Homogeneous Protocol Research Articles

Vein of Galen Aneurysmal Malformations: Updates on Technical Aspects and Functional Outcomes Post-Endovascular Treatment—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) represent the most common vascular malformations of the brain at the pediatric age. Comprehension of its angioarchitecture and clinical features may influence their treatment options and functional outcomes. The aim of this review is to give an update of the anatomical and technical aspects of the management of VGAMs after endovascular treatment. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of original articles published between 1 January 2014 and 1 February 2024 in Pubmed, Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus databases following PRISMA guidelines. Variables such as age, sex, angioarchitecture of the malformation, clinical presentation, embolization technique, rate of occlusion, post-procedural complications, follow-up time, and mortality were collected. Random-effect meta-analysis of proportions was performed. Results: Fifteen studies on a total of 400 patients with VGAMs were collected. A total of 65.1% was male. The age at diagnosis was 12% prenatal, 35.5% neonates, 34.1% infants, 15.1% children, and 3.3% adults. Clinical presentation included 31.4% increased head size, 25.7% congestive heart failure, 12.9% neurological deficits, 10% seizures, 9.3% prominence of facial veins, and 8.9% developmental delay. A total of 339 patients underwent endovascular treatment (84.8%) with an average of 2.1 procedures per patient. The embolization technique was defined by transarterial access and glue material. Radiological occlusion was complete in 62.3% of the patients. The most frequent periprocedural incidents included hemorrhagic events (28.4%), embolization material migration (25.7%), and death (22%). The functional outcome was good in 68% of the surviving patients. The average follow-up time was 43.18 months. High heterogeneity was found in all outcomes but mortality rate. Conclusions: The angioarchitecture of VGAMs is significantly important when planning endovascular treatment and may have an influence on functional outcomes. More research into endovascular techniques and the risks of periprocedural complications must be performed. Indeed, a homogeneous protocol for the assessment of surviving VGAM patients during follow-up is necessary.

Somatostatin receptors in pituitary somatotroph adenomas as predictors of response to somatostatin receptor ligands: A pathologist's perspective.

There are five subtypes of somatostatin receptors (SST1-5), which are expressed in several types of solid neoplasms, neuroendocrine tumors, and pituitary adenomas. Most commonly, SST2 and SST5, are of interest regarding diagnostic, treatment, and prognostic purposes. In this article the basic biological characteristics of SST are briefly reviewed, and focus given to the immunohistochemical evaluation of SST2 and SST5 in growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors, and their quantification as predictors of response to treatment with somatostatin receptor ligands (SRL), the mainstay of the pharmacological therapy available for these tumors. Although many different scoring systems for SST2 immunohistochemistry showing correlation with SRL response have been reported, among which the immunoreactivity score (IRS) has been the most consistently used, a universally validated immunohistochemical technique and scoring scheme is lacking. Efforts should be made on collaborative multicenter studies aiming at validating homogeneous immunostaining protocols and a scoring system for SST2 and SST5 expression, to help clinicians to define the optimal therapeutic strategy for the patients with somatotroph tumors.

Comparing coherent and incoherent models for quantum homogenization

Here we investigate the role of quantum interference in the quantum homogenizer, whose convergence properties model a thermalization process. In the original quantum homogenizer protocol, a system qubit converges to the state of identical reservoir qubits through partial-swap interactions, that allow interference between reservoir qubits. We design an alternative, incoherent quantum homogenizer, where each system-reservoir interaction is moderated by a control qubit using a controlled-swap interaction. We show that our incoherent homogenizer satisfies the essential conditions for homogenization, being able to transform a qubit from any state to any other state to arbitrary accuracy, with negligible impact on the reservoir qubits' states. Our results show that the convergence properties of homogenization machines that are important for modeling thermalization are not dependent on coherence between qubits in the homogenization protocol. We then derive bounds on the resources required to re-use the homogenizers for performing state transformations. This demonstrates that both homogenizers are universal for any number of homogenizations, for an increased resource cost. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A Comparative Study: Photogrammetry and Cephalometric Analysis for Orthodontic Treatment Planning

Introduction: Cephalometric analysis constitutes the benchmark for diagnosing craniofacial morphology in orthodontic practice. However, the increasing demand for aesthetic standards has clinicians questioning whether ideal cephalometric measurements are synonymous with facial aesthetics since soft tissues do not necessarily follow the underlying skeletal profile. In addition, rising concerns about radiation exposure have necessitated a non-radiographic, non-invasive and cost-effective alternative. Facial photography has been an integral part of orthodontic treatment planning but usually as an adjunct to record keeping. However, recent studies have proven the reliability of using photographs for soft-tissue analysis. It provides an easily reproducible, economical and low technique-sensitive procedure to evaluate cranial morphology, especially for epidemiologic research. The primary aim of this study is to determine if photographic analysis could be utilised with precision for orthodontic diagnosis. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics, J. S. S. Dental College and Hospital, Mysuru. This study selected 100 patients aged 12–28 years who had reported to the department for orthodontic treatment. Standardised profile photographs and lateral cephalograms were obtained from the patients as part of the records required. Traditional cephalometric (angular and linear) measurements and corresponding photographic ones used for sagittal and vertical assessment were analysed to draw inferences. Results: The reliability of the photographic technique was proven with intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.79. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between all parameters. N-Sn-Pog/N’-Sn-Pog’ (0.946), SN-MP/TrN’-MP” (0.844) and FMA/FMA’ showed the highest coefficients of correlation. The photographic variable that best explained the variability of its analogous cephalometric measurement was the N-SN-Pog angle (r 2 = 0.895). Conclusion: The photographic method has proven to be repeatable and reproducible. With a homogeneous protocol, the photographic method is a practical alternative to lateral cephalograms, especially in cases that require a non-invasive, low-cost option.

Pulmonary vein isolation combined with a new protocol of linear ablation to treat persistent atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort with 1 year follow-up

Abstract Background The clinical value of ablation strategies beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (perFA) is not clearly established and the optimal strategy to cure perFA remains a challenge due to the high recurrence rate after PVI alone (up to 50% of patients during 1-year follow-up). Purpose To determine the additional therapeutic value of a new design of linear ablation in the left atrium (LA) added to PVI in patients with perFA. Methods In this prospective study consecutive patients with perFA were included and underwent PVI combined with a predefined homogeneous protocol of linear ablation in the LA: anterolateral line from the mitral annulus to the left superior pulmonary vein around the left atrial appendage, anteroseptal line and posterior wall isolation. Patients were followed during 12 months after ablation with daily 30 s single-lead ECG obtained with mobile applications. The main endpoint was the incidence of recurrences, defined as any documented, sustained (>30 s) episodes of atrial arrhythmia that occurred after a 3 months blanking period. Antiarrhythmic drugs were avoided after the blanking period. Results 59 patients were included (61 [IQR 53-69] years old, 76% male sex). Acutely successful PVI was achieved in all patients and the linear ablation protocol was performed in 52 (89,7%) patients. The linea ablation protocol was not completed in 6 patients due to the following reasons: repetitive AF triggering from the same PV in 2 patients, induction and successful focal ablation of left atrial flutter in 1 patient, respiratory failure in 1 patient with severe obstructive lung disease and excessively prolonged procedure time in 2 patients. 58 patients completed the 12 months follow-up period and 1 patient was lost due to end-stage heart failure. The survival free of atrial arrhythmia recurrences was 69.1% [95%CI 55.1-79.5] (Figure). No patient had recurrences of perAF (>7 days continuous AF). 9 (53%) patients had at least 1 episode of self-limited paroxysmal AF. In these patients the average paroxysmal AF burden during the follow-up was 24 hours/year [IQR 9-24 hours/year]. In another 8 (47%) patients the recurrent arrhythmia was atypical left atrial flutter exclusively The incidence of procedure-related complications was 6,9%: 1 pericardial bleeding, 1 acute pulmonary edema, 1 splenic infarction and 1 stroke); no patient died during the study period. Conclusions A combined strategy of PVI plus the specific linear ablation protocol used in this study is associated with a low rate of atrial arrhythmia recurrences and total absence of persistent AF after ablation. A randomized multicenter clinical trial is ongoing to validate these results.Ablation strategy.Kaplan-Meier curve: recurrences

Caffeine intake enhances bowel recovery after colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized studies.

Postoperative ileus (POI) after colorectal surgery is a major problem thataffects both patient recovery and hospital costs highlighting the importance of preventive strategies. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic analysis of the effects of postoperative caffeine consumption on bowel recovery and surgical morbidity after colorectal surgery. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through September 2023 for randomized and non-randomized trials comparing the effect of caffeinated versus non-caffeinated drinks on POI by evaluating bowel movement resumption, time to first flatus and solid food intake, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcome analysis included postoperative morbidity in both groups. After data extraction and inclusion in a meta-analysis, odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous variables and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed in cases of substantial heterogeneity. Six randomized and two non-randomized trials with a total of 610 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Caffeine intake significantly reduced time to first bowel movement [SMD -0.39, (95% CI -0.66 to -0.12), p = 0.005] and time to first solid food intake [SMD -0.41, (95% CI -0.79 to -0.04), p = 0.03] in elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery, while time to first flatus, LOS, and the secondary outcomes did not differ significantly. Postoperative caffeine consumption may be a reasonable strategy to prevent POI after elective colorectal surgery. However, larger randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with homogeneous study protocols, especially regarding the dosage form of caffeine and coffee, are needed.

GTDrift: a resource for exploring the interplay between genetic drift, genomic and transcriptomic characteristics in eukaryotes.

We present GTDrift, a comprehensive data resource that enables explorations of genomic and transcriptomic characteristics alongside proxies of the intensity of genetic drift in individual species. This resource encompasses data for 1506 eukaryotic species, including 1413 animals and 93 green plants, and is organized in three components. The first two components contain approximations of the effective population size, which serve as indicators of the extent of random genetic drift within each species. In the first component, we meticulously investigated public databases to assemble data on life history traits such as longevity, adult body length and body mass for a set of 979 species. The second component includes estimations of the ratio between the rate of non-synonymous substitutions and the rate of synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) in protein-coding sequences for 1324 species. This ratio provides an estimate of the efficiency of natural selection in purging deleterious substitutions. Additionally, we present polymorphism-derived N e estimates for 66 species. The third component encompasses various genomic and transcriptomic characteristics. With this component, we aim to facilitate comparative transcriptomics analyses across species, by providing easy-to-use processed data for more than 16 000 RNA-seq samples across 491 species. These data include intron-centered alternative splicing frequencies, gene expression levels and sequencing depth statistics for each species, obtained with a homogeneous analysis protocol. To enable cross-species comparisons, we provide orthology predictions for conserved single-copy genes based on BUSCO gene sets. To illustrate the possible uses of this database, we identify the most frequently used introns for each gene and we assess how the sequencing depth available for each species affects our power to identify major and minor splice variants.

Quantum homogenization as a quantum steady-state protocol on noisy intermediate-scale quantum hardware

Quantum homogenization is a reservoir-based quantum state approximation protocol, which has been successfully implemented in state transformation on quantum hardware. In this work we move beyond that and propose the homogenization as a novel platform for quantum state stabilization and information protection. Using the Heisenberg exchange interactions formalism, we extend the standard quantum homogenization protocol to the dynamically equivalent (SWAP)α formulation. We then demonstrate its applicability on the available noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) processors by presenting a shallow quantum circuit implementation consisting of a sequence of and single-qubit gates. In light of this, we employ the Beny-Oreshkov generalization of the Knill-Laflamme (KL) conditions for near-optimal recovery channels to show that our proposed (SWAP)α quantum homogenization protocol yields a completely positive, trace-preserving (CPTP) map under which the code subspace is correctable. Therefore, the protocol protects quantum information contained in a subsystem of the reservoir Hilbert space under CPTP dynamics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Overcoming barriers in the implementation of stroke care rehabilitation in a public hospital in Costa Rica

Stroke is a major public health concern in developing countries, where the burden of the disease is high and resources for care are often limited. While progress has been made in improving stroke care, many barriers still exist in providing adequate rehabilitation care for stroke survivors. In this paper we study the case of Costa Rica and how stroke care has been addressed in recent years. It is important to consider the particularities of Costa Rica when working on stroke rehabilitation. The existence of a socialized healthcare system, along with the consolidation of acute stroke management protocols, allows for the adequate management of the early stages. In addition to this, families play a key role in rehabilitation, particularly for a country where there is a lack of medium stay and long-stay rehabilitation centers. Therefore, providing training and education for families is essential in stroke case management. Looking toward the future, there is still a pending need to generate homogeneous stroke rehabilitation protocols throughout the national healthcare system, to ensure equitable access to health care, and to consolidate multidisciplinary groups. At the same time, the implementation of technologies is urgent, particularly considering their potential to help reduce waiting lists. Another goal is enhancing coordination with other state entities and NGOs to advance community, labor or educational reintegration of stroke patients.

Impacts of anemometer changes, site relocations and processing methods on wind speed trends in China

Abstract. In situ surface wind observation is a critical meteorological data source for various research fields. However, data quality is affected by factors such as surface friction changes, station relocations and anemometer updates. Previous methods to address discontinuities have been insufficient, and processing methods have not always adhered to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Climate Programme guidelines. We analyzed data discontinuity caused by anemometer changes and station relocations in China's daily in situ near-surface (∼ 10 m) wind speed observations and the impact of the processing methods on wind speed trends. By comparing the wind speed discontinuities with the recorded location changes, we identified 90 stations that showed abnormally increasing wind speeds due to relocation. After removing those stations, we followed a standard quality control method recommended by the World Meteorological Organization to improve the data reliability and applied Thiessen polygons to calculate the area-weighted average wind speed. The result shows that China's recent reversal of wind speed was reduced by 41 % after removing the problematic stations, with an increasing trend of 0.017 m s−1 yr−1 (R2 = 0.64, P < 0.05), emphasizing the importance of robust quality control and homogenization protocols in wind trend assessments.

Effectiveness of Different Neurocognitive Intervention Approaches on Functionality in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Subtle loss of functionality in healthy older adults is considered one of the most important predictors of cognitive decline. Neurocognitive interventions are increasingly being used, from a preventive maintenance approach to functional capacity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different neurocognitive approaches on the functionality of healthy older adults. In this systematic review (CRD42023473944), an extensive search was conducted for articles published in the last 10 years (2013-2023) in the following databases: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 809 trials were identified, of which 18 were considered to be eligible for inclusion in the review. The data revealed heterogeneity in sample size, measures of functional assessment, neurocognitive interventions used, number of sessions, session duration, and time. Traditional cognitive stimulation is shown to have no significant functional benefit, while other less commonly used neurocognitive interventions, such as those based on everyday cognition, are associated with more significant benefits. Moreover, it is demonstrated that although the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (IADL) is the most used test in similar studies, it is not sensitive enough to detect changes in functionality in healthy elderly individuals, with other tests such as the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) being more advantageous. Therefore, a new guideline is proposed for its use in clinical practice and research, using homogeneous study protocols and neurocognitive interventions that allow for the transfer and generalization of results in daily life.

Older age associated with better antidepressant response to H1-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation in female patients

BackgroundTMS is increasingly used to treat depression, but predictors of treatment outcomes remain unclear. We assessed the association between age and TMS response given inconsistent prior reports limited by small sample size, heterogeneity, outdated TMS parameters, lack of assessment of H1-coil TMS, and lack of an a priori hypothesis. We hypothesized that older age would be associated with better treatment response based on trends in recent large exploratory analyses. MethodsWe conducted a naturalistic retrospective analysis of patients (n = 378) ages 18–80 with depression (baseline Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) > 5) who received 29–35 sessions of TMS between 2014 and 2021. Response was assessed using percent reduction of QIDS-SR. The relationship between percent response or remission and age group was assessed using the chi-square test. Results85 % of patients received the standard protocol of H1-coil TMS to the left DLPFC. Percent response and remission rates for the entire study sample increased with age (response: p = .026; remission: p = .0023). This finding was stronger in female patients (response: p = .0033; remission: p = .00098) and was not observed in male patients (response: p = .73; remission: p = .26). This was confirmed in a sub-analysis of patients who only received the standard protocol with the H1-coil for the entire treatment course. LimitationsNaturalistic retrospective analysis from one academic center. ConclusionsOlder age is associated with a better antidepressant response to H1-coil TMS in female patients. This was demonstrated in a hypothesis-driven confirmation of prior exploratory findings in a large sample size with a homogeneous data collection protocol across all participants.

The Application of Sodium Fluorescein in Resection of Medulloblastoma Under YELLOW 560 Filter: Feasibility and Preliminary Results of a Monocentric Cohort and Systematic Review

Maximizing surgical resection of medulloblastoma (MB) affects overall survival; nevertheless, surgical resection remains a because of the infiltrative behavior of this tumor. Several dyes have been tested for improving tumor visualization; however, few reports with different protocols of fluorophores use are available and the results are inconsistent. Hence, we report our experience with sodium fluorescein in MB surgery, aiming to assess the role of this technique on the extent of resection. Furthermore, we performed a literature review of this topic. Fluorescence characteristics, extent of resection, and clinical outcome were analyzed in 9 consecutively operated patients with MB. A comprehensive literature search and review for English-language articles concerning fluorescein application in MB was conducted. In our cohort, no side effect related to fluorescein occurred; all tumors presented with an intense or moderate yellow-green enhancement, and fluorescein was judged fundamental in distinguishing tumors from viable tissue in 7 of 9 cases. Gross total resection or near-total resection (i.e., a residual tumor volume <1.5 cm3) was achieved in 8 patients. The review explored the different techniques and surgical interpretations as well as surgical radicality; we did not find a homogenous protocol for fluorescein injection in the published articles. Fluorescence appeared moderate or intense in almost all cases, with a high percentage of usefulness and consensual achievement of a high rate of gross total resection. Based on these results, we can infer that fluorescein-guided surgical resection is a safe and valuable method for patients with MB.

High-risk human papillomavirus: prevalence, association with clinical and morphological characteristics of invasive cervical cancer

Purpose of the study. Analysis of contemporary literature sources dedicated to the study of characteristics of high oncogenic risk human papillomavirus (HPV), associative links of the virus’s molecular-genetic parameters with the clinical and morphological characteristics of invasive cervical cancer (ICC).Materials and methods. A literature search was conducted in electronic databases including the National Center for Biotechnology Information Search database (PubMed/Medline), ResearchGate, Scopus, Web of Science, Cancer Tomorrow, Global cancer observatory, Cochrane Library, eLIBRARY, DisserCat. The search covered the period from 1990 to 2022 and utilized keywords in Russian and their English translations: cervical cancer, high oncogenic risk HPV, HPV status, HPV genotype, multiple infections, DNA integration, viral load. More than 120 full-text sources were studied, in which the analysis of possible correlations between the parameters of human papillomavirus infection and the clinical and morphological characteristics of cervical cancer was carried out. In review included data from 57 publications. Results. According to most authors, more than 88 % of patients with invasive ICC are HPV-infected. The etiological structure is dominated by HPV 16 (70–72 %), 18 (13–15 %), and 45 (5–7 %) types. Non-detection of HPV HR in cervical cancer is associated, including with a false negative result of the study.The literature analysis showed the presence of an association between HPV status and age, morphological form of the tumor, viral load, high oncogenic risk HPV genotype, presence of deep stromal invasion, and metastatic involvement of lymph nodes. With regard to such molecular genetic parameters of HPV HR as viral load and HPV DNA integration, associative relationship with prognostic important clinical indicators of cervical tumor – the stage of the disease, the loco-regional prevalence of the tumor process, the histological type of tumor – remains the subject of discussion.Conclusion. Many publications report a correlative link between HPV status and high oncogenic risk HPV genotype with such an important factor affecting ICC treatment outcomes as the morphological form of the tumor. Ambiguous conclusions on the presence of an association between a number of molecular-genetic parameters of HPV infection with the main prognostic factor – stage of the disease (due to the heterogeneity of samples, the use of different test systems, and the insufficiently complete account of the main parameters of HPV infection, especially data on viral DNA integration), make it advisable to conduct further research on a representative group of patients with homogeneous diagnostic protocols to determine the most complete spectrum of parameters of high oncogenic risk HPV. In addition, the conducted literature analysis showed the promise of searching for predictors of the effectiveness of specialized treatment of patients with ICC among such HPV infection parameters as HPV status, high oncogenic risk HPV genotype, and the significantly associated physical status of viral DNA.

Neuroimaging-based classification of PTSD using data-driven computational approaches: A multisite big data study from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD consortium

BackgroundRecent advances in data-driven computational approaches have been helpful in devising tools to objectively diagnose psychiatric disorders. However, current machine learning studies limited to small homogeneous samples, different methodologies, and different imaging collection protocols, limit the ability to directly compare and generalize their results. Here we aimed to classify individuals with PTSD versus controls and assess the generalizability using a large heterogeneous brain datasets from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD Working group. MethodsWe analyzed brain MRI data from 3,477 structural-MRI; 2,495 resting state-fMRI; and 1,952 diffusion-MRI. First, we identified the brain features that best distinguish individuals with PTSD from controls using traditional machine learning methods. Second, we assessed the utility of the denoising variational autoencoder (DVAE) and evaluated its classification performance. Third, we assessed the generalizability and reproducibility of both models using leave-one-site-out cross-validation procedure for each modality. ResultsWe found lower performance in classifying PTSD vs. controls with data from over 20 sites (60 % test AUC for s-MRI, 59 % for rs-fMRI and 56 % for d-MRI), as compared to other studies run on single-site data. The performance increased when classifying PTSD from HC without trauma history in each modality (75 % AUC). The classification performance remained intact when applying the DVAE framework, which reduced the number of features. Finally, we found that the DVAE framework achieved better generalization to unseen datasets compared with the traditional machine learning frameworks, albeit performance was slightly above chance. ConclusionThese results have the potential to provide a baseline classification performance for PTSD when using large scale neuroimaging datasets. Our findings show that the control group used can heavily affect classification performance. The DVAE framework provided better generalizability for the multi-site data. This may be more significant in clinical practice since the neuroimaging-based diagnostic DVAE classification models are much less site-specific, rendering them more generalizable.

AP-HBSG: Authentication protocol for heterogeneous blockchain-based smart grid environment

The smart grid (SG) is one of the largest Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Therefore, it encompasses a variety of smart objects, including smart appliances, smart meters, and sensors, among others. All of these devices are scattered throughout the SG to serve a variety of objectives. As a result, the SG network architecture is exposed to various security threats. Furthermore, numerous authentication and key agreement techniques have been developed throughout the years to protect the communication between entities. However, several of them are homogeneous protocols, which means that only entities running similar cryptographic schemes can communicate. In addition, the SG communication system is centralized and susceptible to a single point of failure and management. Moreover, the existing protocols involve extensive cryptographic elements that cannot be processed by a smart meter’s (SM) computing power. To address the aforementioned issues, an AP-HBSG: authentication protocol for heterogeneous blockchain-based smart grid environment is designed. The designed protocol operates in a decentralized environment, thus eliminating a single point of failure and management. Furthermore, a blind signature is applied to the blockchain network to add authentication security among blockchain nodes. In addition, AP-HBSG is lightweight and it fits the SM computing capability. Moreover, AP-HBSG can protect the communication of parties interacting in a heterogeneous environment. On the other hand, the security of the presented protocol is analyzed in the random oracle model (ROM) and proved under the elliptic curve discrete logarithm (ECDL) problem and the computational Diffie–Hellman (CDH) problem. The protocol’s performance analysis shows that, compared to the most recent protocols, ours has lower communication and computation costs. The computation cost (ms) is 122,68, 216.86, 391.34, and 92.01 for WHZS, KKN, WLCTA, and ours, respectively. On the other hand, the communication cost (bytes) is 344, 184, 568, and 182 for WHZS, KKN, WLCTA, and ours, respectively.

Applications of Robotics for Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Scoping Review

AbstractRobotic therapies are receiving growing interest in the autism field, especially for the improvement of social skills of children, enhancing traditional human interventions. In this work, we conduct a scoping review of the literature in robotics for autism, providing the largest review on this field from the last five years. Our work underlines the need to better characterize participants and to increase the sample size. It is also important to develop homogeneous training protocols to analyse and compare the results. Nevertheless, 7 out of the 10 Randomized control trials reported a significant impact of robotic therapy. Overall, robot autonomy, adaptability and personalization as well as more standardized outcome measures were pointed as the most critical issues to address in future research.

Application-Oriented Homogeneous Control Protocol Design for Multi-Agent Systems Under Input Constraints

An application-oriented homogeneous control protocol is proposed to solve the consensus problem of multi-agent system (MAS) modeled by higher-order integrator. This nonlinear control protocol is able to homogenize the linear system with a special degree called homogeneity degree. This homogeneous control protocol ensures asymptotically/finite-time stable multi-agent systems (MASs) (or fixed-time attractive to compact sets containing the origin) by selecting different homogeneity degrees. If the linear control protocol for each agent is provided, the proposed nonlinear homogeneous control protocol in this paper can be easily implemented without requiring any tuning of the control parameters. A bounded homogeneous control protocol, which is a special form of the controller proposed, is also introduced to address the same problem with input constraints. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Optimization of fecal sample homogenization for untargeted metabolomics.

Fecal samples are highly complex and heterogeneous, containing materials at various stages of digestion. The heterogeneity and complexity of feces make stool metabolomics inherently challenging. The level of homogenization influences the outcome of the study, affecting the metabolite profiles and reproducibility; however, there is no consensus on how fecal samples should be prepared to overcome the topographical discrepancy and obtain data representative of the stool as a whole. Various combinations of homogenization conditions were compared to investigate the effects of bead size, addition of solvents and the differences between wet-frozen and lyophilized feces. The homogenization parameters were systematically altered to evaluate the solvent usage, bead size, and whether lyophilization is required in homogenization. The metabolic coverage and reproducibility were compared among the different conditions. The current work revealed that a combination of mechanical and chemical lysis obtained by bead-beating with a mixture of big and small sizes of beads in an organic solvent is an effective way to homogenize fecal samples with adequate reproducibility and metabolic coverage. Lyophilization is required when bead-beating is not available. A comprehensive and systematical evaluation of various fecal matter homogenization conditions provides a profound understanding for the effects of different homogenization methods. Our findings would be beneficial to assist with standardization of fecal sample homogenization protocol.

TSH levels after fresh embryo transfer are associated with reproductive outcomes in euthyroid women undergoing the first IVF/ICSI cycles

To investigate whether there is a relationship between TSH levels on the 14th day post embryo transfer (D14 TSH levels) and the reproductive outcomes in euthyroid women who are free from levothyroxine (LT4) treatment and undergo the first in vitro fertilization /intracytoplasmic sperm injection embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycles with the homogeneous ovarian stimulation protocols. This was a prospective study including a total of 599 euthyroid women undergoing the first IVF/ICSI ET cycles. Serum samples were collected and frozen on the 14th day post embryo transfer. TSH levels were measured after the confirmation of clinical pregnancy. The patients were divided into three groups (low-normal ≤ 2.5 mIU/L; high-normal 2.5–4.2 mIU/L; and high > 4.2 mIU/L) based on D14 TSH levels. Reproductive outcomes were compared among the three groups. Binary logistic regression analyses and generalized additive mixed models with smoothing splines were used to investigate the relationship between TSH levels and reproductive outcomes. D14 TSH levels were significantly elevated compared to basal TSH levels, and the degree of TSH elevation was significantly higher in pregnant women compared to that in non-pregnant women. The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates increased significantly in the high-normal D14 TSH groups, and doubled in the high D14 TSH groups compared to the low TSH groups. When adjusted by age, basal TSH, AMH, E2, endometrial thickness, type and causes of infertility, and transferred embryos, the dose-dependent relationships between D14 TSH and clinical pregnancy and live birth were observed. Obstetric outcomes in singleton or twins live birth among the different D14 TSH groups were similar. Elevated D14 TSH levels were associated with better clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, and were not associated with worse obstetric outcomes. The mechanisms to explain the phenomenon remained to be studied.