bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prediction model for skeletal muscle evaluation and computed tomography-defined sarcopenia diagnosis in a predominantly overweight cohort of patients with head and neck cancer
Authors: Vangelov Belinda , Bauer Judith , Moses Daniel , Smee Robert 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the feasibility of computed tomography (CT)-defined sarcopenia assessment using a prediction model for estimating the cross-sectional area (CSA) of skeletal muscle (SM) in CT scans at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), using measures at the third cervical level (C3) in a predominantly overweight population with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods
Analysis was conducted on adult patients with newly diagnosed HNC who had a diagnostic positron emission tomography–CT scan. CSA of SM in CT images was measured at L3 and C3 in each patient, and a predictive formula developed using fivefold cross-validation and linear regression modelling. Correlation and agreement between measured CSA at L3 and predicted values were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman plot. The model’s ability to identify sarcopenia was investigated using Cohen’s Kappa (k).

Results
A total of 109 patient scans were analysed, with 64% of the cohort being overweight or obese. The prediction model demonstrated high level of correlation between measured and predicted CSA measures (ICC 0.954, r = 0.916, p < 0.001), and skeletal muscle index (SMI) (ICC 0.939, r = 0.883, p < 0.001). Bland–Altman plot showed good agreement in SMI, with mean difference (bias) = 0.22% (SD 8.65, 95% CI − 3.35 to 3.79%), limits of agreement (− 16.74 to 17.17%). The model had a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 85.0%, with moderate agreement on sarcopenia diagnosis (k = 0.565, p = 0.004).

Conclusion
This model is effective in predicting lumbar SM CSA using measures at C3, and in identifying low SM in a predominately overweight group of patients with HNC.
Fatal blunt chest trauma: an evaluation of rib fracture patterns and age
Authors: O’Donovan Siobhan , van den Heuvel Corinna , Baldock Matthew , Humphries Melissa A. , Byard Roger W. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe following study was undertaken to determine if any specific occupant characteristics, crash factors, or associated injuries identified at autopsy could predict the occurrence or number of fractured ribs in adults. Data were accrued from the Traffic Accident Reporting System (TARS) and coronial autopsy reports from Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, South Australia, from January 2000 to December 2020. A total of 1475 motor vehicle fatalities were recorded in TARS between January 2000 and December 2020, and 1082 coronial autopsy reports were identified that corresponded to TARS fatal crash data. After applying exclusion criteria involving missing data, 874 cases were included in the analysis. Of the 874 cases, 685 cases had one or more rib fractures. The leading cause of death for those with rib fractures was multiple trauma (54%), followed by head injury (17%) and chest injuries (10%). The strongest predictor of one or more rib fractures was increasing age (p < 0.001). Other factors found in the regression to be predictive of the number of rib fractures were the presence of a variety of other injuries including thoracic spinal fracture, lower right extremity fracture, splenic injury, liver injury, pelvic fracture, aortic injury, lung laceration, and hemothorax. Age is most likely associated with increasing rib fractures due to reduced tolerance to chest deflection with greater injuries occurring at lower magnitudes of impact. The association of other injuries with rib fractures may be a marker of higher impact severity crashes.
Overnight sleeping heart rate variability of Army recruits during a 12-week basic military training course
Authors: Macartney Michael J. , Larsen Penelope , Gibson Neil , Michael Scott , Drain Jace , Peoples Gregory E. , Groeller Herbert 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to quantify sleeping heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) alongside circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) concentrations during 12-week Basic Military Training (BMT). We hypothesised that, despite a high allostatic load, BMT would increase cardiorespiratory fitness and HRV, while lowering both sleeping HR and TNFα in young healthy recruits.

Methods
Sixty-three recruits (18–43 years) undertook ≥ 2 overnight cardiac frequency recordings in weeks 1, 8 and 12 of BMT with 4 h of beat-to-beat HR collected between 00:00 and 06:00 h on each night. Beat-to-beat data were used to derive HR and HRV metrics which were analysed as weekly averages (totalling 8 h). A fasted morning blood sample was collected in the equivalent weeks for the measurement of circulating TNFα concentrations and predicted VO2max was assessed in weeks 2 and 8.

Results
Predicted VO2max was significantly increased at week 8 (+ 3.3 ± 2.6 mL kg−1 min−1; p < 0.001). Sleeping HR (wk1, 63 ± 7 b min−1) was progressively reduced throughout BMT (wk8, 58 ± 6; wk12, 55 ± 6 b min−1; p < 0.01). Sleeping HRV reflected by the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD; wk1, 86 ± 50 ms) was progressively increased (wk8, 98 ± 50; wk12, 106 ± 52 ms; p < 0.01). Fasted circulating TNFα (wk1, 9.1 ± 2.8 pg/mL) remained unchanged at wk8 (8.9 ± 2.5 pg/mL; p = 0.79) but were significantly reduced at wk12 (8.0 ± 2.4 pg/mL; p < 0.01).

Conclusion
Increased predicted VO2max, HRV and reduced HR during overnight sleep are reflective of typical cardiorespiratory endurance training responses. These results indicate that recruits are achieving cardiovascular health benefits despite the high allostatic load associated with the 12-week BMT.
Pacifier use and breastfeeding in term and preterm newborns—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tolppola Olli , Renko Marjo , Sankilampi Ulla , Kiviranta Panu , Hintikka Leena , Kuitunen Ilari 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to assess whether pacifier use is associated with breastfeeding success in term and preterm newborns and whether it influences hospitalization time in preterm newborns. Four databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The risk of bias and evidence quality, according to the GRADE methodology, were analyzed. Risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes were used. The random effect model was used if heterogeneity was high (I2 over 40%). We screened 772 abstracts, assessed 44 full texts, and included 10 studies, of which 5 focused on term and 5 on preterm newborns. There were a few concerns about the risk of bias in 9 of the 10 studies. Breastfeeding rates were analyzed at 2, 3, 4, and 6 months, and the success rates were similar between the restricted and free pacifier use groups (evidence quality was moderate to high). In preterm neonates, the use of a pacifier shortened the duration of hospitalization by 7 days (MD 7.23, CI 3.98–10.48) and the time from gavage to total oral feeding by more than 3 days (MD 3.21 days, CI 1.19–5.24) (evidence quality was ranked as moderate). Conclusions: Based on our meta-analysis, pacifier use should not be restricted in term newborns, as it is not associated with lower breastfeeding success rates. Furthermore, introducing pacifiers to preterm newborns should be considered, as it seems to shorten the time to discharge as well as the transition time from gavage to total oral feeding.

What is Known:• Observational studies show that infants who use a pacifier are weaned from breastfeeding earlier.• Previous randomized studies have not presented such results, and there have been no differences in the successful breastfeeding rates regardless of the use of pacifier.

What is New:• Term and preterm newborns do not have worse breastfeeding outcomes if a pacifier is introduced to them, and additionally preterm newborns have shorter hospitalization times.• The decision to offer a pacifier should depend on the caregivers instead of hospital policy or staff recommendation, as there is no evidence to support the prohibition or restriction.
A functional enhancement on scarred fingerprint using sigmoid filtering
Authors: Kolivand Hoshang , Hamid Ainul Azura Binti Abdul , Asadianfam Shiva , Rahim Mohd Shafry Mohd 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFingerprint has been widely used in biometric applications. Numerous established researches on image enhancement techniques have been done to improve the quality of fingerprint images. However, the production of low-quality images due to the presence of scars remains a challenge in biometrics. The scars damage the fingerprint minutiae information due to broken ridges and they reduce the accuracy of identification. This research developed an image enhancement approach to improve the quality of scarred fingerprint images to generate accurate minutiae extraction. To achieve the aim, the scarred image was improved by removing noise using a new filter, Median Sigmoid (MS), and the corrected ridges were reconstructed using ridges structure enhancement algorithm. This was done to enhance the broken ridges structure. MS filter is a combination of median filter and modified sigmoid function that improves the image contrast and simultaneously removes noise in the fingerprint image. Following that, the filtered image was used in the ridges structure enhancement process. To identify true minutiae, the broken ridges structure in the filtered image needed to be accurately verified. In the ridges structure reconstruction process, an algorithm was enhanced to identify the best value of Sigma parameter (σ) used in the Gaussian Low-pass filter to generate a better orientation image. The image is important to reconstruct the corrupted fingerprint ridges structure. The evaluation for the proposed approach used the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Database 14, and the results showed a 37% improvement of the quality index in comparison to approaches found in related research. The findings of the evaluation showed that the proposed enhancement approach produced a better minutiae extraction result and this is very significant in the field of fingerprint image enhancement.
Types of spectroscopy and microscopy techniques for cancer diagnosis: a review
Authors: Kaniyala Melanthota Sindhoora , Kistenev Yury V. , Borisova Ekaterina , Ivanov Deyan , Zakharova Olga , Boyko Andrey , Vrazhnov Denis , Gopal Dharshini , Chakrabarti Shweta , K Shama Prasada , Mazumder Nirmal 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCancer is a life-threatening disease that has claimed the lives of many people worldwide. With the current diagnostic methods, it is hard to determine cancer at an early stage, due to its versatile nature and lack of genomic biomarkers. The rapid development of biophotonics has emerged as a potential tool in cancer detection and diagnosis. Using the fluorescence, scattering, and absorption characteristics of cells and tissues, it is possible to detect cancer at an early stage. The diagnostic techniques addressed in this review are highly sensitive to the chemical and morphological changes in the cell and tissue during disease progression. These changes alter the fluorescence signal of the cell/tissue and are detected using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques including confocal and two-photon fluorescence (TPF). Further, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy reveals the morphological changes that occurred in non-centrosymmetric structures in the tissue, such as collagen. Again, Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive method that provides a fingerprinting technique to differentiate benign and malignant tissue based on Raman signal. Photoacoustic microscopy and spectroscopy of tissue allow molecule-specific detection with high spatial resolution and penetration depth. In addition, terahertz spectroscopic studies reveal the variation of tissue water content during disease progression. In this review, we address the applications of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques for cancer detection based on the optical properties of the tissue. The discussed state-of-the-art techniques successfully determines malignancy to its rapid diagnosis.
The effect of smoking on survival in lung carcinoma patients with brain metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chawla Shreya , Tewarie Ishaan A. , Zhang Qingwei O. , Hulsbergen Alexander F. C. , Mekary Rania A. , Broekman Marike L. D. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe effects of smoking on survival in BM patients have yet to be reviewed and meta-analysed. However, previous studies have shown that smokers had a greater risk of dying from lung cancer compared to non-smokers. This meta-analysis, therefore, aimed to analyse the effects of cigarette smoking on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in lung cancer BM patients. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar were searched for comparative studies regarding the effects of smoking on incidence and survival in brain metastases patients up to December 2020. Three independent reviewers extracted overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival data (PFS). Random-effects models were used to pool multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HR). Out of 1890 studies, fifteen studies with a total of 2915 patients met our inclusion criteria. Amongst lung carcinoma BM patients, those who were smokers (ever or yes) had a worse overall survival (HR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.13, 1.60, I2: 72.1%, p-heterogeneity < 0.001) than those who were non-smokers (never or no). A subgroup analysis showed the association to remain significant in the ever/never subgroup (HR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.11, 1.63) but not in the yes/no smoking subgroup (HR: 1.30, 95% CI 0.44, 3.88). This difference between the two subgroups was not statistically significant (p = 0.91). Amongst lung carcinoma BM patients, smoking was associated with a worse OS and PFS. Future studies examining BMs should report survival data stratified by uniform smoking status definitions.
“Peas in a pod”: Oral History Reflections on Autistic Identity in Family and Community by Late-Diagnosed Adults
Authors: Lilley Rozanna , Lawson Wenn , Hall Gabrielle , Mahony Joanne , Clapham Hayley , Heyworth Melanie , Arnold Samuel , Trollor Julian , Yudell Michael , Pellicano Elizabeth 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we report on a participatory oral history study documenting the lives of late-diagnosed autistic adults in Australia. We interviewed 26 autistic adults about their life history and the impact of late diagnosis. All were diagnosed after the age of 35, growing up in an era when autism was not well known. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we uncovered a rich body of reflections on shared Autistic identity and identified three major themes within that data set: ‘conceptualising the Autistic family’, ‘creating Autistic community’, and ‘contesting Autistic identity’. Overall, the study provides insights into the active creation of shared Autistic identity and the importance of Autistic community to these late-diagnosed autistic adults.
Conserving a sustainable urban environment through energy security and project management practices
Authors: Maqbool Rashid , Jowett Emily 
Published: July 2022

AbstractConstruction has been highlighted as one sector that could reduce its effect on the environment by implementing more sustainable methodologies. However, there are many different challenges preventing sustainable construction practice, and despite existing research providing advice for carbon emission reduction, these practices are being somewhat neglected. The purpose of this research is to investigate the challenges surrounding sustainable construction practice and the current knowledge on energy security and project management practices that can aid climate change mitigation. The design methodology of this study involves a thorough literature review of existing knowledge on the subject matter followed by primary research. The survey conducted collected quantitative data of 160 valid responses via an online closed ended questionnaire using snowball sampling methods from the construction and engineering professionals working in the UK construction industry. The study found that most participants agree with the encouragement of sustainable construction practices, but are generally unsure about what they can do. Factors such as government involvement and organisation culture have some significance but will rely on further research in order to assess specific influencing variables. The study contributes to existing research on factors surrounding project management and identifies and plethora of areas of improvement, that can be formed into a holistic approach to the current construction industry practice.
Pharmacological Modulation of Glutamatergic and Neuroinflammatory Pathways in a Lafora Disease Mouse Model
Authors: Mollá Belén , Heredia Miguel , Campos Ángela , Sanz Pascual 
Published: July 2022

AbstractLafora disease (LD) is a fatal rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects young adolescents and has no treatment yet. The hallmark of LD is the presence of polyglucosan inclusions (PGs), called Lafora bodies (LBs), in the brain and peripheral tissues. LD is caused by mutations in either EPM2A or EPM2B genes, which, respectively, encode laforin, a glucan phosphatase, and malin, an E3-ubiquitin ligase, with identical clinical features. LD knockout mouse models (Epm2a − / − and Epm2b − / −) recapitulate PG body accumulation, as in the human pathology, and display alterations in glutamatergic transmission and neuroinflammatory pathways in the brain. In this work, we show the results of four pre-clinical trials based on the modulation of glutamatergic transmission (riluzole and memantine) and anti-neuroinflammatory interventions (resveratrol and minocycline) as therapeutical strategies in an Epm2b − / − mouse model. Drugs were administered in mice from 3 to 5 months of age, corresponding to early stage of the disease, and we evaluated the beneficial effect of the drugs by in vivo behavioral phenotyping and ex vivo histopathological brain analyses. The behavioral assessment was based on a battery of anxiety, cognitive, and neurodegenerative tests and the histopathological analyses included a panel of markers regarding PG accumulation, astrogliosis, and microgliosis. Overall, the outcome of ameliorating the excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission present in Epm2b − / − mice by memantine displayed therapeutic effectiveness at the behavioral levels. Modulation of neuroinflammation by resveratrol and minocycline also showed beneficial effects at the behavioral level. Therefore, our study suggests that both therapeutical strategies could be beneficial for the treatment of LD patients.
Graphical abstract
A mouse model of Lafora disease (Epm2b-/-) was used to check the putative beneficial effect of different drugs aimed to ameliorate the alterations in glutamatergic transmission and/or neuroinflammation present in the model. Drugs in blue gave a more positive outcome than the rest.
The effectivity of targeted therapy and immunotherapy in patients with advanced metastatic and non-metastatic cancer of the esophagus and esophago-gastric junction
Authors: Valkema M. J. , Mostert B. , Lagarde S. M. , Wijnhoven B. P. L. , van Lanschot J. J. B. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractTherapies that target specific tumor drivers or immune checkpoints are increasingly explored for esophageal cancer patients. This review addresses developments in therapies with targeted anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer. First-line palliative treatment with the anti-HER2 agent trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has been approved for use in patients with HER2 positive gastro-esophageal adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus perioperative trastuzumab however has not demonstrated a survival benefit in advanced esophageal cancer patients eligible for surgery. Potentially better responses are expected with dual agent anti-HER2 therapy instead of monotherapy. In the metastatic setting, the antibody–drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan is effective after progression on trastuzumab. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, antibodies blocking the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, have recently gained approval for clinical use in esophageal cancer patients for specific indications. Synergistic effects might be achieved with combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors that target PD-1 on T cells or PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) receptor on T cells. Multiple clinical trials investigating combinations of targeted and immunotherapies, with or without (neo)adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy, for curative and palliative treatment, are underway, and are expected to deliver a long-awaited improvement in the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.
VHL and DNA damage repair pathway alterations as potential clinical biomarkers for first-line TKIs in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinomas
Authors: Zhou Jiale , Wang Junyun , Kong Wen , Zhang Jin , Wu Xiaorong , Huang Jiwei , Zheng Junhua , Chen Yonghui , Zhai Wei , Xue Wei 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) are being used for the first-line treatment of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC). Here, we set out to explore associations between genomic statuses, gene expression clusters and clinical outcomes of mccRCCs upon the application of VEGFR-TKIs.

Methods
A retrospective study of 56 patients with mccRCC who received first-line VEGFR-TKIs and who underwent genomic profiling and whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted. Survival analysis was carried out using log-rank tests and Cox regression analyses, and Kaplan–Meier curves were plotted. Clustering was performed using the K-means method.

Results
Among the 56 patients tested, 17 harbored DNA Damage and Repair (DDR) pathway alterations and 35 VHL mutations. The median progression-free survival (PFS) rates for the DDR and VHL alteration groups were 18 and 18 months, respectively, compared with 14 and 10 months for the nonmutant groups. DDR mutations, VHL mutations and co-mutations were identified as prognostic biomarkers of a longer PFS (p = 0.017, 0.04, 0.014). K-means clustering of expressed transcripts revealed three clusters of 40 patients: C_1, C_2 and C_3. The C_1 cluster exhibited the best PFS and objective response rate (ORR) to TKI therapy, with the highest proportion of DDR and VHL mutations. Further analysis of the tumor immune environment revealed that the C_1 cluster was enriched in activated CD8 T cells and effector CD4 T cells, whereas the C_2 cluster was enriched in eosinophils, mast cells and DC cells and, thus, in immunosuppressive cells.

Conclusions
We found that patients with mccRCC harboring DDR and VHL alterations were more likely to benefit from first-line VEGF-TKI systemic therapy than patients with wild-type disease. In addition, we found that a three-cluster prognostic model based on gene expression can predict PFS and ORR, which was well-matched with activated TIL infiltration.