bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Facial recognition lock technology for social care settings: A qualitative evaluation of implementation of facial recognition locks at two residential care sites
Authors: Bradwell H. L. , Edwards K. J. , Baines R. , Page T. , Chatterjee A. , Jones R. B. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundThere is limited literature on security and access for social care settings despite policy highlighting importance, and no published research exploring facial recognition lock technology (FRLT) for potential improvements. This study explored FRLT device implementation, use, barriers and benefits.MethodsOne residential care home with 43 older adults and 68 staff members (Site A), and one supported living facility caring for six individuals with mental health issues with 18 staff members (Site B) were provided with FRLT for six months. Nine pre-implementation staff interviews explored existing access and security perceptions. Ten post-implementation staff interviews and one staff focus group were conducted; all were analysed using content analysis to understand, alongside process mapping, the use and impact of the FRLT. Interview participants included site care staff and other visiting healthcare professionals. We additionally report feedback from the technology developers to demonstrate impact of industry-academia collaboration.ResultsPre-implementation interviews highlighted issues with current pin-pad or lock-box systems, including; code sharing; code visibility, ineffective code changes, security issues following high staff turnover, lack of efficiency for visitors including NHS staff and lack of infection control suggesting requirement for innovation and improvement. Pre-implementation interviews showed openness and interest in FRLT, although initial queries were raised around cost effectiveness and staff skills. Following implementation, good levels of adoption were achieved with 72% and 100% (49/68 and 18/18) of staff members uploading their face at the two sites, and 100% of residents at Site B using the system (6/6). Additionally, Site B made a positive procurement decision and continues to discuss wider rollout. Post implementation interviews suggested FRLT was useful and acceptable for improving security and access. Benefits identified included staff/visitor time saving, enhanced security, team ease of access, resident autonomy and fewer shared touch points. Integration was suggested including with fire alarm systems, staff clocking in/out, and Covid monitoring to improve usefulness. The developers have since responded to feedback with design iterations.ConclusionWe identified concerns on security and access in social care settings, which warrant further exploration and research. FRLT could increase resident autonomy and reduce staff burden, particularly considering frequent multi-agency health and care visits.
Research on the impact of equity incentives on the financial performance of new energy enterprises
Authors: Chen Keyu , Yu Yaguai , Jiang Pengtao , Bao Hanlu , Ni Taohan 
Published: March 2023

Based on the data of 253 A-share listed new energy enterprises from 2010–2021, this paper studies the correlations among equity incentives, the three contract elements of equity incentives and the financial performance of new energy enterprises by using fixed-effect regression analysis, and on this basis, Granger causality analysis is applied to determine the causal relationship, and finally, the degree of influence of equity incentives contract elements is further studied by Grey Relational Analysis. It is found that equity incentives positively affect the financial performance of new energy enterprises as a whole. In terms of the choice of equity incentive contract elements, the influence is more significant when the granting method is stock options, when the exercise duration is longer, and when the exercise conditions are stricter. As to the degree of influence, the influence of equity incentive method and exercise conditions on the financial performance of new energy enterprises is greater, but the influence of exercise duration is the lowest. Therefore, it is suggested that new energy enterprises can choose more stock options for equity incentives, create stricter exercise conditions and set the duration of the equity incentive scheme between 5 and 10 years with their own characteristics.
Patterns of care and survival for lung cancer: Results of the European population-based high-resolution study
Authors: Sant Milena , Daidone Caterina , Innos Kaire , Marcos-Gragera Rafael , Vanschoenbeek Katrijn , Barranco Miguel Rodriguez , Poch Ester Oliva , Lillini Roberto ,   The Lung Cancer HR Study Working Group
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesTo investigate differences in lung cancer (LC) management and survival using data from European population cancer registries.MethodsWe analysed 4,602 lung cancer cases diagnosed in 2010–2013, followed-up to 2019 in five countries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) of surgery for stages I–II LC or chemo- or radiotherapy for stages III–IV LC. Relative survival (RS) was estimated by the actuarial method; Relative Excess Risk of death (RER), with 95% CI, was calculated by generalized linear models.ResultsDiagnostic work-up was extensive for 65.9% patients (range 57%, Estonia, Portugal - 85% (Belgium). Sixty-six percent of stages I–II patients underwent surgery; compared to non-operated, their adjusted OR decreased with age and was associated with main bronchus cancer (OR vs. lobes 0.25, CI, 0.08–0.82), stage II (OR vs. stage I: 0.42, CI, 0.29–0.60), comorbidity (OR vs. absent: 0.55, CI, 0.33–0.93), country (ORs: Estonia 1.82, CI, 1.28–2.60; Belgium 0.62, CI, 0.42–0.91; Portugal 0.69, CI, 0.52–0.93).Almost half of stages III–IV patients received chemo- or radiotherapy only; the adjusted OR vs. non receiving decreased with age and was associated with unspecified cancer topography or morphology. The adjusted five-year RER increased with age and stage and was lower for women (0.78, CI, 0.72–0.86), above the reference for main bronchus cancer (1.37, CI, 1.21–1.54) and unspecified morphology (1.17, CI, 1.05–1.30). Surgery carried the lowest mortality (RS 56.9; RER 0.13, CI, 0.11–0.15) with RER above the mean in Estonia (1.20, CI, 1.10–1.30), below it in Portugal (0.88, CI, 0.82–0.93) and Switzerland (0.91, CI, 0.84–0.99). Comorbidity (1.21, CI, 1.09–1.35) and not smoking (0.68, CI, 0.57–0.81) were associated with RER.ConclusionsThe survival benefit of early diagnosis, allowing curative surgery, was evident at the population level. Screening for subjects at risk and adhesion to standard care should be incremented across the EU by funding better equipment and training health personnel.
Novel and recurrent genetic variants of VHL, SDHB, and RET genes in Chinese pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma patients
Authors: Li Chong , Li Jingyi , Han Chao , Wang Ting , Zhang Lixia , Wang Zhifang , Wang Tingting , Xu Lijun , Qi Guangzhao , Qin Guijun , Li Xialian , Zheng Lili 
Published: March 2023

Background: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal ganglia, respectively. The study was aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of 22 individuals from six families.Methods: The medical records of six PPGL probands who presented to our hospital between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively studied. DNA isolated from the probands was analyzed using whole exome sequencing. The identified genetic variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and undergone bioinformatic analysis.Results: Six different genetic variants in the six probands were identified, respectively, of which three were novel. A novel von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) variant, c.602T&gt;C (p.L201P), in exon 3 was found. Two novel genetic variants in SDHB (succinate dehydrogenases subunit B), c.423 + 1 G&gt;T and c.662A&gt;G (p.D221G), were identified. Two recurrent genetic variants of VHL, c.C284G (p.P95R) and c.558_560AGAdel (p.186Edel), and one in RET (ret proto-oncogene), c.1901G&gt;A (p.C634Y), were also found. The ClinVar accession number for the present variants are SCV002028348, and SCV002028352 to SCV002028361.Conclusion: Genetic variants in VHL, SDHB and RET were identified in Chinese PPGL patients, which contributed to the knowledge of the genetic etiology and clinical outcome of these tumors.
Functional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells of donor origin in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients of a T-cell-replete infusion: A prospective observational study
Authors: La Rosa Corinna , Chiuppesi Flavia , Park Yoonsuh , Zhou Qiao , Yang Dongyun , Gendzekhadze Ketevan , Ly Minh , Li Jing , Kaltcheva Teodora , Ortega Francisco Sandra , Gutierrez Miguel-Angel , Ali Haris , Otoukesh Salman , Amanam Idoroenyi , Salhotra Amandeep , Pullarkat Vinod A. , Aldoss Ibrahim , Rosenzweig Michael , Aribi Ahmed M. , Stein Anthony S. , Marcucci Guido , Dadwal Sanjeet Singh , Nakamura Ryotaro , Forman Stephen J. , Al Malki Monzr M. , Diamond Don J. 
Published: March 2023

In the current post-pandemic era, recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) deserve special attention. In these vulnerable patients, vaccine effectiveness is reduced by post-transplant immune-suppressive therapy; consequently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) is often associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Characterizing SARS-CoV-2 adaptive immunity transfer from immune donors to HCT recipients in the context of immunosuppression will help identify optimal timing and vaccination strategies that can provide adequate protection to HCT recipients against infection with evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. We performed a prospective observational study (NCT04666025 at ClinicalTrials.gov) to longitudinally monitor the transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antiviral immunity from HCT donors, who were either vaccinated or had a history of COVID-19, to their recipients via T-cell replete graft. Levels, function, and quality of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses were longitudinally analyzed up to 6 months post-HCT in 14 matched unrelated donor/recipients and four haploidentical donor/recipient pairs. A markedly skewed donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 CD4 T-cell response was measurable in 15 (83%) recipients. It showed a polarized Th1 functional profile, with the prevalence of central memory phenotype subsets. SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-γ was detectable throughout the observation period, including early post-transplant (day +30). Functionally experienced SARS-CoV-2 Th1-type T cells promptly expanded in two recipients at the time of post-HCT vaccination and in two others who were infected and survived post-transplant COVID-19 infection. Our data suggest that donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses are functional in immunosuppressed recipients and may play a critical role in post-HCT vaccine response and protection from the fatal disease.Clinical trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04666025.
Antimicrobial resistance and genotyping of Mycobacterium leprae in Venezuela
Authors: Sisco Maria Carolina , Brum Fontes Amanda N. , Lessmann Lucibel Crespo , Rada Elsa , Prado Palacios Yrneh Y. , Vasconcellos Sidra E. G. , de Waard Jacobus H. , Suffys Philip N. 
Published: March 2023

Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease that leads to physical disability and social discrimination. The active surveillance of new cases and vigilance for drug resistance can decrease the incidence, and improve the clinical outcomes of people affected by it. We analyzed, with molecular biology techniques, a set of skin biopsy samples from 25 Venezuelan patients. The patients had been diagnosed with leprosy in 2014 and early 2015, and 15 were relapse cases. The samples were tested for molecular drug resistance to dapsone, rifampicin, and fluoroquinolones. In addition, we performed molecular epidemiology analysis through multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. We did not find evidence of drug resistance and 76% of the samples (n = 16) had isolates belonging to SNP type 3. Genotype profiles allowed us to rule out the possibility of re-infection in a patient with persistent symptoms after treatment, as well as that of household transmission in two more patients. Although our sampling is relatively small, very similar or even identical Mycobacterium leprae genotypes were observed in Miranda State. The presence of this cluster is highly suggestive of high rates of local transmission and, in turn, the need to better control this disease. Finally, the copy number distribution of minisatellite 18–8 in a considerable number of SNP type 3 strains strongly suggests the presence of a sublineage of this disease that is particular to Venezuela.
Application of prophage sequence analysis to investigate a disease outbreak involving Salmonella Adjame, a rare serovar and implications for the population structure
Authors: Gao Ruimin , Duceppe Marc-Olivier , Chattaway Marie Anne , Goodridge Lawrence , Ogunremi Dele 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionOutbreak investigation of foodborne salmonellosis is hindered when the food source is contaminated by multiple strains of Salmonella, creating difficulties matching an incriminated organism recovered from patients with the specific strain in the suspect food. An outbreak of the rare Salmonella Adjame was caused by multiple strains of the organism as revealed by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation. The use of highly discriminatory prophage analysis to characterize strains of Salmonella should enable a more precise strain characterization and aid the investigation of foodborne salmonellosis.MethodsWe have carried out genomic analysis of S. Adjame strains recovered during the course of a recent outbreak and compared them with other strains of the organism (n = 38 strains), using SNPs to evaluate strain differences present in the core genome, and prophage sequence typing (PST) to evaluate the accessory genome. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using both total prophage content and conserved prophages.ResultsThe PST analysis of the S. Adjame isolates showed a high degree of strain heterogeneity. We observed small clusters made up of 2-6 isolates (n = 27) and singletons (n = 11) in stark contrast with the three clusters observed by SNP analysis. In total, we detected 24 prophages of which only four were highly prevalent, namely: Entero_p88 (36/38 strains), Salmon_SEN34 (35/38 strains), Burkho_phiE255 (33/38 strains) and Edward_GF (28/38 strains). Despite the marked strain diversity seen with prophage analysis, the distribution of the four most common prophages matched the clustering observed using core genome.DiscussionMutations in the core and accessory genomes of S. Adjame have shed light on the evolutionary relationships among the Adjame strains and demonstrated a convergence of the variations observed in both fractions of the genome. We conclude that core and accessory genomes analyses should be adopted in foodborne bacteria outbreak investigations to provide a more accurate strain description and facilitate reliable matching of isolates from patients and incriminated food sources. The outcomes should translate to a better understanding of the microbial population structure and an 46 improved source attribution in foodborne illnesses.
Brain network analysis for the discrimination of dementia disorders using electrophysiology signals: A systematic review
Authors: Adebisi Abdulyekeen T. , Veluvolu Kalyana C. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundDementia-related disorders have been an age-long challenge to the research and healthcare communities as their various forms are expressed with similar clinical symptoms. These disorders are usually irreversible at their late onset, hence their lack of validated and approved cure. Since their prodromal stages usually lurk for a long period of time before the expression of noticeable clinical symptoms, a secondary prevention which has to do with treating the early onsets has been suggested as the possible solution. Connectivity analysis of electrophysiology signals has played significant roles in the diagnosis of various dementia disorders through early onset identification.ObjectiveWith the various applications of electrophysiology signals, the purpose of this study is to systematically review the step-by-step procedures of connectivity analysis frameworks for dementia disorders. This study aims at identifying the methodological issues involved in such frameworks and also suggests approaches to solve such issues.MethodsIn this study, ProQuest, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Springer Link, and Science Direct databases are employed for exploring the evolution and advancement of connectivity analysis of electrophysiology signals of dementia-related disorders between January 2016 to December 2022. The quality of assessment of the studied articles was done using Cochrane guidelines for the systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy.ResultsOut of a total of 4,638 articles found to have been published on the review scope between January 2016 to December 2022, a total of 51 peer-review articles were identified to completely satisfy the review criteria. An increasing trend of research in this domain is identified within the considered time frame. The ratio of MEG and EEG utilization found within the reviewed articles is 1:8. Most of the reviewed articles employed graph theory metrics for their analysis with clustering coefficient (CC), global efficiency (GE), and characteristic path length (CPL) appearing more frequently compared to other metrics.SignificanceThis study provides general insight into how to employ connectivity measures for the analysis of electrophysiology signals of dementia-related disorders in order to better understand their underlying mechanism and their differential diagnosis.
Brain inspired path planning algorithms for drones
Authors: Chao Yixun , Augenstein Philipp , Roennau Arne , Dillmann Ruediger , Xiong Zhi 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionWith the development of artificial intelligence and brain science, brain-inspired navigation and path planning has attracted widespread attention.MethodsIn this paper, we present a place cell based path planning algorithm that utilizes spiking neural network (SNN) to create efficient routes for drones. First, place cells are characterized by the leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron model. Then, the connection weights between neurons are trained by spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) learning rules. Afterwards, a synaptic vector field is created to avoid obstacles and to find the shortest path.ResultsFinally, simulation experiments both in a Python simulation environment and in an Unreal Engine environment are conducted to evaluate the validity of the algorithms.DiscussionExperiment results demonstrate the validity, its robustness and the computational speed of the proposed model.
Association between brain structures and migraine: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Guo Xiaoming , Wang Dingkun , Ying Caidi , Hong Yuan 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAccumulating evidence of clinical and neuroimaging studies indicated that migraine is related to brain structural alterations. However, it is still not clear whether the associations of brain structural alterations with migraine are likely to be causal, or could be explained by reverse causality confounding.MethodsWe carried on a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis in order to identify the causal relationship between brain structures and migraine risk. Summary-level data and independent variants used as instruments came from large genome-wide association studies of total surface area and average thickness of cortex (33,992 participants), gray matter volume (8,428 participants), white matter hyperintensities (50,970 participants), hippocampal volume (33,536 participants), and migraine (102,084 cases and 771,257 controls).ResultsWe identified suggestive associations of the decreased surface area (OR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75–0.96; P = 0.007), and decreased hippocampal volume (OR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55–1.00; P = 0.047) with higher migraine risk. We did not find any significant association of gray matter volume, cortical thickness, or white matter hyperintensities with migraine. No evidence supporting the significant association was found in the reverse MR analysis.ConclusionWe provided suggestive evidence that surface area and hippocampal volume are causally associated with migraine risk.
Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) across the visual field in hearing and deaf cats
Authors: Mitzelfelt Thomas , Bao Xiaohan , Barnes Paisley , Lomber Stephen G. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionCongenitally deaf cats perform better on visual localization tasks than hearing cats, and this advantage has been attributed to the posterior auditory field. Successful visual localization requires both visual processing of the target and timely generation of an action to approach the target. Activation of auditory cortex in deaf subjects during visual localization in the peripheral visual field can occur either via bottom-up stimulus-driven and/or top-down goal-directed pathways.MethodsIn this study, we recorded visually evoked potentials (VEPs) in response to a reversing checkerboard stimulus presented in the hemifield contralateral to the recorded hemisphere in both hearing and deaf cats under light anesthesia.ResultsAlthough VEP amplitudes and latencies were systematically modulated by stimulus eccentricity, we found little evidence of changes in VEP in deaf cats that can explain their behavioral advantage. A statistical trend was observed, showing larger peak amplitudes and shorter peak latencies in deaf subjects for stimuli in the near- and mid-peripheral field. Additionally, latency of the P1 wave component had a larger inter-sweep variation in deaf subjects.DiscussionOur results suggested that cross-modal plasticity following deafness does not play a major part in cortical processing of the peripheral visual field when the “vision for action” system is not recruited.