the critically ill
Authors: Ho Kwok M. , Morgan David J. , Johnstone Mason , Edibam Cyrus 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBiological age is increasingly recognized as being more accurate than chronological age in determining chronic health outcomes. This study assessed whether biological age, assessed on intensive care unit (ICU) admission, can predict hospital mortality. This retrospective cohort study, conducted in a tertiary multidisciplinary ICU in Western Australia, used the Levine PhenoAge model to estimate each patient’s biological age (also called PhenoAge). Each patient’s PhenoAge was calibrated to generate a regression residual which was equivalent to biological age unexplained by chronological age in the local context. PhenoAgeAccel was a dichotomized measure of the residuals, and its presence suggested that one was biologically older than the corresponding chronological age. Of the 2950 critically ill adult patients analyzed, 291 died (9.9%) before hospital discharge. Both PhenoAge and its residuals (after regressing on chronological age) had a significantly better ability to differentiate between hospital survivors and non-survivors than chronological age (area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve 0.648 and 0.654 vs. 0.547 respectively). Being phenotypically older than one’s chronological age was associated with an increased risk of mortality (PhenoAgeAccel hazard ratio [HR] 1.997, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.568–2.542; p = 0.001) in a dose-related fashion and did not reach a plateau until at least a 20-year gap. This adverse association remained significant (adjusted HR 1.386, 95% CI 1.077–1.784; p = 0.011) after adjusted for severity of acute illness and comorbidities. PhenoAgeAccel was more prevalent among those with pre-existing chronic cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal failure, cirrhosis, immune disease, diabetes mellitus, or those treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Being phenotypically older than one’s chronological age was more common among those with comorbidities, and this was associated with an increased risk of mortality in a dose-related fashion in the critically ill that was not fully explained by comorbidities and severity of acute illness.
Masked Hypertension in Healthy Children and Adolescents: Who Should Be Screened?
Authors: Seeman Tomáš , Šuláková Terezie , Stabouli Stella 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe goal is to review masked hypertension (MH) as a relatively new phenomenon when patients have normal office BP but elevated out-of-office BP. Firstly, it was described in children in 2004. It has received increased attention in the past decade.Recent FindingsThe prevalence of MH in different pediatric populations differs widely between 0 and 60% based on the population studied, definition of MH, or method of out-of-office BP measurement. The highest prevalence of MH has been demonstrated in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), obesity, diabetes, and after heart transplantation. In healthy children but with risk factors for hypertension such as prematurity, overweight/obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or positive family history of hypertension, the prevalence of MH is 9%. In healthy children without risk factors for hypertension, the prevalence of MH is very low ranging 0–3%.SummaryIn healthy children, only patients with the following clinical conditions should be screened for MH: high-normal/elevated office BP, positive family history of hypertension, and those referred for suspected hypertension who have normal office BP in the secondary/tertiary center.