bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weighted entropic associative memory and phonetic learning
Authors: Pineda Luis A. , Morales Rafael 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe Entropic Associative Memory (EAM) holds declarative but distributed representations of remembered objects. These are characterized as functions from features to discrete values in an abstract amodal space. Memory objects are registered or remembered through a declarative operation; memory recognition is defined as a logical test and cues of objects not contained in the memory are rejected directly without search; and memory retrieval is a constructive operation. In its original formulation, the content of basic memory units or cells was either on or off, hence all stored objects had the same weight or strength. In the present weighted version (W-EAM) we introduce a basic learning mechanism to the effect that the values of the cells used in the representation of an object are reinforced by the memory register operation. As memory cells are shared by different representations, the corresponding associations are reinforced too. The memory system supports a second form of learning: the distributed representation generalizes and renders a large set of potential or latent units that can used for recognizing novel inputs, which can in turn be used for improving the performance of both the deep neural networks used for modelling perception and action, and of the memory operations. This process can be performed recurrently in open-ended fashion and can be used in long term learning. An experiment in the phonetic domain using the Mexican Spanish DIMEx100 Corpus was carried out. This corpus was collected in a controlled noise-free environment, and was transcribed manually by human trained phoneticians, but consists of a relatively small number of utterances. DIMEx100 was used to produced the initial state of the perceptual and motor modules, and for testing the performance of the memory system at such state. Then the incremental learning cycle was modelled using the Spanish CIEMPIESS Corpus, consisting of a very large number of noisy untagged speech utterances collected from radio and TV. The results support the viability of the Weighted Entropic Associative Memory for modelling cognitive processes, such as phonetic representation and learning, for the construction of applications, such as speech recognition and synthesis, and as a computational model of natural memory.
Association of visceral and subcutaneous adiposity with tumor stage and Fuhrman grade in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Maurits J. S. F. , Sedelaar J. P. M. , Aben K. K. H. , Kiemeney L. A. L. M. , Vrieling A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHigher BMI has been associated with lower tumor stage and grade and improved survival in renal cell cancer (RCC). BMI cannot distinguish between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). We examined associations of BMI, VAT, SAT, total adipose tissue (TAT) and relative VAT (rVAT) with tumor stage and grade in RCC patients. In a Dutch multicenter population-based historical cohort study 1039 RCC patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2012 were assessed for VAT and SAT using Computed Tomography images at L3. Sex-stratified multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed (linearly per 10-unit increase) between BMI, VAT, SAT, TAT and relative VAT (rVAT) with tumor stage and Fuhrman grade. Higher VAT, TAT and rVAT were associated with a lower risk of stage IV versus stage I in males (OR 0.93; 95%CI 0.91–0.96, OR 0.95; 95%CI 0.93–0.98, OR 0.97; 95%CI 0.96–0.99, respectively). Females showed similar associations, but only higher VAT was statistically significantly associated with reduced risk of stage IV (OR 0.95 95%CI 0.89–1.00). No associations with grade, SAT or BMI were found. In conclusion, higher VAT and TAT was associated with lower risk of stage IV RCC. This might be due to weight loss or cancer cachexia in stage IV patients.
Designing and validating a comparison card method for quantification of glenoid bone defect
Authors: Chen Liang , Zhang Yichong , Wu Yufeng , Chen Jingyang , Hong Zexin , Ju Jiabao , Chen Jianhai , Gao Dawei 
Published: October 2022

AbstractTo design and investigate a comparison card to evaluate the glenoid bone defect compared with Sugaya method. 33 patients with bony Bankart lesions were included. The comparison card and Sugaya method were performed on two occasions by three participants. The intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis and the inter-group correlation coefficient analysis of two measurements was performed. The concordance of the two methods was assessed using Bland–Altman analysis. Firstly, the percentage of defect measured by Sugaya method was 10.32 ± 8.38, and the comparison card method was 10.26 ± 8.41, 10.15 ± 8.23, and 10.62 ± 8.48, separately. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The second measurement showed it was 10.37 ± 8.39 for Sugaya method, and 10.23 ± 8.37, 10.15 ± 8.35, 10.54 ± 8.49 for the comparison card, without a statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). For the comparison card, the intra- and inter-observer ICC values were all > 0.75. In the first measurement, Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated agreement between the two methods (bias, −0.03; SD, 0.48; − 0.97– 0.91; 95% CI, − 0.1999– 0.1413). Agreement was also found between them (bias, 0.07; SD, 0.61; − 1.13– 1.26; 95% CI, − 0.1509– 0.2812) in the second measurement. The comparison card method has similar accuracy with Sugaya method, which is of great reliability and convenience.
The Catalan Surveillance Network of SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage: design, implementation, and performance
Authors: Guerrero-Latorre Laura , Collado Neus , Abasolo Nerea , Anzaldi Gabriel , Bofill-Mas Sílvia , Bosch Albert , Bosch Lluís , Busquets Sílvia , Caimari Antoni , Canela Núria , Carcereny Albert , Chacón Carme , Ciruela Pilar , Corbella Irene , Domingo Xavier , Escoté Xavier , Espiñeira Yaimara , Forés Eva , Gandullo-Sarró Isabel , Garcia-Pedemonte David , Girones Rosina , Guix Susana , Hundesa Ayalkibet , Itarte Marta , Mariné-Casadó Roger , Martínez Anna , Martínez-Puchol Sandra , Mas-Capdevila Anna , Mejías-Molina Cristina , Rafa Marc Moliner i , Munné Antoni , Pintó Rosa Maria , Pueyo-Ros Josep , Robusté-Cartró Jordi , Rusiñol Marta , Sanfeliu Robert , Teichenné Joan , Torrell Helena , Corominas Lluís , Borrego Carles M. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWastewater-based epidemiology has shown to be an efficient tool to track the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in communities assisted by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The challenge comes when this approach is employed to help Health authorities in their decision-making. Here, we describe the roadmap for the design and deployment of SARSAIGUA, the Catalan Surveillance Network of SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage. The network monitors, weekly or biweekly, 56 WWTPs evenly distributed across the territory and serving 6 M inhabitants (80% of the Catalan population). Each week, samples from 45 WWTPs are collected, analyzed, results reported to Health authorities, and finally published within less than 72 h in an online dashboard (https://sarsaigua.icra.cat). After 20 months of monitoring (July 20–March 22), the standardized viral load (gene copies/day) in all the WWTPs monitored fairly matched the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases along the successive pandemic waves, showing a good fit with the diagnosed cases in the served municipalities (Spearman Rho = 0.69). Here we describe the roadmap of the design and deployment of SARSAIGUA while providing several open-access tools for the management and visualization of the surveillance data.
Effect of a single vectored thermal pulsation treatment of Meibomian gland dysfunction patients under controlled environmental conditions
Authors: Novo-Diez Andrea , López-Miguel Alberto , Fernández Itziar , Blanco-Vázquez Marta , Valencia-Sandonís Cristina , Enríquez-de-Salamanca Amalia , González-García María J. , Calonge Margarita 
Published: October 2022

AbstractTo assess the prophylactic effect of LipiFlow treatment in Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) patients exposed to an adverse environmental humidity. MGD patients were exposed to normal (23 °C; 50% relative humidity; 30 min) and adverse (23 °C; 10% relative humidity; 2 h) controlled environments consecutively during baseline and follow-up visits (3, 6, and 12 months) after a single LipiFlow treatment. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), lipid layer thickness (LLT), fluorescein tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining, change in dry eye symptoms questionnaire (CDES-Q), and Meibomian gland yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), were assessed. Linear mixed-effects and cumulative logit mixed models were fitted to assess the effect of the LipiFlow treatment over time and within the controlled environments. Seventeen females and 4 males (59.6 ± 9.4 years) completed the study. LLT and TBUT did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) after LipiFlow treatment. OSDI, corneal and conjunctival staining, and MGYLS scores were improved (p ≤ 0.01) 12 months after treatment. After the adverse exposure, corneal staining increased at all visits (p = 0.01), and there was no significant improvement in CDES-Q scores after LipiFlow treatment (p ≥ 0.07). One LipiFlow treatment improved objective and subjective outcomes in MGD disease for at least one year. Further studies are needed to support that LipiFlow might also help as an adjuvant to avoid acute flares against an adverse environmental humidity.
A forced convection of water aluminum oxide nanofluid flow and heat transfer study for a three dimensional annular with inner rotated cylinder
Authors: Usman  , Memon Abid Ali , Alghamdi Metib , Muhammad Taseer 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe article examines a water alumina nanofluid and heat transfer through the three-dimensional annular. The annular is constructed by the two concentric cylinders in which the inner cylinder can rotate along the tangential direction at a constant speed. A slip boundary condition will be imposed to vanish the viscous effect in the vicinity of the outer cylinder wall. Moreover, the rotating cylinder is kept at a hot temperature, and the outer one is at a cold temperature. A three-dimensional incompressible Navier Stokes and energy equations were carried in cylindrical coordinates. The simulation was observed using the emerging computational tool of COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6, which implements Least Square Galerkin's scheme of finite element method. The parametric study will be done by altering the speed of rotation of the inner cylinder from 1 to 4, volume fraction from 0.001 to 0.9, and the aspect ratio from 0.4 to 0.6 for a fixed Reynolds number of 35,000. The results will be displayed with graphs and tables for average values of the Nusselt number, the percentage change in the temperature, and the skin friction at the middle plan. It was found that the average Nusselt number at the middle of the annular increases before the volume fraction of 0.2 and then decreases for all values of the volume fraction for a fixed rotation of the inner cylinder. The average percentage change relative to the inner cylinder's hot temperature decreases with the volume fraction increase for the fixed rotation. Also, it was found that the quantity of nanoparticles in the domain is improving the average skin friction in the middle of the channel, and it can be reduced by improving the rotation of the inner cylinder by about 10–23% strictly depending upon the aspect ratio for a particular case.
Synthesis and anticancer activity of new benzensulfonamides incorporating s-triazines as cyclic linkers for inhibition of carbonic anhydrase IX
Authors: Zain-Alabdeen Abdelrahman I. , El-Moselhy Tarek F. , Sharafeldin Nabaweya , Angeli Andrea , Supuran Claudiu T. , El-Hamamsy Mervat H. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractLimited presence of hCA IX in normal physiological tissues and their overexpression only in solid hypoxic tumors made this isoform excellent possible target for developing new anticancer agents. We reported designing and synthesis of two novel series of benzenesulfonamides derivatives as hCA IX inhibitors bearing rigid cyclic linkers (1,3,5-dihydrotriazine in series A and 1,3,5-triazine in series B) in replace of traditional linear linkers. Also, novel cyanoethenyl spacer was assembled next to the 1,3,5-triazine linker in series B. Target compounds of series (A) and (B) were screened against four hCA isoforms. Human CA IX efficiently inhibited in series (A) by compound 5a (KI = 134.8 nM). Meanwhile, in series (B) the most active inhibitor was 12i (KI = 38.8 nM). US-NCI protocol was followed to evaluate the anticancer activity of target compounds against panel of sixty cancer cell lines. Compound 12d, exposed the best activity towards breast cancer (MDA-MB-468) with GI% = 62%. The most active analogues, 12d and 12i were further screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity under hypoxic condition against breast cancer (MDA-MB-468) (IC50 = 3.99 ± 0.21 and 1.48 ± 0.08 µM, respectively) and leukemia (CCRF-CM) cell line (IC50 = 4.51 ± 0.24 and 9.83 ± 0.52 µM, respectively). In addition, 12d arrested breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cell cycle in G0-G1 and S phases and induced its apoptosis which indicated by increasing the level of cleaved caspases 3 and 9. Molecular docking was performed for selected analogues to understand their biological alterations. This study revealed that insertion of 1,3,5-triazines as cyclic linkers enhanced the significant anticancer and hCA IX inhibition activity of benzenesulfonamides.
Cognitive benefits of using non-invasive compared to implantable neural feedback
Authors: Chee Lauren , Valle Giacomo , Preatoni Greta , Basla Chiara , Marazzi Michele , Raspopovic Stanisa 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA non-optimal prosthesis integration into an amputee’s body schema suggests some important functional and health consequences after lower limb amputation. These include low perception of a prosthesis as a part of the body, experiencing it as heavier than the natural limb, and cognitively exhausting use for users. Invasive approaches, exploiting the surgical implantation of electrodes in residual nerves, improved prosthesis integration by restoring natural and somatotopic sensory feedback in transfemoral amputees. A non-invasive alternative that avoids surgery would reduce costs and shorten certification time, significantly increasing the adoption of such systems. To explore this possibility, we compared results from a non-invasive, electro-cutaneous stimulation system to outcomes observed with the use of implants in above the knee amputees. This non-invasive solution was tested in transfemoral amputees through evaluation of their ability to perceive and recognize touch intensity and locations, or movements of a prosthesis, and its cognitive integration (through dual task performance and perceived prosthesis weight). While this managed to evoke the perception of different locations on the artificial foot, and closures of the leg, it was less performant than invasive solutions. Non-invasive stimulation induced similar improvements in dual motor and cognitive tasks compared to neural feedback. On the other hand, results demonstrate that remapped, evoked sensations are less informative and intuitive than the neural evoked somatotopic sensations. The device therefore fails to improve prosthesis embodiment together with its associated weight perception. This preliminary evaluation meaningfully highlights the drawbacks of non-invasive systems, but also demonstrates benefits when performing multiple tasks at once. Importantly, the improved dual task performance is consistent with invasive devices, taking steps towards the expedited development of a certified device for widespread use.
High risk of developing dementia in Parkinson’s disease: a Swedish registry-based study
Authors: Åström Daniel Oudin , Simonsen Jacob , Raket Lars Lau , Sgarbi Simona , Hellsten Johan , Hagell Peter , Norlin Jenny M. , Kellerborg Klas , Martinez-Martin Pablo , Odin Per 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDementia have substantial negative impact on the affected individual, their care partners and society. Persons living with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) are also to a large extent living with dementia. The aim of this study is to estimate time to dementia in PD using data from a large quality register with access to baseline clinical and patient reported data merged with Swedish national health registries. Persons with Parkinson’s disease in the Swedish Neuro Registries/Parkinson’s Disease Swedish PD Registry (PARKreg) in Sweden were included and linked to national health registries and matched by sex and age to controls without PD. Time to dementia was analysed with Cox regression models assuming proportional hazards, with time since diagnosis as the underlying time variable. In this large prospective cohort study, PwP had approximately four times higher risk of developing dementia as compared to age and sex-matched controls, a finding which remained after adjusting for potential confounders. The present results underline the high risk of dementia in PD and further emphasize the importance of developing symptomatic and ultimately disease modifying strategies to counteract this part of the non-motor symptomatology in PD.
Estimation of the mutation rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cases with recurrent tuberculosis using whole genome sequencing
Authors: Comín Jessica , Cebollada Alberto ,   Aragonese Working Group on Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis (EPIMOLA), Iglesias María José , Ibarz Daniel , Viñuelas Jesús , Torres Luis , Sahagún Juan , Lafoz María Carmen , Esteban de Juanas Felipe , Malo María Carmen , Samper Sofía 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe study of tuberculosis latency is problematic due to the difficulty of isolating the bacteria in the dormancy state. Despite this, several in vivo approaches have been taken to mimic the latency process. Our group has studied the evolution of the bacteria in 18 cases of recurrent tuberculosis. We found that HIV positive patients develop recurrent tuberculosis earlier, generally in the first two years (p value = 0.041). The genome of the 36 Mycobacterium tuberculosis paired isolates (first and relapsed isolates) showed that none of the SNPs found within each pair was observed more than once, indicating that they were not directly related to the recurrence process. Moreover, some IS6110 movements were found in the paired isolates, indicating the presence of different clones within the patient. Finally, our results suggest that the mutation rate remains constant during all the period as no correlation was found between the number of SNPs and the time to relapse.
Magnetic nanowires substrate increases adipose-derived mesenchymal cells osteogenesis
Authors: Labusca Luminita , Danceanu Camelia , Minuti Anca Emanuela , Herea Dumitru-Daniel , Ghemes Adrian , Rotarescu Cristian , Dragos-Pinzaru Oana , Tibu Mihai , Marian Grigoras , Chiriac Horia , Lupu Nicoleta 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMagnetic nanomaterials are increasingly impacting the field of biology and medicine. Their versatility in terms of shape, structure, composition, coating, and magnetic responsivity make them attractive for drug delivery, cell targeting and imaging. Adipose derived-mesenchymal cells (ASCs) are intensely scrutinized for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, differentiation into musculoskeletal lineages can be challenging. In this paper, we show that uncoated nickel nanowires (Ni NW) partially released from their alumina membrane offer a mechanically-responsive substrate with regular topography that can be used for the delivery of magneto-mechanical stimulation. We have used a tailored protocol for improving ASCs adherence to the substrate, and showed that cells retain their characteristic fibroblastic appearance, cytoskeletal fiber distribution and good viability. We report here for the first time significant increase in osteogenic but not adipogenic differentiation of ASCs on Ni NW exposed to 4 mT magnetic field compared to non-exposed. Moreover, magnetic actuation is shown to induce ASCs osteogenesis but not adipogenesis in the absence of external biochemical cues. While these findings need to be verified in vivo, the use of Ni NW substrate for inducing osteogenesis in the absence of specific differentiation factors is attractive for bone engineering. Implant coating with similar surfaces for orthopedic and dentistry could be as well envisaged as a modality to improve osteointegration.
Prediction of chemical warfare agents based on cholinergic array type meta-predictors
Authors: Kumar Surendra , Kumari Chandni , Ahn Sangjin , Kim Hyoungrae , Kim Mi-hyun 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMolecular insights into chemical safety are very important for sustainable development as well as risk assessment. This study considers how to manage future upcoming harmful agents, especially potentially cholinergic chemical warfare agents (CWAs). For this purpose, the structures of known cholinergic agents were encoded by molecular descriptors. And then each drug target interaction (DTI) was learned from the encoded structures and their cholinergic activities to build DTI classification models for five cholinergic targets with reliable statistical validation (ensemble-AUC: up to 0.790, MCC: up to 0.991, accuracy: up to 0.995). The collected classifiers were transformed into 2D or 3D array type meta-predictors for multi-task: (1) cholinergic prediction and (2) CWA detection. The detection ability of the array classifiers was verified under the imbalanced dataset between CWAs and none CWAs (area under the precision-recall curve: up to 0.997, MCC: up to 0.638, F1-score of none CWAs: up to 0.991, F1-score of CWAs: up to 0.585).
Feasibility study of a self-guided internet-based intervention for family caregivers of patients with cancer (OAse)
Authors: Grapp Miriam , Ell Johanna , Kiermeier Senta , Haun Markus W. , Kübler Andrea , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Maatouk Imad 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDespite high levels of distress, family caregivers of patients with cancer rarely seek psychosocial support and Internet-based interventions (IBIs) are a promising approach to reduce some access barriers. Therefore, we developed a self-guided IBI for family caregivers of patients with cancer (OAse), which, in addition to patients' spouses, also addresses other family members (e.g., adult children, parents). This study aimed to determine the feasibility of OAse (recruitment, dropout, adherence, participant satisfaction). Secondary outcomes were caregivers’ self-efficacy, emotional state, and supportive care needs. N = 41 family caregivers participated in the study (female: 65%), mostly spouses (71%), followed by children (20%), parents (7%), and friends (2%). Recruitment (47%), retention (68%), and adherence rates (76% completed at least 4 of 6 lessons) support the feasibility of OAse. Overall, the results showed a high degree of overall participant satisfaction (96%). There were no significant pre-post differences in secondary outcome criteria, but a trend toward improvement in managing difficult interactions/emotions (p = .06) and depression/anxiety (p = .06). Although the efficacy of the intervention remains to be investigated, our results suggest that OAse can be well implemented in caregivers’ daily lives and has the potential to improve family caregivers’ coping strategies.