bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Loss of Function Variant in HCN1 Gene Underlies Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy 24 [EIEE24]
Authors: Mujahid  , Waqas Ahmed , Almazni Ibrahim A. , Zaman Gohar , Alam Qamre , Eid Thamir M. , Alanazi Mohammad A. , Hamadi Abdullah , Afsar Tayyaba , Razak Suhail , Umair Muhammad
Published: October 2024

Background: Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) is a rare neurological condition characterized by frequent seizures in the early stages of life, resulting in severely impaired cognitive and motor development. Although the specific causes of EIEE remain unknown, one of the primary causes is gene pathogenicity (even in the absence of consanguinity). Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCNs) are essential for proper brain function. They are regulated by multiple genes, and mutations in these genes induce channel malfunction, which can result in various severe conditions, including EIEE. Herein, we have reported a patient presenting hallmarks of EIEE. Methods: The patient underwent clinical, radiographic, and genetic analysis. A thorough clinical examination and molecular study were conducted utilizing whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Results: Whole exome sequencing of the proband revealed a novel de novo nonsynonymous/nonsense variant (c.1468A>T; (p.Lys490Ter) in exon 6 of the HCN1 gene. This variant may cause channel dysfunction via nonsynonymous/nonsense-mediated decay or aberrant protein, which may be associated with EIEE phenotypes. Conclusions: This evidence backs the idea that HCN1 has a vital role in brain development and lose of function can cause a range of debilitating conditions. Still, the functional characterization study of the HCN1 variants will be the fundamental tool for a better understanding of EIEE in the near future.
Vilanova Artigas e Sergio Ferro em Balneário Camboriú: o jardim de veredas que se bifurcam
Authors: Serraglio João Paulo
Published: October 2024

A partir de documentação recolhida em acervos, este artigo trata a respeito dos, amplamente conhecidos, edifícios recordistas em altura na América Latina, localizados em Balneário Camboriú, e sobre projetos para a cidade, pouco conhecidos, dos arquitetos João Batista Vilanova Artigas e Sérgio Ferro Pereira, lançando novas imagens de futuro e olhando para as contradições e dissensos que surgem dessas diferentes concepções de urbanização.
The ABCs of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Blood Volume Measurement: A Simplified Quantitative Method Predicts Outcomes and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Föttinger Fabian , Sharma Rohan , Salman Saif D. , Weston Alexander D. , Erickson Bradley J. , Huynh Thien , Tawk Rabih G. , Freeman William D.
Published: October 2024

Background

We developed a simplified ABC/2‐derived method to estimate total subarachnoid hemorrhage volume (SAHV) on noncontrast computed tomography in patients with aneurysmal SAH and compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective observational cohort study, we analyzed 277 patients with SAH admitted to our Comprehensive Stroke Center between 2012 and 2022. We derived a mathematical model (model 1) by measuring SAH basal cisternal blood volume using an ABC/2‐derived ellipsoid formula (A=width/thickness, B=length, C=vertical extension) on head noncontrast computed tomography in 5 major SAH cisternal compartments. We compared model 1 against a manual segmentation method (model 2) on noncontrast computed tomography. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis,
t
test, receiver operator characteristic curves, and area under the curve analysis. There was no significant difference in cisternal SAHV analysis between the 2 models (
P
=0.14). Mean SAHV by the simplified method was 7.0 mL (95% CI, 5.89–8.09) for good outcome and 16.6 mL (95% CI, 13.49–19.77) for poor outcome. Patients with delayed cerebral ischemia had higher SAHV, with a cutoff value of 10 mL.

Conclusions

Our simplified ABC/2‐derived method to estimate SAHV is comparable to manual segmentation and can be performed in low‐resource settings. Higher total SAHV was associated with worse outcomes and higher risk of delayed cerebral ischemia. A potential dose–response relationship was observed, with SAHV >10 mL predicting worse outcomes and higher risk of DCI.
Cardiovascular Health Among Young Men and Women in Puerto Rico as Assessed by the Life's Essential 8 Metrics
Authors: Pérez Cynthia M. , López‐Cepero Andrea , Almodóvar‐Rivera Israel , Kiefe Catarina I. , Tucker Katherine L. , Person Sharina D. , Mattei Josiemer , Rodríguez‐Orengo José , Rosal Milagros C.
Published: October 2024

Background

Cardiovascular health (CVH) in young adulthood is associated with CVD in later life, yet CVH in young adults in the United States falls below ideal levels, with noticeable sex differences. Research on CVH in young adults in Puerto Rico is scarce. This study examined CVH and sex differences in CVH in a large cohort of young adults in Puerto Rico.

Methods and Results

Data from 2162 Puerto Rican young adults aged 18 to 29 residing in PR were obtained from the PR‐OUTLOOK (Puerto Rico Young Adults' Stress, Contextual, Behavioral, and Cardiometabolic Risk) study (2020–2023). Participants were recruited through various media and community outreach. CVH scores, graded on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale, were derived from survey responses, physical exams, and laboratory assays. Linear regression with the margins postestimation command was used to determine adjusted means (95% CIs) for CVH scores by sex, controlling for age, marital status, education, childhood material deprivation, subjective social status, health insurance, and depressive symptoms. CVH was less than ideal (score<80) in 72.6% of the cohort (70.5% of women, 75.9% of men,
P
<0.05). Men had a significantly lower adjusted mean overall CVH score than women (70.7 versus 73.0) and lower adjusted mean scores for nicotine exposure (78.3 versus 86.7), non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (80.6 versus 86.4), and blood pressure (79.5 versus 92.2). Women had a significantly lower adjusted mean physical activity score compared with men (50.4 versus 59.5).

Conclusions

Less‐than‐ideal CVH is notable among young adults, with men having worse CVH than women. These identified sex differences warrant further investigation and the design of interventions to enhance and preserve CVH.
Development and Validation of Prognostic Models for Bleeding and Ischemia in Elderly Patients With Comorbid Acute Coronary Syndrome and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Zhang Honghong , Zheng Li , Yang Zengao , Zhao Haijing , Zhu Yue , Ma Yuhan , Wu Zhengfeng , Qiu Weize , Zhou Zhirui , Liu Yuqi , Chen Yundai
Published: October 2024

Background

Acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation are common cardiovascular diseases in elderly individuals. Patients with comorbidities face increased risks of bleeding and ischemia; however, there is a lack of prognostic models for quantifying these risks in this special population.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective cohort study, 1851 patients (≥65 years old) with acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation from 2 hospitals in China were included in the development cohort (1252 individuals) and 2 external validation cohorts (284 and 315 individuals). During 1‐year follow‐up, 96 Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5 bleeding events and 245 thromboembolic events were observed. In the development cohort, the concordance indexes for bleeding at 3, 6, and 12 mo ranged from 0.737 to 0.845 and for ischemia ranged from 0.723 to 0.777. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis indicated adequate calibration and clinical practicability. The concordance indexes varied from 0.679 to 0.809 in the validation cohorts. Subgroup analyses focusing on anticoagulant drugs and antithrombotic therapy were conducted, revealing similar discrimination and calibration. Kaplan–Meier curves demonstrated significant differences (log‐rank
P
<0.001). Additionally, the models outperformed conventional models in concordance indexes, integrated discrimination improvement, and net reclassification improvement.

Conclusions

Our study provides 2 robust prognostic models with easily available clinical factors for predicting bleeding and ischemia in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, we provide online calculators to facilitate individualized risk evaluation and clinical decision‐making.

Registration

URL:
www.chictr.org.cn/
. Unique Identifier: ChiCTR2200067185.
Loss of NAT10 Reduces the Translation of
Kmt5a
mRNA Through ac4C Modification in Cardiomyocytes and Induces Heart Failure
Authors: Xu Ting , Du Tailai , Zhuang Xiaodong , He Xin , Yan Youchen , Wu Jialing , Zhou Huimin , Li Yan , Liao Xinxue , He Jiangui , Liu Chen , Dong Yugang , Ou Jingsong , Lin Shuibin , Chen Demeng , Huang Zhan‐Peng
Published: October 2024

Background

In the past decade, the biological functions of various RNA modifications in mammals have been uncovered. N4‐acetylcytidine (ac4C), a highly conserved RNA modification, has been implicated in human diseases. Despite this, the involvement of RNA ac4C modification in cardiac physiology and pathology remains incompletely understood. NAT10 (N‐acetyltransferase 10) stands as the sole acetyltransferase known to catalyze RNA ac4C modification. This study aims to explore the role of NAT10 and ac4C modification in cardiac physiology and pathology.

Methods and Results

Cardiac‐specific knockout of NAT10, leading to reduced RNA ac4C modification, during both neonatal and adult stages resulted in severe heart failure. NAT10 deficiency induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, a crucial step in heart failure pathogenesis, supported by in vitro data. Activation of the
p53
signaling pathway was closely associated with enhanced apoptosis in NAT10‐deficient cardiomyocytes. As ac4C modification on mRNA influences translational efficiency, we employed ribosome footprints coupled with RNA sequencing to explore genome‐wide translational efficiency changes caused by NAT10 deficiency. We identified and validated that the translational efficiency of
Kmt5a
was suppressed in NAT10 knockout hearts due to reduced ac4C modification on its mRNA. This finding was consistent with the observation that
Kmt5a
protein levels were reduced in heart failure despite unchanged mRNA expression. Knockdown of
Kmt5a
in cardiomyocytes recapitulated the phenotype of NAT10 deficiency, including increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and activated
p53
signaling. Finally, overexpression of
Kmt5a
rescued cardiomyocyte apoptosis and
p53
activation induced by NAT10 inhibition.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the significance of NAT10 in cardiomyocyte physiology, demonstrating that NAT10 loss is sufficient to induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and heart failure. NAT10 regulates the translational efficiency of
Kmt5a
, a key mediator, through mRNA ac4C modification during heart failure.
Intraindividual Discordance Between Remnant Cholesterol and Low‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Associated With Incident Stroke: Results From 2 National Cohorts
Authors: Cui Cancan , Li Pingan , Qi Yitian , Song Jiayin , Han Tianjiao , Shang Xinyun , Balmer Lois , Sheng Chen , Zha Yining , Xu Zhonghang , Wang Xu , Wu Zhiyuan
Published: October 2024

Background

The atherogenic effect of remnant cholesterol is being increasingly acknowledged. This study aimed to explore the association of discordance between remnant cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol with stroke onset using 2 Chinese national cohorts.

Methods and Results

We studied 11 139 participants from CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) and 5993 participants from CHNS (China Health and Nutrition Survey) aged 45 years or older. The discordance between remnant cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was defined using the difference in percentile units (>15 units). There were 988 (8.9%) and 128 (2.1%) stroke events reported during follow‐up in the 2 cohorts. Elevated remnant cholesterol was significantly associated with a higher risk of total stroke in 2 cohorts. After adjusting for remnant cholesterol level, the discordantly high remnant cholesterol group was significantly associated with an increased stroke risk (CHARLS: subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR], 1.31 [95 CI, 1.10–1.55]; CHNS: sHR, 1.84 [95 CI, 1.15–3.08]) compared with the discordantly low group. Consistent results were shown even among those with optimal low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level.

Conclusions

The discordance between remnant cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, representing the intraindividual discrepancy, is significantly associated with stroke onset among Chinese adults.
Outcomes of Watchful Waiting Strategy and Predictors of Postoperative Prognosis in Asymptomatic or Equivocally Symptomatic Chronic Severe Aortic Regurgitation With Preserved Left Ventricular Function
Authors: Suzuki Sho , Amano Masashi , Nakagawa Shoko , Irie Yuki , Moriuchi Kenji , Okada Atsushi , Kitai Takeshi , Amaki Makoto , Kanzaki Hideaki , Nishimura Kunihiro , Fukushima Satsuki , Kusano Kengo , Fujita Tomoyuki , Noguchi Teruo , Izumi Chisato
Published: October 2024

Background

The optimal surgical timing for asymptomatic or equivocally symptomatic chronic severe aortic regurgitation with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction remains controversial.

Methods and Results

Two hundred ten consecutive patients (median age 65 years) with asymptomatic or equivocally symptomatic chronic severe aortic regurgitation and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were registered. First, the treatment plans (aortic valve replacement or watchful waiting) after initial diagnosis were investigated. Then, 2 studies were set: Study A (n=144) investigated the prognosis of patients who were managed under the watchful waiting strategy after initial diagnosis; Study B (n=99) investigated the postoperative prognosis in patients who underwent aortic valve replacement at initial diagnosis or after watchful waiting. The primary outcomes were all‐cause death in Study A and postoperative cardiovascular events in Study B. In Study A, 3 died of noncardiovascular causes during a median follow‐up of 3.2 years. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the survival curve was similar to that of an age‐sex‐matched general population in Japan. In Study B, 9 experienced the primary outcome during a median follow‐up of 5.0 years. In Cox regression analysis, preoperative left ventricular end‐systolic diameter enlargement (hazard ratio, 1.11;
P
=0.048) and left ventricular end‐systolic diameter >45 mm (hazard ratio, 12.75;
P
=0.02) were significantly associated with poor postoperative prognosis. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, left ventricular end‐systolic diameter >45 mm predicted a higher risk of the primary outcome (
P
<0.01).

Conclusions

Watchful waiting was achieved safely in asymptomatic or equivocally symptomatic chronic severe aortic regurgitation with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Preoperative left ventricular end‐systolic diameter >45 mm predicted a poor postoperative outcome and may be an optimal cut‐off value for surgical indication.
Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Tenecteplase Versus Alteplase in Treating Acute Ischemic Stroke With Diabetes and Admission Hyperglycemia
Authors: Liu Huihui , Jin Aoming , Pan Yuesong , Meng Xia , Li Hao , Li Zixiao , Wang Yongjun , Li Shuya
Published: October 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of tenecteplase versus alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke, considering their diabetes history and admission hyperglycemia status.

Methods and Results

This was a post hoc analysis of the TRACE‐2 (Tenecteplase Reperfusion Therapy in Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Events‐2) randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients in China between June 2021 and May 2022. Eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke for standard intravenous thrombolysis, but ineligible for endovascular thrombectomy, were randomly assigned (1:1) to tenecteplase or alteplase within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Admission hyperglycemia was defined as plasma glucose >7.8 mmol/L. The primary efficacy and safety outcome were excellent functional outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 36 hours, respectively. The Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel
χ
2
test was used for the outcomes. Of the 1382 patients included, 369 (26.7%) had a history of diabetes, and 482 (34.9%) experienced admission hyperglycemia. The primary efficacy outcome, comparing tenecteplase to alteplase, was achieved in 93 (56.7%) versus 97 (48.3%) among patients with a history of diabetes (
P
=0.11) and 335 (64.6%) versus 300 (62.2%) among those without diabetes (
P
=0.45), respectively. The primary efficacy outcome for tenecteplase versus alteplase was comparable among patients with and without admission hyperglycemia (57.5% versus 53.9%,
P
 = 0.44; 65.4% versus 60.4%,
P
=0.12, respectively). No significant difference in the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 36 hours was observed between tenecteplase and alteplase, regardless of diabetes history or admission hyperglycemia.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that intravenous tenecteplase exhibits similar clinical outcomes compared with alteplase, irrespective of the patient's glucose metabolism status.

Registration

URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04797013.
Cardiopulmonary Fitness and Personalized Exercise Prescription in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cavigli Luna , Ragazzoni Gian Luca , Vannuccini Francesca , Targetti Mattia , Mandoli Giulia Elena , Senesi Giada , Pastore Maria Concetta , Focardi Marta , Cameli Matteo , Valente Serafina , Bonifazi Marco , Olivotto Iacopo , D'Ascenzi Flavio
Published: October 2024

Background

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are generally restricted regarding participation in competitive sports based on the potential risk of sudden cardiac death and malignant arrhythmias. As a result, they are often inactive and experience the negative consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. Hence, the need arises to strike the right balance between these 2 extremes through personalized exercise prescription. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the characteristics of patients with HCM practicing regular aerobic physical activity compared with sedentary patients; (2) to perform a personalized moderate‐intensity exercise prescription and evaluate its effects.

Methods and Results

Patients with HCM were evaluated through clinical assessment, ECG, ambulatory ECG monitoring, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary testing. A personalized moderate‐intensity exercise prescription was performed, and the same investigations were repeated. Physically active patients with HCM demonstrated better cardiopulmonary functional capacity than sedentary patients (oxygen consumption
peak
/kg 32.9±7.4 versus 25.2±7.4 mL/min per kg
P
≤0.0001, ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope 26.7±4.3 versus 29.9±5.2
P
=0.004), with similar prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias (
P
=0.43). Sedentary subjects showed a borderline higher prevalence of obesity (
P
=0.07) than physically active subjects. Moderate‐intensity exercise prescription led to improved cardiopulmonary fitness without occurrence of adverse events.

Conclusions

Patients with HCM practicing regular aerobic exercise have a better functional capacity in the absence of relevant events than sedentary patients. Conversely, a sedentary lifestyle led to a deterioration of cardiopulmonary functional capacity and fitness. The tailored moderate‐intensity personalized exercise prescription appears to be a feasible approach in carefully selected patients with HCM to counterbalance the negative effects of sedentary behavior without significant major events.
Symptomatic Nonstenotic Carotids: A Topical Review
Authors: Savastano Luis , Brinjikji Waleed , Lutsep Helmi , Chen Huanwen , Chaturvedi Seemant
Published: October 2024

Historically, the management of carotid artery disease has primarily focused on the degree of stenosis as the main indicator for assessing stroke etiology, risk, and need for intervention. However, accumulating evidence suggests that structural and biological features within the arterial wall, such as intraplaque hemorrhage, may have superior diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic values. Under current guidelines, unless an atheroma results in ≥50% stenosis, it is not considered the cause of a cerebrovascular event. This results in extensive and often unproductive diagnostic workup, prescription of ineffective medical therapy, and preclusion of patients from receiving revascularization procedures that have been shown to prevent recurrent cerebrovascular events in cases of ≥50% stenosis. A subset of embolic strokes of undetermined source, which account for up to 25% of all ischemic cerebrovascular events, are thought to be due to thromboembolic phenomena from undiagnosed plaque disruptions in nonstenotic arteries (<50% stenosis). Recently, it has been proposed to reclassify this subgroup of patients as symptomatic nonstenotic carotid if the carotid plaque ipsilateral to the cerebrovascular event presents with high-risk features including intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap, and ulceration. In this review, we first provide a historical overview of the chain of events and circumstances that resulted in the present management of carotid artery disease. Second, we embed the contemporary biomarkers of plaque vulnerability in a modern mechanistic paradigm of carotid plaque disruption and thromboembolization. Third, we review the clinically available imaging tools to detect these biomarkers, and how their use has started to shed light on the prevalence and natural history of this underdiagnosed condition. Fourth, we review recent clinical studies employing a contemporary definition of symptomatic nonstenotic carotid and discuss targeted treatments for this condition. Finally, we make a case to generate the much-needed high-level evidence to align the clinical management of patients with symptomatic nonstenotic carotid with a contemporary understanding of plaque disruption and thromboembolization.
Oxygen Extraction Fraction Mapping on Admission Magnetic Resonance Imaging May Predict Recovery of Hyperacute Ischemic Brain Lesions After Successful Thrombectomy: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Bani-Sadr Alexandre , Hermier Marc , de Bourguignon Charles , Mechtouff Laura , Eker Omer F. , Cappucci Matteo , Tommasino Emanuele , Martin Anna , Cho Tae-Hee , Derex Laurent , Nighoghossian Nobert , Berthezene Yves
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

In acute stroke, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is used to assess the ischemic core. Dynamic-susceptibility contrast perfusion magnetic resonance imaging allows an estimation of the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), but the outcome of DWI lesions with increased OEF postrecanalization is unclear. This study investigated the impact of OEF on the fate of DWI lesions in patients achieving recanalization after thrombectomy.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective analysis of the HIBISCUS-STROKE cohort (Cohort of Patients to Identify Biological and Imaging Markers of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Stroke; NCT: 03149705), a single-center observational study that prospectively enrolled patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging triage for thrombectomy and a day-6 T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging. Automated postprocessing of admission dynamic-susceptibility contrast perfusion magnetic resonance imaging generated OEF maps. At visual analysis, the OEF status within DWI lesions was assessed in comparison to the contralateral side and correlated with volume changes (difference of ischemic lesion between admission DWI and registered day-6 T2-FLAIR). At voxel-based analysis, recovered DWI regions (lesions present on the admission DWI but absent on the registered day-6 T2-FLAIR) and nonrecovered regions were segmented to extract semiquantitative OEF values.

RESULTS:

Of the participants enrolled from 2016 to 2022, 134 of 321 (41.7%) were included (median age, 71.0 years; 58.2% male; median baseline National Institutes of Health Scale score, 15.0). At visual analysis, 46 of 134 (34.3%) patients had increased OEF within DWI lesions. These patients were more likely to show a reduction in ischemic lesion volumes compared with those without increased OEF (median change, −4.0 versus 4.8 mL;
P
<0.0001). Multivariable analysis indicated that increased OEF within DWI lesions was associated with a reduction in ischemic lesion volumes from admission DWI to day-6 T2-FLAIR (odds ratio, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49–0.87];
P
=0.008). At voxel-based analysis, recovered DWI regions had increased OEF, while nonrecovered regions had decreased OEF (median, 126.9% versus −27.0%;
P
<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Increased OEF within hyperacute DWI lesions was associated with ischemic lesion recovery between admission DWI and day-6 T2-FLAIR in patients achieving recanalization after thrombectomy.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03149705.
Survival and Evolutionary Adaptation of Populations Under Disruptive Habitat Change: A Study With Darwinian Cellular Automata
Authors: Derets Hanna , Nehaniv Chrystopher L.
Published: October 2024

The evolution of living beings with continuous and consistent progress toward adaptation and ways to model evolution along principles as close as possible to Darwin’s are important areas of focus in Artificial Life. Though genetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies are good methods for modeling selection, crossover, and mutation, biological systems are undeniably spatially distributed processes in which living organisms interact with locally available individuals rather than with the entire population at once. This work presents a model for the survival of organisms during a change in the environment to a less favorable one, putting them at risk of extinction, such as many organisms experience today under climate change or local habitat loss or fragmentation. Local spatial structure of resources and environmental quality also impacts the capacity of an evolving population to adapt. The problem is considered on a probabilistic cellular automaton with update rules based on the principles of genetic algorithms. To carry out simulations according to the described model, the Darwinian cellular automata are introduced, and the software has been designed with the code available open source. An experimental evaluation of the behavioral characteristics of the model was carried out, completed by a critical evaluation of the results obtained, parametrically describing conditions and thresholds under which extinction or survival of the population may occur.
Al-Balāghah’s Legacy in Modern Secular Journalism
Authors: Fontana Chiara
Published: October 2024

Contemporary studies have already explored al-Risālah magazine’s (1933–1953) dynamic role in championing a far-reaching secular-grounded educational mission— which was made more urgent by the encounter with Western innovations. Still, little attention has been paid to the journal’s strong linkages with Arabic classical heritage. This article argues that al-Risālah’s writings employed concepts and terminology related to al-balāghah, or eloquence, that were by turns accurate, controversial, and innovative. These uses enriched the spectrum of al-balāghah’s applicability also to the discussion of current preoccupations with other fields like psychology. While accounting for thought-provoking works like Tāhā Ḥusayn’s al-Bayān al-ʿarabī min al-Jāḥiẓ ilā ʿAbd al-Qāhir [The Arabic Bayān, from al-Jāḥiẓ to ʿAbd al-Qāhir, 1933,] Amīn al-Khūlī’s al-Balāghah wa-ʿilm al-nafs [al-Balāghah and Psychology, 1939,] and al-Zayyāt’s Difāʿun ʿan al-balāghah [In Defense of al-Balāghah, 1945] as pioneering studies towards the new conceptualizations of the discipline up to the mid-half of the twentieth-century, this study purports to trace the presence of al-balāghah in al-Risālah’s articles in both quantitative and qualitative terms through the employment of DH tools for data mining. By mapping the ontological shifts that occurred in traditional languages and concepts’ employment as both contrastive and continuous, the present inquiries showcase modern Arab culture’s dialectics of secularism and literary revisionism as self-sufficient, culturally embedded and integrated, and not as byproducts of contact with the West.
Le style pragmatique et commatique de Porphyre à Simplicius
Authors: Cutino Miriam
Published: October 2024

In this study, we aim to analyze the notions of “pragmatic” and “commatic” we encounter in what we highlight to be a process of canonization of style appropriate to each content and theological level since Porphyry. This research is divided into three parts: primarily, we investigate the sense in which the Neoplatonists use the adjective “commatic”, which includes on the one hand (1) defining what the Neoplatonists mean by “unity of meaning”, and on the other hand distinguishing between a “woven” and continuous style and a “disjointed” and broken style, collecting the stylistic criticisms made by the Neoplatonists of the ancient texts; then (2) we seek to establish the areas of application of the “commatic” style in Neoplatonic discourse, distinguishing on the one hand inspired and ethical discourse, and on the other hand clear and sharp dialectical discourse, bordering on that which eludes philosophical demonstration, namely, the ἀσάφεια; finally (3), we aim to study the “pragmatic” style associated with each theological content in order to highlight its corresponding style and vocabulary.

The present research stems from the need to show how behind the lexical and structural choices of the Neoplatonic writings there is a precise theory of style, produced by a process of aesthetic canonization that emerges clearly as early as Porphyry’s rhetorical fragments and from Neoplatonic exegetical activity on rhetorical works, as well as from an innumerable amount of references to a rhetorical tradition on the period and its parts, the commata and côla, which the Neoplatonists, as this study aims to show, master and apply on their own structuring and formalization of theological content.
Grotesque and Performance in the Art of Aubrey Beardsley
Authors: Stead Evanghelia
Published: October 2024

“If I am not grotesque, I am nothing.”

This insightful study illuminates previously unexplored aspects of Aubrey Beardsley’s relationship to the grotesque and his use of media, particularly his manipulation of the periodical press. For the first time and with keen intelligence, Evanghelia Stead fully reveals the aesthetic importance of Beardsley’s Bon-Mots vignettes, as well as the relationship between Darwinism, his innovative foetus motif, and Decadence itself.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, the book calls on histories of culture and aesthetics to show how the artist reworked traditional imagery and manipulated it beyond recognition—revealing for instance the influence of cathedral grotesques on Beardsley’s own grotesque performances. Stead also demonstrates his major impact on Italian, French, American and German creative minds through the periodical press.

Rich in original thought and detailed, comparative analysis, this book is an invigorating and enlightening read for scholars of Aubrey Beardsley, as well as for anyone interested in nineteenth-century visual culture, art history, art criticism, print culture, illustration, grotesque iconography, and cultural history.
1. Grotesque Vignettes and the “All Margin” Book
Authors: Stead Evanghelia
Published: October 2024

Chapter 1, Grotesque Vignettes and the Book “All Margin,” showcases the vignettes decking three tiny volumes of witticisms known as Bon-Mots, which Beardsley illustrated in 1893–94 on the side of his major commission for Le Morte Darthur. The chapter argues that the foundational spirit of such an early grotesque nucleus in the artist’s work has been unduly neglected and discusses its meaning, uses and origins. It flags up the grotesque vignettes, set in a variety of paradoxes and plays on words, as a crucible of themes and graphic styles. They free Beardsley from influences, supply him with flexible penmanship, and stimulate new relations of art with language. The chapter shows how Beardsley treats closely contemporaneous artworks (Pre-Raphaelites, Whistler, Redon) with subversive brio; how he remodels the earlier grotesque tradition beyond recognition; how he relates calligraphic grotesques to adjacent quips and stresses the relation between grotesque vignettes and bodies. Marginal creation becomes central in fin-de-siècle print culture with Beardsley contributing to wry illustration and down-to-earth use of language. The paradigm spreads to the illustrated press. It bridges print categories, bringing bibelot refined booklets alongside periodicals, and inventively illustrates the witty idea of a book “all margin.”
3. A Dandy’s Portico of Portraits
Authors: Stead Evanghelia
Published: October 2024

Chapter 3, A Dandy’s Portico of Portraits, links Beardsley’s early grotesque work with his monstrous self-portraits – dandified attitudes based on aplomb, caprice, and nerve. His mischievous, progressively scandalous representations and postures taunted critics and spread rumours. His self-portraits in the Yellow Book and the Savoy, defiantly monstrous yet subtly jesting, encouraged parody and imitation, examined here through differential comparison. Deliberately placing himself at the periphery of cultural monuments (books or cathedrals), he inversed the relationship between whole and part and the ancient practice of artisans’ “signature” on minsters. The chapter sees in Frederick H. Evans’s photographs of Beardsley as a cathedral grotesque and a gargoyle a climactic expression heralding body art. The wit of this offbeat series of depictions, fantasised or ludicrous images of the self, against an explicit background of monstrosity, calls for a revision of assumptions and cultural hierarchies. Book and cathedral appear in typical fin-de-siècle form, the first swapped for ephemeral periodicals, the second a fragile minster conquered by its anomalous parts.
Multidecadal Sea Level Prediction Using Neural Networks and Spectral Clustering on Climate Model Large Ensembles and Satellite Altimeter Data
Authors: Sinha Saumya , Fasullo John , Nerem R. Steven , Monteleoni Claire
Published: October 2024

Sea surface height observations provided by satellite altimetry since 1993 show a rising rate (3.4 mm yr−1) for global mean sea level. While on average, sea level has risen 10 cm over the last 30 years, there is considerable regional variation in the sea level change. Through this work, we predict sea level trends 30 years into the future at a 2° spatial resolution and investigate the future patterns of the sea level change. We show the potential of machine learning (ML) in this challenging application of long-term sea level forecasting over the global ocean. Our approach incorporates sea level data from both altimeter observations and climate model simulations. We develop a supervised learning framework using fully connected neural networks (FCNNs) that can predict the sea level trend based on climate model projections. Alongside this, our method provides uncertainty estimates associated with the ML prediction. We also show the effectiveness of partitioning our spatial dataset and learning a dedicated ML model for each segmented region. We compare two partitioning strategies: one achieved using domain knowledge and the other employing spectral clustering. Our results demonstrate that segmenting the spatial dataset with spectral clustering improves the ML predictions.

Significance Statement

Long-term projections are needed to help coastal communities adapt to sea level rise. Forecasting multidecadal sea level change is a complex problem. In this paper, we show the promise of machine learning in producing such forecasts 30 years in advance and over the global ocean. Continued improvements in prediction skills that build on this work will be vital in sea level rise adaptation efforts.
Exploring Connections Between Living Situations and Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices for People With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Plenn Eion , Long Calista , Acri Samantha , Richardson Cheryl
Published: October 2024

Objective

Antipsychotic prescribing practices in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) have sparked growing concerns about appropriateness and potential risks. The connection between living situations and antipsychotic prescribing practices in this population is a crucial but underexplored area. This study aims to investigate the association between living situation and antipsychotic prescriptions among people with ID.

Methods

This retrospective chart review included 112 adults with ID who received care from 2019 to 2021. The investigation examined participants' living situations and assessed antipsychotic prescription rates, antipsychotic class, the presence of a corresponding mental health diagnoses, and polypharmacy. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate tests to assess the relationship between living situations and antipsychotic prescriptions, controlling for relevant covariates.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between living situation and antipsychotic prescriptions (p < 0.05), with patients in non‐familial support homes and group homes more likely to receive antipsychotics. However, multivariate analysis did not confirm this association after adjusting for other variables. Male gender (OR = 4.207, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.721–10.286) and total medication count (OR = 1.101, 95% CI 1.038–1.169) emerged as significant predictors of antipsychotic prescriptions.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the complexity of antipsychotic prescribing practices among people with ID. While living situation initially appeared to influence prescription patterns, multivariate analysis suggests the importance of considering other factors. Gender and medication count emerge as significant predictors, underscoring the need for tailored interventions and closer monitoring in this population.
Wasted? The Downstream Effects of Social Movement–Backed Occupations
Authors: Augustine Grace , Hedberg Leanne , Choi Tae-Ung , Lounsbury Michael
Published: October 2024

Studies examining the impact of social movements on organizations have focused primarily on what leads to initial concessions in response to movement targeting. A key remaining question is what comes next, or how do movement priorities become institutionalized within organizations and across fields via downstream processes? We argue that central actors in these downstream efforts are members of occupations that have been created out of movement pressure on organizations. In this study, we examine the longitudinal evolution of a movement-backed occupation: recycling coordinators in higher education. By conducting historical, processual analyses of 25 years of online conversations among over 1,000 recycling coordinators, we identify three key tensions they faced in trying to embed practices and an ethos from the environmental movement and in trying to progress their organizations toward evolving movement concerns (from recycling to sustainability). We uncover how the coordinators navigated these tensions, finding that while they succeeded in institutionalizing recycling and expanding their organizations toward a new wave of movement concerns regarding sustainability, their occupation nonetheless experienced demise. Our findings set the foundation for future research on the downstream efforts and occupational actors that are vital for institutionalizing movement demands.
Government-Business Relations in Policymaking During the New Order Indonesia
Authors: Kase Petrus
Published: October 2024

Government–business relations have been central to general discussions on policymaking in democratic states. This study analyzes government–business relations in policymaking during economic booms and crises in New Order Indonesia (March 1966–May 1998). The analysis is based on pluralist, state autonomy, and capacity theories, and critical discourse analysis is applied to textual sources to reveal the historical dimensions of policymaking during the economic booms and downturns under the New Order Indonesia. The findings show that policymaking during these periods was characterized by complex, dialectical, and dynamic relations between the government and businesses.
Utilizing intricate care networks: An ethnography of patients and families navigating palliative care in a resource-limited setting
Authors: Wicaksono Raditya Bagas , Muhaimin Amalia , Willems Dick L , Pols Jeannette
Published: October 2024

Background:

The increase in non-communicable disease burdens and aging populations has led to a rise in the need for palliative care across settings. In resource-limited settings such as Indonesia, however, notably in rural areas, there is a lack of professional palliative care. Little is known about specific palliative care navigation, as previous studies have mostly focused on cancer care navigation. A locally tailored approach is crucial.

Aim:

To explore how patients and families navigate palliative care and the problems they experience.

Design:

An ethnographic study using in-depth interviews and observations, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Setting/participants:

Interviews with 49 participants (patients, family caregivers, and health professionals) and 12 patient-family unit observations in Banyumas, Indonesia.

The analysis:

Patients and families navigated palliative care through different strategies: (1) helping themselves, (2) utilizing complementary and alternative medicine, (3) avoiding discussing psychological issues, (4) mobilizing a compassionate and advocating community, and (5) seeking spiritual care through religious practices.

Conclusions:

Our participants used intricate care networks despite limited resources in navigating palliative care. Several problems were rooted in barriers in the healthcare system and a lack of palliative care awareness among the general public. Local primary health centers could be potential palliative care leaders by building upon pre-existing programs and involving community health volunteers. Cultivating a shared philosophy within the community could strengthen care collaboration and support.
Classification of amyloidosis and protein misfolding disorders in animals 2024: A review on pathology and diagnosis
Authors: Iwaide Susumu , Murakami Tomoaki , Sedghi Masoud Niki , Kobayashi Natsumi , Fortin Jessica S. , Miyahara Hiroki , Higuchi Keiichi , Chambers James K.
Published: October 2024

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which proteins become amyloid, an insoluble fibrillar aggregate, resulting in organ dysfunction. Amyloid deposition has been reported in various animal species. To diagnose and understand the pathogenesis of amyloidosis, it is important to identify the amyloid precursor protein involved in each disease. Although 42 amyloid precursor proteins have been reported in humans, little is known about amyloidosis in animals, except for a few well-described amyloid proteins, including amyloid A (AA), amyloid light chain (AL), amyloid β (Aβ), and islet amyloid polypeptide-derived amyloid. Recently, several types of novel amyloidosis have been identified in animals using immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry–based proteomic analysis. Certain species are predisposed to specific types of amyloidosis, suggesting a genetic background for its pathogenesis. Age-related amyloidosis has also emerged due to the increased longevity of captive animals. In addition, experimental studies have shown that some amyloids may be transmissible. Accurate diagnosis and understanding of animal amyloidosis are necessary for appropriate therapeutic intervention and comparative pathological studies. This review provides an updated classification of animal amyloidosis, including associated protein misfolding disorders of the central nervous system, and the current understanding of their pathogenesis. Pathologic features are presented together with state-of-the-art diagnostic methods that can be applied for routine diagnosis and identification of novel amyloid proteins in animals.
The effect of geraniol on nickel-induced embryotoxicity and cardiotoxicity in rats
Authors: Tavakoli Pirzaman Ali , Sadeghnezhad Ghazaleh , Azmoun Zahra , Eslami Amirreza , Mansoori Razieh , Kazemi Sohrab , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad
Published: October 2024

Background

Nickel (Ni), commonly-used heavy metals in industrial activities, can lead to embryo and organ toxicity, especially cardiovascular damage. Geraniol (GER) has various beneficial effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective activities.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of GER on Ni-induced embryotoxicity and cardiotoxicity in rats.

Methods

40 mother Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, GER 250, Ni, Ni + GER 100, and Ni + GER 250. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the animals were sacrificed and fetuses along with blood and tissue samples were collocated for morphological, serological, biochemical, and histopathologic analysis.

Results

Morphological assessments revealed GER’s capacity to mitigate the incomplete ossification of fetal skeletons, indicating a potential safeguarding against the impact of Ni-induced embryotoxicity. Serological and biochemical analyses further affirm GER’s role, with noteworthy reductions in cardiac injury markers, such as CRP, CKMB, CPK, LDH, and troponin, in response to GER administration, thereby suggesting its cardioprotective potential. Moreover, treatment with GER 250 could significantly reduce the level of MDA and increase the level of TAC compared to the Ni group. Histopathological examinations corroborated these findings, underscoring GER’s ability to counteract cardiac injury and diminish structural damage in affected tissue.

Conclusions

These multidimensional analyses indicate the protective prowess of GER against Ni-induced embryotoxic and cardiotoxic effects, shedding light on its potential therapeutic significance in combating adverse impacts stemming from Ni exposure.
Study on the effect of mitigation strategies for rail corrugation in metro lines
Authors: Faccini Leonardo , Di Gialleonardo Egidio , Collina Andrea , Verdoliva Francesco
Published: October 2024

Rail corrugation appears as a periodic irregularity on the rail running surface that causes severe dynamic loads at the wheel-rail interface. These dynamic forces may generate ground-borne vibrations that propagate from the line to the surrounding buildings causing discomfort to residents. Rail grinding is the most used countermeasure for the mitigation of corrugation. However, this maintenance operation determines high operative costs if frequently performed and must be carefully scheduled. To this end, it is important to assess the effectiveness of other mitigation solutions that may prevent or slow down its growth. The main objective of this study is to investigate the formation of rail corrugation on a sharp curve of the Cityringen underground line in Copenhagen. A wheel-rail interaction model is developed in the frequency domain to identify the root causes of the problem on the specific curve and predict the corrugation wavelength. Once the accuracy of the model is tested against experimental observations on the reference curve, it is used to explore the effectiveness of different mitigation actions, such as the use of friction modifiers, the variation of the speed, track design and track gauge. The results indicate that friction modifiers and speed variation are the most effective measures.