Interpretable Similarity of Synthetic Image Utility

Synthetic medical image data can unlock the potential of deep learning (DL)-based clinical decision support (CDS) systems through the creation of large scale, privacy-preserving, training sets. Despite the significant progress in this field, there is still a largely unanswered research question: “How can we quantitatively assess the similarity of a synthetically generated set of images with a set of real images in a given application domain?”. Today, answers to this question are mainly provided via user evaluation studies, inception-based measures, and the classification performance achieved on synthetic images. This paper proposes a novel measure to assess the similarity between synthetically generated and real sets of images, in terms of their utility for the development of DL-based CDS systems. Inspired by generalized neural additive models, and unlike inception-based measures, the proposed measure is interpretable (Interpretable Utility Similarity, IUS), explaining why a synthetic dataset could be more useful than another one in the context of a CDS system based on clinically relevant image features. The experimental results on publicly available benchmark datasets from various color medical imaging modalities including endoscopic, dermoscopic and fundus imaging, indicate that selecting synthetic images of high utility similarity using IUS can result in relative improvements of up to 54.6% in terms of classification performance. The generality of IUS for synthetic data assessment is demonstrated also for grayscale X-ray and ultrasound imaging modalities. IUS implementation is available at https://github.com/innoisys/ius.

The role of social safety schemas in the persistence of mental health difficulties during adolescence

Abstract Background Emotional and behavioural problems (i.e., mental health difficulties and their decomposition into internalizing and externalizing symptoms) often emerge in adolescence and can persist into adulthood if not addressed. Identifying modifiable social‐cognitive processes that influence the persistence of psychopathology across the lifespan is thus essential. Method Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative birth cohort of UK youths born in 2000–2002, we examined whether social safety at age 14 mediated the association between mental health difficulties at age 11 and mental health difficulties at age 17. The sample included 10,782 participants (50% female, 20% non‐White, 21% in poverty). Results Mental health difficulties (total symptoms) at age 11 predicted both mental health difficulties at age 17 ( b  = .41, p  < .001) and negative social safety schemas at age 14 ( b  = .02, p  < .001). Negative social safety schemas in mid‐adolescence partially mediated the persistence of difficulties from early to late adolescence ( ab  = .01, p  < .001). In sex‐stratified analyses, we found that negative social safety mediated the persistence of internalizing problems only for females and the persistence of externalizing problems only for males. Conclusions and Relevance These findings highlight the important role of social safety schemas in the persistence of adolescent emotional and behavioural problems over time. Based on these results, investments in improving early adolescent mental health by bolstering social safety perceptions may be effective for reducing mental health risks.

From spatial to social competence: The association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in childhood

Abstract This study investigated the nature of the association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in middle childhood. We used a general‐population longitudinal survey from the United Kingdom, which allowed us to control for a wide range of area, family and child covariates, including early verbal ability and parenting, in a large sample ( N  = 13,355, 51% male). The study's primary aim was to determine whether intrinsic‐dynamic spatial skills predicted prosocial behaviour and vice versa across ages 5 and 7 years. The results from cross‐lagged panel models with various levels of adjustment indicated that both paths were significant and equally strong. However, when also controlling for verbal ability and parenting practices, verbal ability (but not parenting) confounded the path from prosocial behaviour at age 5 to spatial ability at age 7. Therefore, only the path from spatial to social skills remained significant after adjustment for all confounders. Sex‐stratified analyses did not reveal significant differences between the paths for males and females. The present study contributes to our understanding of social and cognitive development in children, highlighting the impact of spatial skills across the social domain. The findings have implications for educational curricula in the early years and primary school.

Right Ventricular–Pulmonary Artery Coupling and Clinical Outcomes Following Mitral Transcatheter Edge‐to‐Edge Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT Background Right ventricular–pulmonary artery (RVPA) coupling is an emerging prognostic marker in cardiovascular disease, but its predictive value in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (MTEER) remains uncertain. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies evaluating the prognostic impact of RVPA coupling in patients undergoing MTEER, using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) or related markers. Risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS‐I tool, and meta‐analyses were used to evaluate associations with clinical outcomes, including all‐cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and residual mitral regurgitation (MR). Results Nine studies involving 3281 patients were included. Baseline RVPA uncoupling was significantly associated with an increased incidence of MACE (risk ratio [RR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40–2.19) and higher all‐cause mortality (RR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.53–2.18). No significant association was observed with post‐operative MR (RR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.83–1.63). Sensitivity analyses did not alter the direction of the findings. Conclusion RVPA uncoupling is associated with adverse outcomes after MTEER. Routine assessment may improve pre‐procedural risk stratification. Further studies should refine diagnostic thresholds and evaluate potential therapeutic strategies in the setting of impaired RVPA coupling prior to MTEER.

Weaving together the past, present and future of Greek arachnofauna: Biodiversity, knowledge gaps and conservation

Abstract Spiders are among the most species‐rich groups of arthropods. As top predators of other arthropods, their ecological role is significant, yet they are often overlooked in conservation efforts. Greece is home to a rich spider fauna, including many newly discovered and endemic taxa. In this paper, we present an updated, comprehensive dataset of the spiders of Greece, compiled using open standards aligned with the FAIR principles of data management. This update is based on the critical curation of 187 papers covering all available records of spider species occurring in Greece. The curated data contain geographic location (including coordinates and their accuracy) and taxonomic validity of all species. In total, 1310 species are recorded across more than 18,000 unique occurrences, excluding nomina dubia , subspecies and incomplete or erroneous taxonomic identifications. Of these, 226 species are endemic to Greece. Furthermore, an analysis is performed to present the distribution of the spider families/species richness in the complex landscape of Greece, in mainland and 96 islands, and the identified geographical/taxonomic gaps in our knowledge. The conservation status of 202 IUCN‐assessed species is also presented, alongside a critical analysis of their documented threats and possible ways to promote their conservation.

The Risk of Preterm Birth in Women With Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT Aim Previous studies have explored the association between periodontitis and preterm birth (PTB), with conflicting results primarily due to variability in methodology, statistical analyses and the case definitions of both conditions. This study aimed to synthesise critically the available scientific evidence of observational studies that evaluate the risk of PTB in pregnant women with or without periodontitis. Material and Methods MEDLINE‐PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched from their inception through June 2025 to identify eligible studies evaluating the incidence of PTB in women with periodontitis compared to those without. Inclusion required that periodontitis be defined through full‐mouth clinical examination, assessing probing pocket depth in combination with clinical attachment loss and/or radiographic alveolar bone loss. The risk of bias was assessed. Descriptive analysis, and when feasible, meta‐analysis (MA) and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were performed. Sub‐analyses were conducted based on the risk of bias analysis, study design, geographical area, periodontitis case definition, smoking, health or country social economic status, history of urinary tract infections and the number of evaluated teeth. The total body of evidence was graded. Results A total of 723 unique papers were identified, and 11 eligible studies were included. The descriptive analysis showed that seven of the eleven studies present a significant association between PTB and periodontitis. Confounding variables on personal, medical and environmental aspects lowered the risk. The crude overall MA based on 11 studies resulted in a small effect, odds ratio (OR: 2.38 [95% CI: 1.78; 3.18], p  < 0.00001). The TSA showed that the required number of events was reached, and the type I error is ruled out. Conclusion There is moderate certainty that pregnant women with periodontitis compared to pregnant women without periodontitis have a small risk of PTB. Trial Registration PROSPERO number: CRD42022327501

Language, Identity, and Neo‐Imperial Power in Kurdistan and Ukraine: A Joint Review of Demet Arpacık's Beyond Language and Corinne A. Seals’ Choosing a Mother Tongue

Inverse Autocovariance Estimates

ABSTRACT The notion of the inverse autocovariance function (iacf) for stationary time series was introduced by W. Cleveland in the 1970s who proposed two ways to estimate it: one way is to fit an autoregressive (AR) model to the data and use the fitted model's inverse autocovariance as the iacf estimator, and the other method is via a kernel‐smoothed spectral density estimator. Consistency of the iacf estimator at a fixed lag was subsequently proved by R.J. Bhansali in the 1980s based on a linear time series condition. In this article, we relax the linearity assumption and provide sufficient conditions for the consistency of the iacf estimator. We further consider the problem of estimating the vector consisting of the iacf at lags up ton $$ n $$ , based on a sample of sizen $$ n $$ . We propose several competing estimators of the iacf vector and study their convergence. In addition, we discuss the difficult problem of choosing the orderp $$ p $$ of a fitted AR model, and provide some alternative ways to approach it. Finally, we consider the inverse autocovariance matrix, i.e., then $$ n $$ byn $$ n $$ Toeplitz matrix withi , j $$ i,j $$ element given by the iacf at lagi − j $$ i-j $$ ; we propose an estimator and investigate its consistency properties. Numerical simulations illustrate the finite sample performance of all iacf estimators, including the estimators of the orderp $$ p $$ .

Special Issue in Honor of Professor Hira Lal Koul

Keeping It Simple: The Use of a Weighted Cumulative Exposure to Examine the Relationship Between Severe Maternal Morbidity and Health Outcomes