bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of mass controlled reaction–diffusion systems with nonlinearities having critical growth rates
Authors: Sun Chunyou , Tang Bao Quoc , Yang Juan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe analyze semilinear reaction–diffusion systems that are mass controlled, and have nonlinearities that satisfy critical growth rates. The systems under consideration are only assumed to satisfy natural assumptions, namely the preservation of non-negativity and a control of the total mass. It is proved in dimension one that if nonlinearities have (slightly super-) cubic growth rates then the system has a unique global classical solutions. Moreover, in the case of mass dissipation, the solution is bounded uniformly in time in sup-norm. One key idea in the proof is the Hölder continuity of gradient of solutions to parabolic equation with possibly discontinuous diffusion coefficients and low regular forcing terms. When the system possesses additionally an entropy inequality, the global existence and boundedness of a unique classical solution is shown for nonlinearities satisfying a cubic intermediate sum condition, which is a significant generalization of cubic growth rates. The main idea in this case is to combine a modified Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality and the newly developed $$L^p$$

L
p

-energy method in Fitzgibbon et al. (SIAM J Math Anal 53(6):6771–6803, 2021) and Morgan and Tang (Commun Contemp Math, 2022). This idea also allows us to deal with the case of discontinuous diffusion coefficients in higher dimensions, which has only recently been touched in the context of mass controlled reaction–diffusion systems.
Translatability scoring in prospective and retrospective COVID drug development cases
Authors: Wendler Alexandra , Wehling Martin 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has led to an enormous surge of clinical research. So far, the speed and success rate of related drug development projects, especially of vaccines, is unprecedented. For the first time, this situation allowed for the opportunistic evaluation of a translatability score, originally proposed in 2009, in a prospective manner.

Methods
Several vaccines and treatments under development in clinical phase III trials were selected for translational scoring with the translatability score. Six prospective and six retrospective case studies were performed. The scores had to be determined for a fictive date before any results of the phase III trial were reported in any media. Spearman correlation analysis and a Kruskal Wallis test were performed for statistical evaluation.

Results
A significant correlation between the translatability scores and the clinical outcomes in translation was found, as judged on the basis of positive/intermediate/negative endpoint studies or market approval. The Spearman correlation analysis of all cases (r = 0.91, p < 0.001), the prospective cases alone (r = 0.93, p = 0.008), and the retrospective cases alone (r = 0.93, p = 0.008) showed a strong correlation between the score and outcome; R2 demonstrated a score-derived determination of outcomes by 86%.

Conclusions
The score detects strengths and weaknesses of a given project, resulting in the opportunity of selective amelioration of a project, as well as prospective portfolio risk balancing. Its substantial predictive value that has been demonstrated here for the first time could be of particular interest for biomedical industry (pharmaceutical and device manufacturers), funding agencies, venture capitalists, and researchers in the area. Future evaluations will have to address the generalizability of results obtained in an exceptional pandemic situation, and the potential adaptations of weighing factors/items to particular therapeutic areas.
Deeply 3D-T1-TFE hypointense voxels are characteristic of phase-rim lesions in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Naval-Baudin Pablo , Pons-Escoda Albert , Camins Àngels , Arroyo Pablo , Viveros Mildred , Castell Josep , Cos Mònica , Martínez-Yélamos Antonio , Martínez-Yélamos Sergio , Majós Carles 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Objectives
The development of new drugs for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) highlights the need for new prognostic biomarkers. Phase-rim lesions (PRLs) have been proposed as markers of progressive disease but are difficult to identify and quantify. Previous studies have identified T1-hypointensity in PRLs. The aim of this study was to compare the intensity profiles of PRLs and non-PRL white-matter lesions (nPR-WMLs) on three-dimensional T1-weighted turbo field echo (3DT1TFE) MRI. We then evaluated the performance of a derived metric as a surrogate for PRLs as potential markers for risk of disease progression.

Methods
This study enrolled a cohort of relapsing–remitting (n = 10) and secondary progressive MS (n = 10) patients for whom 3 T MRI was available. PRLs and nPR-WMLs were segmented, and voxel-wise normalized T1-intensity histograms were analyzed. The lesions were divided equally into training and test datasets, and the fifth-percentile (p5)-normalized T1-intensity of each lesion was compared between groups and used for classification prediction.

Results
Voxel-wise histogram analysis showed a unimodal histogram for nPR-WMLs and a bimodal histogram for PRLs with a large peak in the hypointense limit. Lesion-wise analysis included 1075 nPR-WMLs and 39 PRLs. The p5 intensity of PRLs was significantly lower than that of nPR-WMLs. The T1 intensity-based PRL classifier had a sensitivity of 0.526 and specificity of 0.959.

Conclusions
Profound hypointensity on 3DT1TFE MRI is characteristic of PRLs and rare in other white-matter lesions. Given the widespread availability of T1-weighted imaging, this feature might serve as a surrogate biomarker for smoldering inflammation.

Clinical relevance statement
Quantitative analysis of 3DT1TFE may detect deeply hypointense voxels in multiple sclerosis lesions, which are highly specific to PRLs. This could serve as a specific indicator of smoldering inflammation in MS, aiding in early detection of disease progression.

Key Points
• Phase-rim lesions (PRLs) in multiple sclerosis present a characteristic T1-hypointensity on 3DT1TFE MRI.
• Intensity-normalized 3DT1TFE can be used to systematically identify and quantify these deeply hypointense foci.
• Deep T1-hypointensity may act as an easily detectable, surrogate marker for PRLs.

Graphical Abstract
Abnormally elevated expression of ACTA2 of circular smooth muscle leads to hyperactive contraction in aganglionic segments of HSCR
Authors: Chen Ke , You Jingyi , Yang Shimin , Meng Xinyao , Chen Xuyong , Wu Luyao , Yu Xiaosi , Xiao Jun , Feng Jiexiong 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Actin Alpha 2 (ACTA2) is expressed in intestinal smooth muscle cells (iSMCs) and is associated with contractility. Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), one of the most common digested tract malformations, shows peristaltic dysfunction and spasm smooth muscles. The arrangement of the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle (SM) of the aganglionic segments is disorganized. Does ACTA2, as a marker of iSMCs, exhibit abnormal expression in aganglionic segments? Does the ACTA2 expression level affect the contraction function of iSMCs? What are the spatiotemporal expression trends of ACTA2 during different developmental stages of the colon?

Methods
Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ACTA2 in iSMCs of children with HSCR and Ednrb−/− mice, and the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) knockdown technique was employed to investigate how Acta2 affected the systolic function of iSMCs. Additionally, Ednrb−/− mice were used to explore the changes in the expression level of iSMCs ACTA2 at different developmental stages.

Results
The expression of ACTA2 is higher in circular SM in the aganglionic segments of HSCR patients and Ednrb−/− mice than in normal control children and mice. Down regulation of Acta2 weakens the contraction ability of intestinal smooth muscle cells. Abnormally elevated expression of ACTA2 of circular smooth muscle occurs since embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5d) in aganglionic segments of Ednrb−/− mice.

Conclusions
Abnormally elevated expression of ACTA2 in the circular SM leads to hyperactive contraction, which may cause the spasm of aganglionic segments in HSCR.
National population-based reference data for the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)
Authors: Larsen Peter , Rathleff Michael S. , Roos Ewa M. , Elsoe Rasmus 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Interpretation of patient-reported outcome scores such as the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) can be improved with use of reference values. The aim of the study was to establish population-based reference values for the HOOS’ five subscales and its short-form HOOS-12.

Materials and methods
A representative sample of 9997 Danish citizens 18 years and older were identified. The population record-based sample was based on seven predefined age groups and an equal sex distribution within each age group. A national secure electronic system was used to send the HOOS questionnaire and one supplementary question regarding previous hip complaints to all participants.

Results
2277 participants completed the HOOS, 947 women (42%) and 1330 men (58%). The mean HOOS subscale scores were: pain 86.9 (95% CI 86.1–87.7), symptoms 83.7 (95% CI 82.9–84.5), ADL 88.2 (95% CI 87.5–89.0), sport and recreation function 83.1 (95% CI 82.0–84.1), QOL 82.7 (95% CI 81.8–83.6). The youngest age group reported better mean scores in four subscales compared to the oldest age group (pain 91.7 vs. 84.5, mean difference 7.2 95% CI 0.4–14.0), (ADL 94.6 points vs. 83.2, mean difference 11.4 95% CI 4.9–17.8), (sport and recreation function 91.5 points vs. 73.8 points, mean difference 17.7 95% CI 9.0–26.4), (QOL 88.9 points vs. 78.8, mean difference 10.1 points 95% CI 2.0–18.2). Participants with a self-reported hip complaint had worse HOOS scores across all subscales (mean difference range 22.1–34.6). Super obese patients (BMI > 40) had > 12.5 points worse scores across the five HOOS subscales. Results were similar for the HOOS-12.

Conclusion
This study provides reference values for the HOOS and its short form HOOS-12. Results show that older patients and patients with a BMI over 40 have worse HOOS and HOOS-12 scores that may be of clinical importance in the interpretation of scores both when evaluating potential for improvement and post-treatment results.
Assessing frailty at the centers for dementia and cognitive decline in Italy: potential implications for improving care of older people living with dementia
Authors: Bellelli G. , Zucchelli A. , Benussi A. , Pinardi E. , Caratozzolo S. , Ornago A.M. , Cosseddu M. , Stella V. , Turrone R. , Massariello F. , Marengoni A. , Padovani A. 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Frailty is strongly associated with the clinical course of cognitive impairment and dementia, thus arguing for the need of its assessment in individuals affected by cognitive deficits. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate frailty in patients aged 65 years and older referred to two Centers for Cognitive Decline and Dementia (CCDDs).

Methods
A total of 1256 patients consecutively referred for a first visit to two CCDDs in Lombardy (Italy) between January 2021 to July 2022 were included. All patients were evaluated by an expert physician in diagnosis and care of dementia according to a standardized clinical protocol. Frailty was assessed using a 24-items Frailty Index (FI) based on routinely collected health records, excluding cognitive decline or dementia, and categorized as mild, moderate, and severe.

Results
Overall, 40% of patients were affected by mild frailty and 25% of the sample has moderate to severe frailty. The prevalence and severity of frailty increased with decreasing Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and advancing age. Frailty was also detected in 60% of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Conclusion
Frailty is common in patients referring to CCDDs for cognitive deficits. Its systematic assessment using a FI generated with readily available medical information could help develop appropriate models of assistance and guide personalization of care.
Pathophysiology of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: lessons from findings of the past three decades in Japan
Authors: Nakayama Masaaki , Miyazaki Masanobu , Hamada Chieko , Ito Yasuhiko , Honda Kazuho ,   Peritoneal Biopsy Study Group of the Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
Published: June 2023

AbstractEncapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), a condition with a high mortality rate, is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). In Japan, EPS became a central issue in the clinical setting during the mid-90s and the beginning of this century. However, following the introduction of biocompatible neutral PD solutions containing lower levels of glucose degradation products, the incidence and clinical severity of EPS has been greatly lessened. During the past three decades, the etiology of EPS has been elucidated by findings obtained by peritoneal biopsy, laparoscopy, and surgical intervention. Accumulating findings suggest the need for a paradigm change on the nature of EPS pathophysiology; notably, EPS appears not to reflect peritoneal sclerosis per se, but rather the formation of a neo-membrane as a biological reaction to peritoneal injury. This narrative review looks back on the history of EPS in Japan, and discusses EPS pathophysiology, the impact of neutral PD solution on peritoneal protection, and a future novel diagnostic approach, ultra-fine endoscope, for the identification of patients at high risk of EPS.
No lukewarm diatom communities—the response of freshwater benthic diatoms to phosphorus in streams as basis for a new phosphorus diatom index (PDISE)
Authors: Kahlert Maria , Fölster Jens , Tapolczai Kálmán 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
In the present study, we developed a new Swedish phosphorus diatom index (PDISE) to improve the poor fit of existing indices to match the needs of water managers to detect and mitigate eutrophication. We took advantage of a large amount of data (820 Swedish stream sites) collected in recent years. During our work, we found an unexpected bimodal response of the diatom assemblages to phosphorus. The taxa clustered either into an assemblage with a low or with a high site-specific averaged TP optimum (a calculated value comprised of the diatom taxa-specific optima). We could not find a characteristic diatom assemblage for sites with intermediate site-specific averaged TP optima. To our knowledge, this bimodal community response has not been shown earlier. The PDISE correlated more strongly than the currently used TDI to changes in TP concentrations. Thus, the PDISE should replace the TDI in the Swedish standard method. The modeled TP optima (expressed as categories) were different compared to the TDI for most of the taxa included in the index, indicating that the realized niche for these morphotaxa was different between Sweden and the UK where the TDI was developed originally. With a r2 of 0.68, the correlation of the PDISE to TP is among the highest reported for other diatom nutrient indices globally; thus, we believe that it might be worth to test it for other bioregions with similar geography and climate.
Cell tracking with multifeature fusion
Authors: Wang Fei , Li Huawei , Yang Wanli , Jin Shidong , Gao Peng 
Published: June 2023

AbstractCell tracking is currently a powerful tool in a variety of biomedical research topics. Most cell tracking algorithms follow the tracking by detection paradigm. Detection is critical for subsequent tracking. Unfortunately, very accurate detection is not easy due to many factors like densely populated, low contrast, and possible impurities included. Keeping tracking multiple cells across frames suffers many difficulties, as cells may have similar appearance, they may change their shapes, and nearby cells may interact each other. In this paper, we propose a unified tracking-by-detection framework, where a powerful detector AttentionUnet++, a multimodal extension of the Efficient Convolution Operators algorithm, and an effective data association algorithm are included. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can outperform many existing cell tracking algorithms.
Hintikka’s conception of syntheticity as the introduction of new individuals
Authors: Larese Costanza 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIn a series of papers published in the sixties and seventies, Jaakko Hintikka, drawing upon Kant’s conception, defines an argument to be analytic whenever it does not introduce new individuals into the discussion and argues that there exists a class of arguments in polyadic first-order logic that are to be synthetic according to this sense. His work has been utterly overlooked in the literature. In this paper, I claim that the value of Hintikka’s contribution has been obscured by his formalisation of the original definition. Therefore, I provide (i) a brief reconstruction of the historical framework of the problem and the revolutionary import of Hintikka’s contribution, (ii) a clarification of the most complicated steps of Hintikka’s elaboration of his insight, (iii) a criticism of several features that play a fundamental role in Hintikka’s formalisation and (iv) a selection from Hintikka’s own material of some valuable suggestions towards a clear and workable formalisation. As for the pars construens, I isolate in the approach of depth-bounded first-order logics (D'Agostino et al. 2021) an alternative formalisation of the notion of syntheticity as the introduction of new individuals in the reasoning, and I show that it is not affected by the same difficulties as Hintikka’s proposal. In so doing, I hope to have contributed to the realisation of the project of rehabilitating Kant’s analytic–synthetic distinction in the context of modern first-order logic with the purpose of showing, against the logical empiricist movement, that logic is not analytic.
Linear convergence rate analysis of a class of exact first-order distributed methods for weight-balanced time-varying networks and uncoordinated step sizes
Authors: Malaspina Greta , Jakovetić Dušan , Krejić Nataša 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe analyze a class of exact distributed first order methods under a general setting on the underlying network and step-sizes. In more detail, we allow simultaneously for time-varying uncoordinated step sizes and time-varying directed weight-balanced networks, jointly connected over bounded intervals. The analyzed class of methods subsumes several existing algorithms like the unified Extra and unified DIGing (Jakovetić in IEEE Trans Signal Inf Process Netw 5(1):31–46, 2019), or the exact spectral gradient method (Jakovetić et al. in Comput Optim Appl 74:703–728, 2019) that have been analyzed before under more restrictive assumptions. Under the assumed setting, we establish R-linear convergence of the methods and present several implications that our results have on the literature. Most notably, we show that the unification strategy in Jakovetić (2019) and the spectral step-size selection strategy in Jakovetić et al. (2019) exhibit a high degree of robustness to uncoordinated time-varying step sizes and to time-varying networks.
Inequalities in Wellbeing in Lebanese Children and Different Refugee Subpopulations: A Multidimensional Child Deprivation Analysis
Authors: Jamaluddine Zeina , Safadi Gloria , Irani Alexandra , Salti Nisreen , Chaaban Jad , Abdulrahim Sawsan , Thomas Alban , Ghattas Hala 
Published: June 2023

Abstract

Background and Objectives
This study constitutes the first attempt to describe the overlapping deprivations faced by Lebanese children (Lebanese) and that of the three sub-populations of refugees living in Lebanon: Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, Palestinian refugees from Syria and Syrian refugees.

Methods
Using data from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Household Survey 2016 (n = 10,555 Lebanese; 7,106 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon; 2,768 Palestinian refugees from Syria and 5,891 Syrian refugee children aged 2 to 17 years old), we report on single and overlapping deprivations (at least two concurrent deprivations) using indicators related to survival (nutrition, health, water, sanitation and overcrowding), development (education) and protection (labor, exposure to violence and early marriage). Maternal education and geographical correlates of deprivation were explored using multivariable logistic regression models clustering for children in the same households.

Main Results
In terms of co-occurrence of deprivations, Syrian refugees had the highest prevalence in all age groups (68.5%, 2-4y and 65.7%, 6-17y), followed by Palestinian refugees from Syria (46.2%, 2-4y and 45.5%, 6-17y), Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon (28.9%, 2-4y and 23.7%, 6-17y), with Lebanese children having the lowest prevalence (13.2%, 2-4y and 15.3, 6-17y). About half of Palestinian refugees from Syria and Syrian refugees (6-17y) were deprived in protection and housing. Education deprivation is of primary concern for Syrian children. Higher maternal education was consistently associated with lower odds of co-occurrence of deprivations among children aged 6-17y.

Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of including refugee populations in reporting frameworks. This analysis additionally generates geographical and socio-economic profiles of the deprived children and identifies key deprivation areas of the affected sub-groups to inform effective policy design especially in light of the prevailing economic crisis.
An Ecosystem for Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation: How the State Integrates Actors for Developing Impact Investing in Portugal
Authors: Christopoulos Tania Pereira , Verga Matos Pedro , Borges Rafael Drumond 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIn this article, we explore how an important state intervention in cooperation with many civil society actors led to impact investing field emergence, intending to create favourable conditions for social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted in Portugal, with the main players in the field, including private sector, government, NGOs, and EU authorities. The ecosystem formed by these actors is analysed under the institutional theory lens and through an inductive method, leading to a process-based model. The results of our case study show a state struggling to involve private sector in providing resources to the field. On demand side, new entrepreneurs are finding difficulties in meeting legal requirements and answering suppliers’ selection criteria. Intermediaries contribute to reducing complexities, but are fighting to encounter their place in the field. Our evidences further suggest that social entrepreneurship and social innovation could be implemented as socially embedded actions, in response to local demands.