-
PloS One 2023This paper offers an empirical investigation of the narrative profiles afforded by public, one-way messaging channels on Telegram. We define these narrative profiles in...
This paper offers an empirical investigation of the narrative profiles afforded by public, one-way messaging channels on Telegram. We define these narrative profiles in terms of the contribution of messages to a thread of narrative continuity, and test the double hypothesis that 1) Telegram channels afford diverse narrative profiles, corresponding with distinct vernacular uses of the platform's features, and that 2) networks of Telegram channels sampled from thematically distinct seed channels lean towards distinct profiles. To this end, we analyse the textual contents of 2,724,187 messages from 492 public messaging channels spanning five thematic networks. Our computational method builds up the narrative profiles by scrolling down channels and classifying each message according to its narrative fit with the surrounding messages. We thus find that Telegram channels afford several distinct storytelling profiles, which tend to defy traditional notions of narrative coherence. We furthermore observe correspondences between the thematic orientations of channels and their narrative profiles, with a preference for disparate profiles in channels pertaining to conspiracy theories and far-right counterculture, a preference for coherent profiles in channels pertaining to cryptocurrencies, and mixed types in channels pertaining to disinformation about the war in Ukraine. These empirical observations thus inform our further theorization on how platform features allow users to construct and shape narratives online.
Topics: Narration; Communication; Text Messaging; Disinformation; Software
PubMed: 37963150
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293508 -
American Journal of Botany Mar 2024Autopolyploidy is taxonomically defined as the presence of more than two copies of each genome within an organism or species, where the genomes present must all...
Autopolyploidy is taxonomically defined as the presence of more than two copies of each genome within an organism or species, where the genomes present must all originate within the same species. Alternatively, "genetic" or "cytological" autopolyploidy is defined by polysomic inheritance: random pairing and segregation of the four (or more) homologous chromosomes present, with no preferential pairing partners. In this review, we provide an overview of methods used to categorize species as taxonomic and cytological autopolyploids, including both modern and obsolete cytological methods, marker-segregation-based and genomics methods. Subsequently, we also investigated how frequently polysomic inheritance has been reliably documented in autopolyploids. Pure or predominantly polysomic inheritance was documented in 39 of 43 putative autopolyploid species where inheritance data was available (91%) and in seven of eight synthetic autopolyploids, with several cases of more mixed inheritance within species. We found no clear cases of autopolyploids with disomic inheritance, which was likely a function of our search methodology. Interestingly, we found seven species with purely polysomic inheritance and another five species with partial or predominant polysomic inheritance that appear to be taxonomic allopolyploids. Our results suggest that observations of polysomic inheritance can lead to relabeling of taxonomically allopolyploid species as autopolyploid and highlight the need for further cytogenetic and genomic investigation into polyploid origins and inheritance types.
PubMed: 38439575
DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16292 -
Vision Research Aug 2024We used the psychophysical summation paradigm to reveal some spatial characteristics of the mechanism responsible for detecting a motion-defined visual target in central...
We used the psychophysical summation paradigm to reveal some spatial characteristics of the mechanism responsible for detecting a motion-defined visual target in central vision. There has been much previous work on spatial summation for motion detection and direction discrimination, but none has assessed it in terms of the velocity threshold or used velocity noise to provide a measure of the efficiency of the velocity processing mechanism. Motion-defined targets were centered within square fields of randomly selected gray levels. The motion was produced within the disk-shaped target region by shifting the pixels rightwards for 0.2 s. The uniform target motion was perturbed by Gaussian motion noise in horizontal strips of 16 pixels. Independent variables were field size, the diameter of the disk target, and the variance of an independent perturbation added to the (signed) velocity of each 16-pixel strip. The dependent variable was the threshold velocity for target detection. Velocity thresholds formed swoosh-shaped (descending, then ascending) functions of target diameter. Minimum values were obtained when targets subtended approximately 2 degrees of visual angle. The data were fit with a continuum of models, extending from the theoretically ideal observer through various inefficient and noisy refinements thereof. In particular, we introduce the concept of sparse sampling to account for the relative inefficiency of the velocity thresholds. The best fits were obtained from a model observer whose responses were determined by comparing the velocity profile of each stimulus with a limited set of sparsely sampled "DoG" templates, each of which is the product of a random binary array and the difference between two 2-D Gaussian density functions.
Topics: Humans; Motion Perception; Sensory Thresholds; Psychophysics; Photic Stimulation; Discrimination, Psychological; Space Perception; Adult
PubMed: 38718618
DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2024.108422 -
The Lancet. Haematology May 2024Whether high-dose cytarabine-based salvage chemotherapy, administered to induce complete remission in patients with poor responsive or relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Remission induction versus immediate allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsed or poor responsive acute myeloid leukaemia (ASAP): a randomised, open-label, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.
BACKGROUND
Whether high-dose cytarabine-based salvage chemotherapy, administered to induce complete remission in patients with poor responsive or relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia scheduled for allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) after intensive conditioning confers a survival advantage, is unclear.
METHODS
To test salvage chemotherapy before allogeneic HSCT, patients aged between 18 and 75 years with non-favourable-risk acute myeloid leukaemia not in complete remission after first induction or untreated first relapse were randomly assigned 1:1 to remission induction with high-dose cytarabine (3 g/m intravenously, 1 g/m intravenously for patients >60 years or with a substantial comorbidity) twice daily on days 1-3 plus mitoxantrone (10 mg/m intravenously) on days 3-5 or immediate allogeneic HSCT for the disease control group. Block randomisation with variable block lengths was used and patients were stratified by age, acute myeloid leukaemia risk, and disease status. The study was open label. The primary endpoint was treatment success, defined as complete remission on day 56 after allogeneic HSCT, with the aim to show non-inferiority for disease control compared with remission induction with a non-inferiority-margin of 5% and one-sided type 1 error of 2·5%. The primary endpoint was analysed in both the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and in the per-protocol population. The trial is completed and was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02461537.
FINDINGS
281 patients were enrolled between Sept 17, 2015, and Jan 12, 2022. Of 140 patients randomly assigned to disease control, 135 (96%) proceeded to allogeneic HSCT, 97 (69%) after watchful waiting only. Of 141 patients randomly assigned to remission induction, 134 (95%) received salvage chemotherapy and 128 (91%) patients subsequently proceeded to allogeneic HSCT. In the ITT population, treatment success was observed in 116 (83%) of 140 patients in the disease control group versus 112 (79%) of 141 patients with remission induction (test for non-inferiority, p=0·036). Among per-protocol treated patients, treatment success was observed in 116 (84%) of 138 patients with disease control versus 109 (81%) of 134 patients in the remission induction group (test for non-inferiority, p=0·047). The difference in treatment success between disease control and remission induction was estimated as 3·4% (95% CI -5·8 to 12·6) for the ITT population and 2·7% (-6·3 to 11·8) for the per-protocol population. Fewer patients with disease control compared with remission induction had non-haematological adverse events grade 3 or worse (30 [21%] of 140 patients vs 86 [61%] of 141 patients, χ test p<0·0001). Between randomisation and the start of conditioning, with disease control two patients died from progressive acute myeloid leukaemia and zero from treatment-related complications, and with remission induction two patients died from progressive acute myeloid leukaemia and two from treatment-related complications. Between randomisation and allogeneic HSCT, patients with disease control spent a median of 27 days less in hospital than those with remission induction, ie, the median time in hospital was 15 days (range 7-64) versus 42 days (27-121, U test p<0·0001), respectively.
INTERPRETATION
Non-inferiority of disease control could not be shown at the 2·5% significance level. The rate of treatment success was also not statistically better for patients with remission induction. Watchful waiting and immediate transplantation could be an alternative for fit patients with poor response or relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia who have a stem cell donor available. More randomised controlled intention-to-transplant trials are needed to define the optimal treatment before transplantation for patients with active acute myeloid leukaemia.
FUNDING
DKMS and the Gert and Susanna Mayer Stiftung Foundation.
Topics: Humans; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Middle Aged; Male; Female; Remission Induction; Adult; Transplantation, Homologous; Aged; Cytarabine; Young Adult; Adolescent; Mitoxantrone; Salvage Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Recurrence
PubMed: 38583455
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(24)00065-6 -
JAMA Oncology Jan 2024In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network endorsed watch and wait for those with complete clinical response to total neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
IMPORTANCE
In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network endorsed watch and wait for those with complete clinical response to total neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy is highly efficacious, so this recommendation may have broad implications, but the current trends in organ preservation in the US are unknown.
OBJECTIVE
To describe organ preservation trends among patients with rectal cancer in the US from 2006 to 2020.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This retrospective, observational case series included adults (aged ≥18 years) with rectal adenocarcinoma managed with curative intent from 2006 to 2020 in the National Cancer Database.
EXPOSURE
The year of treatment was the primary exposure. The type of therapy was chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery (proctectomy, transanal local excision, no tumor resection). The timing of therapy was classified as neoadjuvant or adjuvant.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was the absolute annual proportion of organ preservation after radical treatment, defined as chemotherapy and/or radiation without tumor resection, proctectomy, or transanal local excision. A secondary analysis examined complete pathologic responses among eligible patients.
RESULTS
Of the 175 545 patients included, the mean (SD) age was 63 (13) years, 39.7% were female, 17.4% had clinical stage I disease, 24.7% had stage IIA to IIC disease, 32.1% had stage IIIA to IIIC disease, and 25.7% had unknown stage. The absolute annual proportion of organ preservation increased by 9.8 percentage points (from 18.4% in 2006 to 28.2% in 2020; P < .001). From 2006 to 2020, the absolute rate of organ preservation increased by 13.0 percentage points for patients with stage IIA to IIC disease (19.5% to 32.5%), 12.9 percentage points for patients with stage IIIA to IIC disease (16.2% to 29.1%), and 10.1 percentage points for unknown stages (16.5% to 26.6%; all P < .001). Conversely, patients with stage I disease experienced a 6.1-percentage point absolute decline in organ preservation (from 26.4% in 2006 to 20.3% in 2020; P < .001). The annual rate of transanal local excisions decreased for all stages. In the subgroup of 80 607 eligible patients, the proportion of complete pathologic responses increased from 6.5% in 2006 to 18.8% in 2020 (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This case series shows that rectal cancer is increasingly being managed medically, especially among patients whose treatment historically relied on proctectomy. Given the National Comprehensive Cancer Network endorsement of watch and wait, the increasing trends in organ preservation, and the nearly 3-fold increase in complete pathologic responses, international professional societies should urgently develop multidisciplinary core outcome sets and care quality indicators to ensure high-quality rectal cancer research and care delivery accounting for organ preservation.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Chemoradiotherapy; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Organ Preservation; Pathologic Complete Response; Rectal Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Watchful Waiting
PubMed: 37943566
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4845 -
Stress and Health : Journal of the... Sep 2023The objectives of this article are to introduce a conceptual framework for physical resilience in the context of ageing and to discuss key elements and challenges in the...
The objectives of this article are to introduce a conceptual framework for physical resilience in the context of ageing and to discuss key elements and challenges in the design of studies of physical resilience after health stressors. Advancing age is associated with increasing exposure to multiple stressors and declining capacity to respond to health stressors. Resilience is defined broadly as the ability to resist or recover well from the adverse effects of a health stressor. In ageing-related study designs of physical resilience after a health stressor, this dynamic resilience response can be observed as changes in repeated measures of function or health status in various domains important to older adults. Methodologic issues in selecting the study population, defining the stressor, covariates, outcomes, and analytic strategies are highlighted in the context of an ongoing prospective cohort study of physical resilience after total knee replacement surgery. The article concludes with approaches to intervention development to optimize resilience.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Resilience, Psychological; Prospective Studies; Aging; Longitudinal Studies; Health Status
PubMed: 36879359
DOI: 10.1002/smi.3241 -
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Dec 2023Notoriously characterized by subjectivity and lack of solid scientific validation, reporting aesthetic outcome in plastic surgery is usually based on ill-defined end... (Review)
Review
Notoriously characterized by subjectivity and lack of solid scientific validation, reporting aesthetic outcome in plastic surgery is usually based on ill-defined end points and subjective measures very often from the patients' and/or providers' perspective. With the tremendous increase in demand for all types of aesthetic procedures, there is an urgent need for better understanding of aesthetics and beauty in addition to reliable and objective outcome measures to quantitate what is perceived as beautiful and attractive. In an era of evidence-based medicine, recognition of the importance of science with evidence-based approach to aesthetic surgery is long overdue. View the many limitations of conventional outcome evaluation tools of aesthetic interventions, objective outcome analysis provided by tools described to be reliable is being investigated such as advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The current review is intended to analyze available evidence regarding advantages as well as limitations of this technology in objectively documenting outcome of aesthetic interventions. It has shown that some AI applications such as facial emotions recognition systems are capable of objectively measuring and quantitating patients' reported outcomes and defining aesthetic interventions success from the patients' perspective. Though not reported yet, observers' satisfaction with the results and their appreciation of aesthetic attributes may also be measured in the same manner.Level of Evidence III This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Topics: Humans; Surgery, Plastic; Artificial Intelligence; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Esthetics
PubMed: 37000298
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-023-03328-9 -
La Radiologia Medica Jan 2024The purpose of our study was to provide a novel schematized and comprehensive classification of causes and severity grading system for lumbosacral stenosis.
PURPOSE
The purpose of our study was to provide a novel schematized and comprehensive classification of causes and severity grading system for lumbosacral stenosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The MRI system proposed consisted of a severity grading scale for central and lateral (recess and foramen) stenosis, together with a schematized indication of the main causes of the disease (disc, arthritis, epidural lipomatosis, and their combinations). The system was applied to a cohort of patients from a single Institution in the last 2-years. Two radiologists evaluated all the MRIs to determine intra- and inter-observer reliability according to Cohen Kappa (K, for non-ordered categorical variables) and weighted Kappa (K, for ordered variables). Two orthopaedic surgeons clinically evaluated all patients and provided a schematic grading system with a central and lateral stenosis clinical score (CS-CS and LS-CS). Associations between ordinals were tested with chi-square test and measured with the Goodman and Kruskal's gamma index (Gi, with 95% confidence interval [95% CI]). Lastly, the most used previous MRI systems were applied, and their performances were compared to the new system proposed.
RESULTS
One hundred and twelve patients were included (55 females-mean age 63.3 ± 10.7 years). An almost perfect intra-observer agreement for the assessment of central stenosis, foramen stenosis, and lateral recess stenosis was found (K = 0.929, 0.928, and 0.924, respectively). The inter-observer agreement was almost perfect for central stenosis and foramen stenosis and substantial for lateral recess stenosis (K = 0.863, 0.834, and 0.633, respectively). Whatever the aetiologies involved in central and lateral stenosis, the intra-observer agreement was perfect (all K = 1), whereas the inter-observer agreements were almost perfect for arthritis (K = 0.838) and lipomatosis (K = 0.955) and substantial for disc (K = 0.691) regarding central stenosis. The inter-observer agreement for the causes of lateral stenosis was lower and variable, ranging from perfect (lipomatosis) to fair (disc, K = 0.224). The grading system revealed a strong association with CS-CS for both readers, with GI = 0.671 (95% CI 0.535-0.807) and 0.603 (95% CI = 0.457-0.749), respectively. The association with MRI grading and LS-CS was moderate for foraminal stenosis and for the concomitant presence of foraminal and lateral recess stenosis, with Gi = 0.337 (95% CI 0.121-0.554) and Gi = 0.299 (95% CI 0.098-0.500), respectively. A weak association was found between lateral recess grading alone and LS-CS with Gi = 0.102 (95% CI 0.193-0.397). The new grading systems showed higher Gi for associations with clinical symptoms, compared with previous ones, both for CS-CS and LS-CS.
CONCLUSIONS
A standardized visual grading system for lumbar spinal stenosis that takes into account all of the major contributing factors-including disc, arthritis, and lipomatosis, for the central canal, lateral recess, and neural foramina could be a useful and practical tool for defining the stenosis, lowering inter-observer variability, and directing the various treatment options.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Aged; Constriction, Pathologic; Reproducibility of Results; Spinal Stenosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Observer Variation; Lipomatosis; Arthritis; Lumbar Vertebrae
PubMed: 37882917
DOI: 10.1007/s11547-023-01741-3 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Oct 2023Auditory sensation is based in nanoscale vibration of the sensory tissue of the cochlea, the organ of Corti complex (OCC). Motion within the OCC is now observable due to...
Auditory sensation is based in nanoscale vibration of the sensory tissue of the cochlea, the organ of Corti complex (OCC). Motion within the OCC is now observable due to optical coherence tomography. In the cochlear base, in response to sound stimulation, the region that includes the electro-motile outer hair cells (OHC) was observed to move with larger amplitude than the basilar membrane (BM) and surrounding regions. The intense motion is based in active cell mechanics, and the region was termed the "hotspot" (Cooper et al., 2018, Nature comm). In addition to this quantitative distinction, the hotspot moved qualitatively differently than the BM, in that its motion scaled nonlinearly with stimulus level at all frequencies, evincing sub-BF activity. Sub-BF activity enhances non-BF motion; thus the frequency tuning of the hotspot was reduced relative to the BM. Regions that did not exhibit sub-BF activity are here defined as the OCC "frame". By this definition the frame includes the BM, the medial and lateral OCC, and most significantly, the reticular lamina (RL). The frame concept groups the majority OCC as a structure that is largely shielded from sub-BF activity. This shielding, and how it is achieved, are key to the active frequency tuning of the cochlea. The observation that the RL does not move actively sub-BF indicates that hair cell stereocilia are not exposed to sub-BF activity. A complex difference analysis reveals the motion of the hotspot relative to the frame.
PubMed: 37873430
DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.29.547111