bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current state of radiomic research in pancreatic cancer: focusing on study design and reproducibility of findings
Authors: Malcolm James Alex , Tacey Mark , Gibbs Peter , Lee Belinda , Ko Hyun Soo 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Objectives
To critically appraise methodology and reproducibility of published studies on CT radiomics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods
PRISMA literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus databases was conducted from June to August 2022 relating to CT radiomics human research articles pertaining to PDAC diagnosis, treatment, and/ or prognosis, utilising Image Biomarker Standardisation Initiative-compliant (IBSI) radiomic software. Keyword search included [pancreas OR pancreatic] AND [radiomic OR [quantitative AND imaging] OR [texture AND analysis]]. Analysis included cohort size, CT protocol used, radiomic feature (RF) extraction, segmentation, and selection, software used, outcome correlation, and statistical methodology, with focus on reproducibility.

Results
Initial search yielded 1112 articles; however, only 12 articles met all inclusion/exclusion criteria. Cohort sizes ranged from 37 to 352 (median = 106, mean = 155.8). CT slice thickness varied among studies (4 using ≤ 1 mm, 5 using > 1 to 3 mm, 2 using > 3 to 5 mm, 1 not specifying). CT protocol varied (5 using a single portal-venous (pv)-phase, 5 using a pancreas protocol, 1 study using a non-contrast protocol). RF extraction and segmentation were heterogeneous (RF extraction: 5 using pv-phase, 2 using late arterial, 4 using multi-phase, 1 using non-contrast phase; RF selection: 3 pre-selected, 9 software-selected). 2D/3D RF segmentation was diverse (2D in 6, 3D in 4, 2D and 3D in 2 studies). Six different radiomics software were used. Research questions and cohort characteristics varied, ultimately leading to non-comparable outcome results.

Conclusion
The current twelve published IBSI-compliant PDAC radiomic studies show high variability and often incomplete methodology resulting in low robustness and reproducibility.

Clinical relevance statement
Radiomics research requires IBSI compliance, data harmonisation, and reproducible feature extraction methods for non-invasive imaging biomarker discoveries to be valid. This will ensure a successful clinical implementation and ultimately an improvement of patient outcomes as part of precision and personalised medicine.

Key Points
• Current state of radiomics research in pancreatic cancer shows low software compliance to the Image Biomarker Standardisation Initiative (IBSI).
• IBSI-compliant radiomics studies in pancreatic cancer are heterogeneous and not comparable, and the majority of study designs showed low reproducibility.
• Improved methodology and standardisation of practice in the emerging field of radiomics has the potential of this non-invasive imaging biomarker in the management of pancreatic cancer.
Asymptotic Time Complexity of Identification of Basic-level
Authors: Mulka Mariusz 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIntroductionThis paper focuses on cognitive computing approaches to identifying the basic-level in a hierarchical structure. In particular, it provides asymptotic time complexities of the identification of the basic-level for five basic-levelness measures, i.e., feature-possession, category utility, category attentional slip, category’s cue validity with global threshold, category’s cue validity with feature-possession.MethodsAsymptotic time complexities were analytically determined for each basic-levelness measure separately.ResultsFirst, the time complexity of auxiliary measures (i.e., utilized by basic-levelness measures) was determined. Second, the time complexity of the identification of the basic-level was determined. Finally, an optimization of the identification was proposed.ConclusionsThe identification of the basic-level requires polynomial time. In particular, category attentional slip and category’s cue validity with feature-possession require an additional iteration through all objects, which increase the time complexity.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and psychological effects on the parents
Authors: Wu Yuxin , Liang Ping , Li Lusheng , Zhou Yudong , Wang Difei , Zhai Xuan 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background
Neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus remains a common complication in preterm infants, with high rates of mortality and morbidity, placing parents at high risk of anxiety and depression. We sought to investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus who underwent surgery and the psychological effect on their parents.

Methods
We retrospectively analysed all infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus born between 2014 and 2020 in the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. The neurodevelopmental outcomes of 28 patients were evaluated by the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure score, and the psychological states of the parents of survivors were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results
The families of the 28 patients were followed up for a median duration of 3 years; 6 (21.4%) patients died within 6 months after discharge, 12 (42.9%) patients had moderate to severe dysfunction, and only 10 (35.7%) patients had good outcomes. Regarding the 22 parents of the survivors, 5 (22.7%) and 4 (18.2%) had borderline anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Two (9.1%) caregivers had exact anxiety and depression symptoms. Leukomalacia after intraventricular haemorrhage was associated with adverse neurological outcomes. The infants' histories of epileptic seizures during the neonatal period were associated with the anxiety of their parents.

Conclusion
The overall outcome of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus patients is unsatisfactory, and children with leukomalacia after haemorrhage tend to have poor outcomes. A history of epileptic seizures during the course of the disease may exacerbate the anxiety of the caregivers.
Association between preoperative serum C-reactive protein level and leukocyte count and postoperative pain after otolaryngological surgery
Authors: Geißler Katharina , Brock Robin , Meißner Winfried , Kiehntopf Michael , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To determine whether the preoperative inflammatory serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count (LEUK) are associated with postoperative pain and complaints after otolaryngological surgery.

Methods
Retrospective evaluation of 680 patients (33% female, median age 50 years) receiving otolaryngological surgery between November 2008 and March 2017 in a tertiary university hospital. Postoperative pain on the first postoperative day was assessed using the validated questionnaire of the German-wide project Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Treatment (QUIPS) including a numeric rating scale for assessment of postoperative pain (NRS, 0–10). The influence of preoperative parameters including CRP and LEUK on patients' postoperative pain was estimated.

Results
Mean CRP value was 15.6 ± 34.6 mg/l and mean LEUK value 7.8 ± 3.2 Gpt/l. Patients with pharyngeal surgery had the highest CRP values (34.6 ± 52.9 mg/l), highest LEUK values (9.2 ± 4.2 Gpt/l) and the highest pain levels (3.1 ± 2.4 NRS) compared to all other surgical procedures (all p < 0.05). Higher postoperative pain was associated with LEUK values > 11.3 Gpt/l (r = 0.093, p = 0.016) and higher preoperative chronic pain (r = 0.127, p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed younger age, female gender, duration of surgery, preoperative chronic pain, type of surgery, and higher LEUK values > 11.3 as independent factors for postoperative pain. Perioperative antibiotics had no effect on the postoperative pain.

Conclusion
Beyond known factors, preoperative LEUK as inflammation marker is an independent predictor for pain on the first postoperative day.
Retinal thickness as a biomarker of cognitive impairment in manifest Huntington’s disease
Authors: Murueta-Goyena Ane , Del Pino Rocío , Acera Marian , Teijeira-Portas Sara , Romero David , Ayala Unai , Fernández-Valle Tamara , Tijero Beatriz , Gabilondo Iñigo , Gómez Esteban Juan Carlos 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background
Cognitive decline has been reported in premanifest and manifest Huntington’s disease but reliable biomarkers are lacking. Inner retinal layer thickness seems to be a good biomarker of cognition in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective
To explore the relationship between optical coherence tomography-derived metrics and global cognition in Huntington’s Disease.

Methods
Thirty-six patients with Huntington’s disease (16 premanifest and 20 manifest) and 36 controls matched by age, sex, smoking status, and hypertension status underwent macular volumetric and peripapillary optical coherence tomography scans. Disease duration, motor status, global cognition and CAG repeats were recorded in patients. Group differences in imaging parameters and their association with clinical outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models.

Results
Premanifest and manifest Huntington’s disease patients presented thinner retinal external limiting membrane-Bruch’s membrane complex, and manifest patients had thinner temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer compared to controls. In manifest Huntington’s disease, macular thickness was significantly associated with MoCA scores, inner nuclear layer showing the largest regression coefficients. This relationship was consistent after adjusting for age, sex, and education and p-value correction with False Discovery Rate. None of the retinal variables were related to Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale score, disease duration, or disease burden. Premanifest patients did not show a significant association between OCT-derived parameters and clinical outcomes in corrected models.

Conclusions
In line with other neurodegenerative diseases, OCT is a potential biomarker of cognitive status in manifest HD. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate OCT as a potential surrogate marker of cognitive decline in HD.
Ultrastructure of dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Haberberger Rainer Viktor , Kuramatilake Jaliya , Barry Christine M , Matusica Dusan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractDorsal root ganglia (DRG) contains thousands of sensory neurons that transmit information about our external and internal environment to the central nervous system. This includes signals related to proprioception, temperature, and nociception. Our understanding of DRG has increased tremendously over the last 50 years and has established the DRG as an active participant in peripheral processes. This includes interactions between neurons and non-neuronal cells such as satellite glia cells and macrophages that contribute to an increasingly complex cellular environment that modulates neuronal function. Early ultrastructural investigations of the DRG have described subtypes of sensory neurons based on differences in the arrangement of organelles such as the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum. The neuron-satellite cell complex and the composition of the axon hillock in DRG have also been investigated, but, apart from basic descriptions of Schwann cells, ultrastructural investigations of other cell types in DRG are limited. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of key components of DRG, such as blood vessels and the capsule that sits at the intersection of the meninges and the connective tissue covering the peripheral nervous system, are lacking to date. With rising interest in DRG as potential therapeutic targets for aberrant signalling associated with chronic pain conditions, gaining further insights into DRG ultrastructure will be fundamental to understanding cell–cell interactions that modulate DRG function. In this review, we aim to provide a synopsis of the current state of knowledge on the ultrastructure of the DRG and its components, as well as to identify areas of interest for future studies.
Environment modeling and localization from datasets of omnidirectional scenes using machine learning techniques
Authors: Cebollada Sergio , Payá Luis , Peidró Adrián , Mayol Walterio , Reinoso Oscar 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThis work presents a framework to create a visual model of the environment which can be used to estimate the position of a mobile robot by means of artificial intelligence techniques. The proposed framework retrieves the structure of the environment from a dataset composed of omnidirectional images captured along it. These images are described by means of global-appearance approaches. The information is arranged in two layers, with different levels of granularity. The first layer is obtained by means of classifiers and the second layer is composed of a set of data fitting neural networks. Subsequently, the model is used to estimate the position of the robot, in a hierarchical fashion, by comparing the image captured from the unknown position with the information in the model. Throughout this work, five classifiers are evaluated (Naïve Bayes, SVM, random forest, linear discriminant classifier and a classifier based on a shallow neural network) along with three different global-appearance descriptors (HOG, gist, and a descriptor calculated from an intermediate layer of a pre-trained CNN). The experiments have been tackled with some publicly available datasets of omnidirectional images captured indoors with the presence of dynamic changes. Several parameters are used to assess the efficiency of the proposal: the ability of the algorithm to estimate coarsely the position (hit ratio), the average error (cm) and the necessary computing time. The results prove the efficiency of the framework to model the environment and localize the robot from the knowledge extracted from a set of omnidirectional images with the proposed artificial intelligence techniques.
Brauchen wir ein wildartenschutzkonformes Strafverfahren?
Authors: Poplat Tim 
Published: April 2023

ZusammenfassungDie Beweissicherung in einem wildartenschutzstrafrechtlichen Ermittlungsverfahren ist im Verhältnis
zu sonstigen Ermittlungsverfahren um ein Vielfaches erschwert. Die “Opfer” von Wildartenkriminalität
sind zuvorderst Tier- und/oder Pflanzenarten, die selbst nicht in der Lage sind, Angriffe auf sich zu artikulieren,
und der Tatort dürfte bei einer Vielzahl von Fällen der breiten Mehrheit und zugleich den Strafverfolgungsbehörden
entweder selbst verborgen bleiben oder sich aufgrund fehlender Expertise eben diesen als solcher erst gar
nicht aufdrängen, da strafbares Verhalten schlichtweg nicht erkannt wird. Das aufgrund dieser verzerrenden
Faktoren verschwindend kleine Hellfeld im Bereich der Wildartenkriminalität kann dabei keine Aussagen
über die Kriminalitätswirklichkeit treffen. Gleichwohl besteht von Seiten der Strafverfolgung
bisher keinerlei Interesse (mehr), sich diesem Kriminalitätsfeld verstärkt zu nähern. Wie
also umgehen mit dem bisweilen trostlosen Zustand, in dem sich die Strafverfolgung von Wildartenkriminalität
befindet? Muss und kann es möglicherweise eine verstärkte Integration privater Akteure in das
wildartenschutzstrafrechtliche Ermittlungsverfahren geben und, wenn ja, wie sollte diese aussehen?
Beschleunigung im Zeichen von Klima- und Energiekrise: materiell-rechtlich, verfahrensrechtlich?
Authors: Erbguth Wilfried 
Published: April 2023

ZusammenfassungDas neue Konzept der normativen Steuerung zur dringlich(st)en Transformation im Bereich erneuerbarer
Energien ist vornehmlich materiell-rechtlich ausgerichtet; die Vorrangregelung in 2 EEG legt hierfür
Zeugnis ab. Demgegenüber setzten frühere Beschleunigungsschübe im räumlichen Infrastrukturbereich
zentral im Verfahrensrecht an, nämlich durch Fristverkürzungen und solche der Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung;
flankierend wirk(t)en Verfahrensverkürzungen u.ä. im (Verwaltungs-)Prozessrecht. Das erfasst
(auch) wichtige Bereiche der regenerativen Energien, insbesondere die Planung und Zulassung von Windenergieanlagen.
Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, ob etwaige Bedenken an einer solchen Kumulation von Restriktionen
nicht schon deshalb entfallen, weil der herkömmlichen, auf das Verfahren fokussierten Herangehensweise
die Tragfähigkeit fehlt bzw. diese durch eine differenzierte, auf Akzeptanzgewinnung gerichtete Sicht
zu ersetzen ist.
Defying description: searching for queer history in institutional archives
Authors: Freeman Elliot 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThere are numerous obstacles to overcome when conducting queer historical research. While has been a steady increase in work to address the (in)visibility of queer histories and perspectives in institutional heritage collections, this work is often skewed towards outputs such as exhibitions or social media posts. As a result, very little work has been done to interrogate and transform the ways that these materials are managed and made accessible (or not). This paper considers how the lack of rich and explicit descriptive metadata shapes the (in)visibility and (in)accessibility of queer records within institutional archives. It reports the findings of a series of qualitative interviews I conducted with individuals who have searched for queer materials in archival collections in Australia. These interviews explored the practical process of searching for queer records in institutional archives; how researchers identify, locate, and access these records; and the challenges of this process—both in terms of a research methodology, and an experience for queer researchers within potentially hostile or unsafe spaces.
Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders - Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Social Communication Questionnaire
Authors: Araújo Manuela , Jorge Joana Calejo , do Carmo Santos Maria , Vilhena Estela , Oliveira Pedro , Freitas Paula Pinto 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
There are no assessment and screening tools for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) validated for the Portuguese population. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is an useful screening tool of ASD diagnosis. The main objectives of our study were to produce a Portuguese version of the SCQ (SCQ-PF), study its internal consistency, sensitivity and specificity in order to evaluate its validity as a screening instrument for ASD. We also wanted to study the impact of intellectual disability and verbal impairment and other mental disorders on SCQ-PF psychometric properties. The study included 211 children and adolescents, aged 4–17, divided in three groups: ASD Group (n = 96), Other Mental Disorders Group (OMD) (n = 63) and No Mental Disorders (NMD) Group (n = 52). Parents or other primary caregiver provided information on the SCQ items. The SCQ-PF score was significantly higher in the ASD group than in the other groups (p < 0.001). As to internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha was 87%. ASD subjects were distinguished from subjects without ASD (OMD and NMD Groups) and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.897 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.852–0.943), for a cutoff of 14, which yielded the highest AUC, with values of sensitivity and specificity 0.76 and 0.93, respectively. These findings show that SCQ- PF with a cutoff of 14 is an acceptable and useful screening tool for ASD in the Portuguese population.
Teachers’ negotiation of the cross-curricular concept of student digital competence
Authors: Löfving Christina 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIn a digital society, teachers are required to carry out policy directives on both core knowledge and more vaguely described cross-curricular competences, one being digital competence. This paper reports on the findings of a study in which 41 teachers from three lower secondary schools in Sweden engaged in focus group interviews where they participated in sensemaking processes on students’ digital competence. The questions targeted what the teachers knew of their students’ digital experiences and how to facilitate and further develop these students’ digital competence. Based on the focus group interviews, four themes were identified: critical awareness, tool management, creativity, and avoidance of digital usage. Absent were themes related to democratic digital citizenship. The paper discusses the importance of moving away from a one-sided focus on individual teachers’ professional digital competence in favour of focusing on how school organizations can negotiate and facilitate students’ digital competence in local situ. Otherwise, there is a risk of overlooking students’ cross-curricular digital competence and digital citizenship. This paper is a starting point for further research on how school as an organization can support teachers in facilitating various areas of students’ digital competence in a digital society.
Visual Arts Self-Efficacy: Impacts and Supports for Early Childhood Teachers
Authors: Denee Rachel , Lindsay Gai , Probine Sarah 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAlthough visual arts pedagogies are considered central within early childhood education programs, teacher self-efficacy has a direct impact on the quality and delivery of visual arts curricula. Until recently, the visual arts self-efficacy, pedagogical knowledge, and practice of in-service early childhood teachers have remained largely unexplored. The authors of this paper present a qualitative, iterative re-analysis of their three PhD studies which broadly focussed on early childhood visual arts praxis and specifically examined the visual arts beliefs and pedagogy of early childhood teachers in Australia and New Zealand. A thematic analysis of the intersecting self-efficacy findings raised in the three studies identifies the powerful influence of self-efficacy on teaching practice in the visual arts domain and offers new understandings about visual arts self-efficacy amongst early childhood teachers. The combined findings reveal several factors that restrain or enhance teachers’ visual arts self-efficacy across time, including the impact of childhood experiences, pre-service training and epistemological beliefs. The paper also identifies several enabling conditions that appear to support teachers to develop and maintain positive visual arts self-efficacy beliefs, including practical engagement with materials, sustained professional learning, relational trust and intentional leadership. These enabling conditions offer practical strategies and research recommendations in service of positive visual arts self-efficacy to enhance quality visual arts teaching in early childhood contexts.
Charting the Evolution and Future of Conversational Agents: A Research Agenda Along Five Waves and New Frontiers
Authors: Schöbel Sofia , Schmitt Anuschka , Benner Dennis , Saqr Mohammed , Janson Andreas , Leimeister Jan Marco 
Published: April 2023

AbstractConversational agents (CAs) have come a long way from their first appearance in the 1960s to today’s generative models. Continuous technological advancements such as statistical computing and large language models allow for an increasingly natural and effortless interaction, as well as domain-agnostic deployment opportunities. Ultimately, this evolution begs multiple questions: How have technical capabilities developed? How is the nature of work changed through humans’ interaction with conversational agents? How has research framed dominant perceptions and depictions of such agents? And what is the path forward? To address these questions, we conducted a bibliometric study including over 5000 research articles on CAs. Based on a systematic analysis of keywords, topics, and author networks, we derive “five waves of CA research” that describe the past, present, and potential future of research on CAs. Our results highlight fundamental technical evolutions and theoretical paradigms in CA research. Therefore, we discuss the moderating role of big technologies, and novel technological advancements like OpenAI GPT or BLOOM NLU that mark the next frontier of CA research. We contribute to theory by laying out central research streams in CA research, and offer practical implications by highlighting the design and deployment opportunities of CAs.