bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migration of Telugu Catholics in Madras Presidency – ce 1780–1910
Authors: Joseph Martin
Published: March 2024

The Catholic dioceses of Madras-Mylapore and Chingleput are home to 44 Telugu Catholic villages. These villages were established between 1780 and 1910 by Telugu Catholics who migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu. This article delves into archival materials to trace the origins and destinations of these migrants, the factors that prompted their migration, the key protagonists and institutions involved, the caste dynamics at play, the assimilation process, and the contributions they made to the local society from a historical perspective. While this article primarily focuses on research about early colonial peasant migrations, it also explores the micro history of the Telugu community, offering insights into the challenges faced by contemporary migrations, including issues of land ownership, citizenship, and identity crisis. Furthermore, it analyses the post-migration environment, highlighting the social interactions, as well as the cultural, religious, and spiritual experiences of these communities. This analysis aims to demonstrate how these Telugu communities have successfully assimilated into the local society while preserving their unique identities.
A new species of the genus Macronychus Müller, 1806 from China (Coleoptera, Elmidae)
Authors: JIANG RI-XIN , CHEN XIANG-SHENG
Published: March 2024

Macronychus xuhaoi sp. nov., a new species of the genus Macronychus Müller, 1806 is described from Xizang, Southwest China. The new species belongs to Macrynychus quadriluberculatus species group. Habitus and other diagnostic features of the new species are described and illustrated.
Delivering an Improved Framework for the New Generation of CMIP6-Driven EURO-CORDEX Regional Climate Simulations
Authors: Katragkou E. , Sobolowski S. P. , Teichmann C. , Solmon F. , Pavlidis V. , Rechid D. , Hoffmann P. , Fernandez J. , Nikulin G. , Jacob D.
Published: March 2024

The Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) is a coordinated international activity that has produced ensembles of regional climate simulations with domains that cover all land areas of the world. These ensembles are used by a wide range of practitioners that include the scientific community, policymakers, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors. They also provide the scientific basis for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-Assessment Reports. As its next phase now launches, the CMIP6-CORDEX datasets are expected to populate community repositories over the next couple of years, with updated state-of-the-art regional climate data that will further support national and regional communities and inform their climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The protocol presented here focuses on the European domain (EURO-CORDEX). It takes the international CORDEX protocol covering all 14 global domains as its template. However, it expands on the international protocol in specific areas; incorporates historical and projected aerosol trends into the regional models in a consistent way with CMIP6 global climate models, to allow for a better comparison of global versus regional trends; produces more climate variables to better support sectorial climate impact assessments; and takes into account the recent scientific developments addressed in the CORDEX Flagship Pilot Studies, enabling a better assessment of processes and phenomena relevant to regional climate (e.g., land-use change, aerosol, convection, and urban environment). Here, we summarize the scientific analysis which led to the new simulation protocol and highlight the improvements we expect in the new generation regional climate ensemble.
Water Vapor Lidar Observation and Data Assimilation for a Moist Low-Level Jet Triggering a Mesoscale Convective System
Authors: Yoshida Satoru , Sakai Tetsu , Nagai Tomohiro , Ikuta Yasutaka , Kato Teruyuki , Shiraishi Koichi , Kato Ryohei , Seko Hiromu
Published: March 2024

We conducted field observations using two water vapor Raman lidars (RLs) in Kyushu, Japan, to clarify the characteristics of a moist low-level jet (MLLJ), which plays a fundamental role in the formation and maintenance of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The two RLs observed the inside and outside of an MLLJ, providing moisture to an MCS with local heavy precipitation on 9 July 2021. Our observations revealed that the MLLJ contained large amounts of moisture below the convective mixing layer height of 1.6 km. The large amount of moisture in the MLLJ might be intensified by low-level convergences and/or water vapor buoyancy facilitated by strong horizontal wind. We conducted four data assimilation experiments: CNTL that assimilated Japan Meteorological Agency operational observation data and three other experiments that ingested the lidar-derived vertical moisture profiles as well as the operational observation data. The experiments assimilating lidar-derived vertical moisture profiles caused intensification and southwestward extensions of the low-level convergence zone, resulting in local heavy precipitation at lower latitudes in experiments assimilating lidar-derived moisture profiles than in CNTL. All three experiments ingesting vertical moisture profiles generally produced better 9-h precipitation forecasts than CNTL, implying that the assimilation of vertical moisture profiles could be well suited for numerical weather prediction of local heavy precipitation. Moreover, the experiment assimilating both of the two RL sites’ data reproduced better forecast fields than experiments assimilating a single RL site’s data, implying that data assimilation of vertical moisture profiles at multiple RL sites enables us to improve initial conditions compared to a single RL site.

Significance Statement

Moist low-level jets (MLLJs) are moisture-rich airflows in the low-level atmosphere that play an important role in developing mesoscale convective systems and local heavy rainfall. To better understand the mechanisms affecting the development of local heavy rainfall events and to improve our ability to forecast them, studying the moisture structures in MLLJs is important. We succeeded in observing an MLLJ in western Japan using water vapor Raman lidars (RLs), which obtained vertical moisture profiles, and revealed details of vertical moisture structures in the MLLJ. We also performed data assimilation experiments to examine the impact of assimilating vertical moisture profiles observed by the RLs. The results showed that the assimilation of the moisture data improved the forecasting of local heavy rainfall.
The wealth of nations matters: A cross-national analysis of how political orientation and household income affect attitudes toward environmental protection
Authors: Cichocki Piotr , Jabkowski Piotr , Baranowski Mariusz
Published: March 2024

The article investigates normative preferences for environmental protection over economic growth registered in 74 countries—based on the European Values Study and the World Value Survey (2017–2022). We employ multi-level logistic regression to demonstrate that Gross Domestic Product per capita moderates the effects of political orientation and household income, both of which tend to be stronger in wealthier countries. Only in wealthy societies are left-leaning and affluent individuals far more likely to prefer environmental protection. Not accounting for moderation leads to underestimating the propensity for political polarization over environmental questions. Hence, our study suggests that large-scale implementation of growth-impeding or wealth-sacrificing environmental policies could face insurmountable public opposition in wealthy societies. Furthermore, failing to account for the moderation by GDP per capita in cross-national studies of environmental attitudes may constitute a confounding factor by aggregating wealthier countries, where the effects of political orientation and household income prove substantial, with the poorer ones, where they appear negligible.
Changes that stick
Authors: Lentz Arielle , Desimone Laura , Stornaiuolo Amy , Pak Katie , Flores Nelson , Nichols Philip , Polikoff Morgan , Porter Andy
Published: March 2024

Many education leaders may wonder how to implement sustainable policy changes that will benefit youth, families, and the community. Arielle Lentz, Laura Desimone, Amy Stornaiuolo, Katie Pak, Nelson Flores, Philip Nichols, Morgan Polikoff, and Andy Porter share findings from school change efforts in more than 170 districts in five states. They present six key strategies based on this work, and they share examples of how districts employed the success factors of specificity, consistency, power, and stability to help build authority, which in turn led to successful implementation of new policies, curriculums, and professional learnings.
Earth's Long-Wave Infrared: Review and Study of Scalable Applications
Authors: Yadong Zhou , Shibin Pan , Hongjian Ge , Shengbo Wang
Published: March 2024

The Earth's infrared energy storage is substantial, and its large-scale utilization could effectively ameliorate the greenhouse effect on Earth. Several applications of utilizing Earth's infrared radiation for cooling and power generation are summarized based on existing literature. Building upon this foundation, the use of water as an excellent energy storage medium is proposed, and a long-wave energy storage system is designed. This system can harness the immense energy density of long-wave infrared radiation with fixed bandwidth or wavelength. A comprehensive study on large-scale application is outlined in four aspects, leveraging the energy storage and radiation advantages of the system: (a) Long-wave infrared is efficiently transported using hollow glass infrared fibers for room cooling and heating. This addresses the issues of separate terminals for capillary radiation air conditioning, high costs, and maintenance challenges. (b) Building on existing literature, taking Hainan as an example, the utilization of a temperature difference of approximately 15 °C between the lowest and highest temperatures in a day for power generation is suggested. (c) The composition and structure of planar antennas are derived, and parameter selection for rectifying diodes is proposed based on radiation fluctuation theory and antenna theory. This lays a theoretical and practical foundation for converting long-wave radiation waves using rectifying antennas. (d) The long-wave radiation quantum theory is utilized to propose the concept of manufacturing components that can directly convert energy from long-wave radiation. In each of these four aspects of large-scale utilization, the emphasis is on water's excellent insulation, storage, and radiation properties, presenting new perspectives for the widespread utilization of Earth's infrared and offering a quick pathway for humanity to explore new energy sources and mitigate the greenhouse effect on Earth, facilitating a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
5-Year Radiographic and Functional Outcomes of Nonoperative Treatment of Completely Displaced Midshaft Clavicular Fractures in Teenagers
Authors: Polinsky Samuel G. , Edmonds Eric W. , Bastrom Tracey P. , Manhard Claire E. , Heyworth Benton E. ,   FACTS Study Group:, Bae Donald S. , Busch Michael T. , Ellis Henry B. , Hergott Katelyn , Kocher Mininder S. , Li Ying , Nepple Jeffrey J. , Pandya Nirav K. , Perkins Crystal , Sabatini Coleen S. , Spence David D. , Willimon Samuel C. , Wilson Philip L. , Pennock Andrew T.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Optimal treatment of completely displaced midshaft clavicular fractures in adolescents remains controversial, with some favoring surgical management and others favoring a nonoperative approach. Few studies have comprehensively assessed longer-term nonoperative outcomes.

Purpose:

To prospectively assess patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and radiographic remodeling ≥5 years after injury in teenagers undergoing nonoperative treatment of completely displaced clavicular fractures.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Adolescent patients previously enrolled in a prospective study from a single institution with nonoperatively treated, completely displaced midshaft clavicular fractures ≥5 years from injury were eligible for the study. Patients were clinically evaluated for scapular dyskinesia and strength deficits. Bilateral clavicular imaging assessed residual shortening, displacement, and angulation. PROs included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), Marx Shoulder Activity Scale, cosmesis, and return to sports data.

Results:

A total of 24 patients were available for the follow-up, of whom 17 (71%) consented to additional imaging. The mean cohort age at the time of injury was 14.5 ± 1.1 years, with 88% being male. At a mean follow-up of 6.1 years, all fractures had healed, with no patient requiring secondary interventions. Significant remodeling was observed across all measurements, with improvements of 70% in shortening (22.8 to 6.8 mm; P < .001), 73% in superior displacement (13.4 to 3.6 mm; P < .001), and 83% in angulation (10.4° to 1.8°; P < .001). Thirteen patients (72%) had a >2-cm initial shortening, and all remodeled to <2 cm. PROs were almost universally excellent, with mean ASES, QuickDASH, and Marx activity scores of 99 ± 3, 1 ± 3, and 20 ± 1, respectively, with 79% of patients reporting perfect scores in all 3 domains. Most patients (58%) were completely satisfied with their shoulder appearance, 38% were more satisfied than not, 1 patient (4%) was neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and no patients were dissatisfied. All patients except 1 who were interested in sports returned to sporting activities. PROs were not associated with bony remodeling ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

Teenaged patients with completely displaced clavicular fractures treated nonoperatively can expect excellent radiographic and clinical outcomes 5 years after injury.
‘Legal Marriage is Paperwork Day’: Independent Celebrant-Led Wedding Ceremonies as a Critical Institutional Response to Changing Social Norms
Authors: Blake Sharon
Published: March 2024

Informed by a critical institutional perspective, in this article attention is turned to the choice to have an independent celebrant-led wedding ceremony in England or Wales. As these ceremonies fall outside the current legal framework, it explores how the decision to have a further wedding ceremony in addition to a legally binding wedding may indicate a weakening of legal marriage norms. Triangulating data collected from three focus groups attended by 19 celebrants, with seven semi-structured interviews with individuals who have had an independent celebrant-led wedding ceremony, two key themes are described. First, a mismatch between legal norms which expect marrying couples to take a passive detached role and an expressed desire for ceremonial autonomy including familiarity with the marriage celebrant. Second, a lack of awareness of what legal marriage involves and perceptions of legal formalities as akin to an administrative process which may be easing their separation from ceremonial rites perceived to be meaningful. Further studies with larger samples are needed to determine the extent to which personal and communal validity rather than legal validity constitutes the social institutional form of marriage.
Retail Platform Analytics: Practice, Literature, and Future Research
Authors: Li Meng , Li Tao , Yu Lili
Published: March 2024

The explosive growth of retail platforms over the past decade has resulted in a significant amount of customer and seller data that can be leveraged for advanced business analytics. As a result, the management of retail platforms with business analytics capabilities has garnered increased attention in the field of operations management. Despite the recognition of the importance of business analytics techniques for retail platforms, a systematic study of their operations is lacking in the literature. Based on our observations of the industrial practice and understanding of the academic literature, we attempt to address this gap by proposing a framework that broadly categorizes retail platform management into three key themes: demand-side management, supply-side management, and matching. For each theme, we identify critical topics, discuss the current practices of platforms, and review relevant literature. We also propose future research questions with directions for the initial modeling and solution strategy, together with applicable data sources and potential insights. At last, to facilitate future research, we provide a roadmap and datasets for further exploration of business analytics applications of retail platforms. Overall, this paper lays a strong foundation for researchers to delve deeper into the exciting and constantly evolving field of retail platform analytics.
“I Need Help With the Abortion, so I Won’t Have to Ever See or Hear From Him Again”: Relationship Barriers Faced by Abortion Fund Applicants in the Rocky Mountain West
Authors: Liddell Jessica L. , Buscaglia Alex , Doria Celina M. , Weekley Alison , Mascarena Laila
Published: March 2024

To explore the factors impacting abortion access for abortion fund clients, data from 816 applicants was analyzed using a summative content analysis approach. Nine relationship themes emerged for applicants who cited their partner as a significant factor in their abortion decision-making, including (a) power and control, (b) fear and safety concerns, (c) leaving the relationship, (d) barriers to accessing care, (e) sexual violence, (f) perpetration and victimization, (g) having an unsupportive partner, (h) being partnerless, and (i) having a supportive partner. Abortion funds are a potential resource for those experiencing intimate partner violence and can support survivors through confidential care and referrals.
Reflexive Content Analysis: An Approach to Qualitative Data Analysis, Reduction, and Description
Authors: Nicmanis Mitchell
Published: March 2024

Content analysis, initially a quantitative technique for identifying patterns in qualitative data, has evolved into a widely used qualitative method. However, this evolution has resulted in a confusing array of differing qualitative content analysis approaches that lack clear distinction from other methods. To address these issues, this paper introduces reflexive content analysis, a transtheoretical and flexible researcher-oriented method for the description and reduction of manifest qualitative data. RCA is used to identify patterns in the overt surface meanings of qualitative data through the use of a hierarchical structure of quantifiable analytical strata called codes, subcategories, and categories. Each stratum exists on a continuum of abstraction with codes being the closest to the original data and categories being the most abstract. During each stage of the RCA process, reflexivity is regarded as a valuable analytical resource that is crucial for ensuring adequate description of the data. RCA is intended to be used as method for data analysis, not a methodology, and therefore can be integrated with various methodological and epistemological approaches. This paper provides an introductory guide to conducting RCA. It first presents an overview of existing challenges in qualitative content analysis methods, followed by a rationale for the development of RCA. Then, the foundational principles of RCA and key concepts that support this method are discussed. The paper culminates by outlining the process for conducting an inductive RCA within a qualitative framework, using a previous application of this method as a reference point.
Acellular Aragonite-Based Scaffold for the Treatment of Joint Surface Lesions of the Knee: A Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: de Caro Francesca , Vuylsteke Kristien , Van Genechten Wouter , Verdonk Peter
Published: March 2024

Objective

A novel aragonite-based scaffold has been developed. In this study, mid-term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results on 12 patients affected by isolated chondral or osteochondral lesions of the knee treated by the scaffold implantation have been evaluated at a mean follow-up of 6.5 (range: 5-8) years.

Design

The study population consisted of 3 females and 9 males, mean age 34.4 (20-51) years. The lesion was located on the medial femoral condyle, the trochlea, and the lateral femoral condyle in 5, 5, and 2 patients, respectively. In all cases, a single lesion over grade 3 of the International Cartilage Restoration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) classification was treated: in 9 cases by implantation of one plug, and in 2 cases with 2 plugs; the mean size of the lesion was 2.5 cm2 (1-7).

Results

One patient failed and was revised with a custom-made metal implant (Episealer). Overall, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) significantly improved from 45 ± 13 preoperatively to 86 ± 13 at final follow-up. All KOOS subscales improved significantly: pain subscale increased from 48 ± 12 to 92 ± 11; symptoms from 66 ± 13 to 91 ± 13; activity of daily living (ADL) from 60 ± 19 to 90 ± 21; sport from 23 ± 20 to 75 ± 20; finally, quality of life (QoL) increased from 27 ± 14 to 77 ± 19. Long-term MRI MOCART score was 64.

Conclusions

This study shows continued significant clinical improvement and good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with a minimum 5 years follow-up after implantation of a novel aragonite derived scaffold for the treatment of cartilage lesions of the knee. One patient failed and was revised with a custom-made metal implant (Episealer).
i5mC-DCGA: an improved hybrid network framework based on the CBAM attention mechanism for identifying promoter 5mC sites
Authors: Jia Jianhua , Lei Rufeng , Qin Lulu , Wei Xin
Published: March 2024

Background

5-Methylcytosine (5mC) plays a very important role in gene stability, transcription, and development. Therefore, accurate identification of the 5mC site is of key importance in genetic and pathological studies. However, traditional experimental methods for identifying 5mC sites are time-consuming and costly, so there is an urgent need to develop computational methods to automatically detect and identify these 5mC sites.

Results

Deep learning methods have shown great potential in the field of 5mC sites, so we developed a deep learning combinatorial model called i5mC-DCGA. The model innovatively uses the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to improve the Dense Convolutional Network (DenseNet), which is improved to extract advanced local feature information. Subsequently, we combined a Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU) and a Self-Attention mechanism to extract global feature information. Our model can learn feature representations of abstract and complex from simple sequence coding, while having the ability to solve the sample imbalance problem in benchmark datasets. The experimental results show that the i5mC-DCGA model achieves 97.02%, 96.52%, 96.58% and 85.58% in sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), accuracy (Acc) and matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), respectively.

Conclusions

The i5mC-DCGA model outperforms other existing prediction tools in predicting 5mC sites, and it is currently the most representative promoter 5mC site prediction tool. The benchmark dataset and source code for the i5mC-DCGA model can be found in https://github.com/leirufeng/i5mC-DCGA.
Uncovering the complexity of childhood undernutrition through strain-level analysis of the gut microbiome
Authors: Chang Bingmei , Zhang Wenjie , Wang Yinan , Zhang Yuanzheng , Zhong Shilin , Gao Peng , Wang Lili , Zhao Zicheng
Published: March 2024

Background

Undernutrition (UN) is a critical public health issue that threatens the lives of children under five in developing countries. While evidence indicates the crucial role of the gut microbiome (GM) in UN pathogenesis, the strain-level inspection and bacterial co-occurrence network investigation in the GM of UN children are lacking.

Results

This study examines the strain compositions of the GM in 61 undernutrition patients (UN group) and 36 healthy children (HC group) and explores the topological features of GM co-occurrence networks using a complex network strategy. The strain-level annotation reveals that the differentially enriched species between the UN and HC groups are due to discriminated strain compositions. For example, Prevotella copri is mainly composed of P. copri ASM1680343v1 and P. copri ASM345920v1 in the HC group, but it is composed of P. copri ASM346549v1 and P. copri ASM347465v1 in the UN group. In addition, the UN-risk model constructed at the strain level demonstrates higher accuracy (AUC = 0.810) than that at the species level (AUC = 0.743). With complex network analysis, we further discovered that the UN group had a more complex GM co-occurrence network, with more hub bacteria and a higher clustering coefficient but lower information transfer efficiencies. Moreover, the results at the strain level suggested the inaccurate and even false conclusions obtained from species level analysis.

Conclusions

Overall, this study highlights the importance of examining the GM at the strain level and investigating bacterial co-occurrence networks to advance our knowledge of UN pathogenesis.
Transcriptome and metabolome profiling reveal the effects of hormones on current-year shoot growth in Chinese ‘Cuiguan’ pear grafted onto vigorous rootstock ‘Duli’ and dwarf rootstock ‘Quince A’
Authors: Liang Zhenxu , Wang Qinghua , Sun Mingde , Du Ruirui , Jin Wanmei , Liu Songzhong
Published: March 2024

Background

Dwarf rootstocks have important practical significance for high-density planting in pear orchards. The shoots of ‘Cuiguan’ grafted onto the dwarf rootstock were shorter than those grafted onto the vigorous rootstock. However, the mechanism of shorter shoot formation is not clear.

Results

In this study, the current-year shoot transcriptomes and phytohormone contents of ‘CG‒QA’ (‘Cuiguan’ was grafted onto ‘Quince A’, and ‘Hardy’ was used as interstock) and ‘CG‒DL’ (‘Cuiguan’ was grafted onto ‘Duli’, and ‘Hardy’ was used as interstock) were compared. The transcriptome results showed that a total of 452 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 248 downregulated genes and 204 upregulated genes; the plant hormone signal transduction and zeatin biosynthesis pathways were significantly enriched in the top 20 KEGG enrichment terms. Abscisic acid (ABA) was the most abundant hormone in ‘CG‒QA’ and ‘CG‒DL’; auxin and cytokinin (CTK) were the most diverse hormones; additionally, the contents of ABA, auxin, and CTK in ‘CG‒DL’ were higher than those in ‘CG‒QA’, while the fresh shoot of ‘CG‒QA’ accumulated more gibberellin (GA) and salicylic acid (SA). Metabolome and transcriptome co-analysis identified three key hormone-related DEGs, of which two (Aldehyde dehydrogenase gene ALDH3F1 and YUCCA2) were upregulated and one (Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase gene CKX3) was downregulated.

Conclusions

Based on the results of transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis, we found that auxin and CTK mainly regulated the shoot differences of ‘CG–QA’ and ‘CG–DL’, and other hormones such as ABA, GA, and SA synergistically regulated this process. Three hormone-related genes ALDH3F1, YUCCA2, and CKX3 were the key genes contributing to the difference in shoot growth between ‘CG–QA’ and ‘CG–DL’ pear. This research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying shoot shortening after grafted onto dwarf rootstocks.
The effects of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery with Trendelenburg position on short-term postoperative respiratory diaphragmatic function
Authors: Xue Shuo , Wang Dan , Tu Hong-Qin , Gu Xiao-Ping , Ma Zheng-Liang , Liu Yue , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2024

Objective

To study how Pneumoperitoneum under Trendelenburg position for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery impact the perioperative respiratory parameters, diagrammatic function, etc.

Methods

Patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in the Trendelenburg position and patients undergoing general surgery in the supine position were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the type of surgery: robot-assisted surgery group and general surgery group. ① Respiratory parameters such as lung compliance, oxygenation index, and airway pressure were recorded at 5 min after intubation, 1 and 2 h after pneumoperitoneum. ② Diaphragm excursion (DE) and diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) were recorded before entering the operating room (T1), immediately after extubation (T2), 10 min after extubation (T3), and upon leaving the postanesthesia care unit (T4). ③ Peripheral venous blood (5 ml) was collected before surgery and 30 min after extubation and was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the serum concentration of Clara cell secretory protein 16 (CC16) and surfactant protein D (SP-D).

Result

① Compared with the general surgery group (N = 42), the robot-assisted surgery group (N = 46) presented a significantly higher airway pressure and lower lung compliance during the surgery(P < 0.001). ② In the robot-assisted surgery group, the DE significantly decreased after surgery (P < 0.001), which persisted until patients were discharged from the PACU (P < 0.001), whereas the DTF only showed a transient decrease postoperatively (P < 0.001) and returned to its preoperative levels at discharge (P = 0.115). In the general surgery group, the DE showed a transient decrease after surgery(P = 0.011) which recovered to the preoperative levels at discharge (P = 1). No significant difference in the DTF was observed among T1, T2, T3, and T4. ③ Both the general and robot-assisted surgery reduced the postoperative serum levels of SP-D (P < 0.05), while the robot-assisted surgery increased the postoperative levels of CC16 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery significantly impairs postoperative diaphragm function, which does not recover to preoperative levels at PACU discharge. Elevated levels of serum CC16 after surgery suggest potential lung injury. The adverse effects may be attributed to the prolonged Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery.
Transvenous endocardial pacing with SelectSecure™ 3830 lead in pediatric patients: case series of two infants and a literature review
Authors: Yang Chuan , Qi Jing , Alam Mahmood , Zou Deling
Published: March 2024

Background

The SelectSecure™ 3830 lead is an innovative, lumenless, and thin active fixed lead with a nonretractable screw-in tip and a diameter of 4.1 Fr, making it the thinnest pacing lead available. Its high anti-extrusion properties and durability have shown favorable outcomes in cardiac pacing, especially in pediatric patients. The superfine design and easy implantation of the lead have rendered it a preferred choice in children, particularly in cases of congenital heart disease.

Case presentation

This case series presents two infant patients who underwent transvenous endocardial pacing using the SelectSecure™ 3830 lead, along with a comprehensive literature review on the topic. The study followed the patients for 5 years and 3 years, respectively, and observed stable pacing parameters, indicating a positive therapeutic outcome and safety.

This article discusses the optimal age and body shape for transvenous lead implantation in infants and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of endocardial and epicardial pacing approaches. Although endocardial pacing offers several benefits such as minimal trauma, short hospital stay, and longer battery life, it may not be suitable for intracardiac shunts, and venous occlusion remains a concern. On the other hand, epicardial pacing may be considered for children with challenging endocardial access but comes with higher risk of lead failure and coronary artery compression.

This study emphasizes the importance of careful follow-up in pediatric patients with pacing, as lead failure can occur in young patients owing to growth and development, leading to syncope and battery depletion. The article also underscores the significance of selecting the appropriate pacing location to minimize the impact of cardiac function, with right ventricular septal pacing emerging as a preferable option.

Conclusions

The SelectSecure™ 3830 lead presents a promising solution for transvenous endocardial pacing in pediatric patients with high degree atrioventricular block and bradycardia, ensuring safe and effective pacing as they grow and develop.
Prognostic effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) start time and the interval between CPR to extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on patient outcomes under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a single-center, retrospective observational study
Authors: Vahedian-Azimi Amir , Hassan Ibrahim Fawzy , Rahimi-Bashar Farshid , Elmelliti Hussam , Salesi Mahmood , Alqahwachi Hazim , Albazoon Fatima , Akbar Anzila , Shehata Ahmed Labib , Ibrahim Abdulsalam Saif , Ait Hssain Ali
Published: March 2024

Background

The impact of the chronological sequence of events, including cardiac arrest (CA), initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) implementation, on clinical outcomes in patients with both out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), is still not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic effects of the time interval from collapse to start of CPR (no-flow time, NFT) and the time interval from start of CPR to implementation of ECPR (low-flow time, LFT) on patient outcomes under Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

Methods

This single-center, retrospective observational study was conducted on 48 patients with OHCA or IHCA who underwent ECMO at Hamad General Hospital (HGH), the tertiary governmental hospital of Qatar, between February 2016 and March 2020. We investigated the impact of prognostic factors such as NFT and LFT on various clinical outcomes following cardiac arrest, including 24-hour survival, 28-day survival, CPR duration, ECMO length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, hospital LOS, disability (assessed using the modified Rankin Scale, mRS), and neurological status (evaluated based on the Cerebral Performance Category, CPC) at 28 days after the CA.

Results

The results of the adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that a longer NFT was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. These outcomes included longer CPR duration (OR: 1.779, 95%CI: 1.218–2.605, P = 0.034) and decreased survival rates for ECMO at 24 h (OR: 0.561, 95%CI: 0.183–0.903, P = 0.009) and 28 days (OR: 0.498, 95%CI: 0.106–0.802, P = 0.011). Additionally, a longer LFT was found to be associated only with a higher probability of prolonged CPR (OR: 1.818, 95%CI: 1.332–3.312, P = 0.006). However, there was no statistically significant connection between either the NFT or the LFT and the improvement of disability or neurologically favorable survival after 28 days of cardiac arrest.

Conclusions

Based on our findings, it has been determined that the NFT is a more effective predictor than the LFT in assessing clinical outcomes for patients with OHCA or IHCA who underwent ECMO. This understanding of their distinct predictive abilities enables medical professionals to identify high-risk patients more accurately and customize their interventions accordingly.
Suspected geriatric onset of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a patient with comorbid bipolar disorder
Authors: Woods Joshua , Kiai Nakisa , Padhy Ranjit , Bangasan Rossano , Torrico Tyler
Published: March 2024

Background

An increasing number of adults over 60 years old are presenting with requests for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the prevalence of ADHD in older adults in geriatrics is unknown. Further, comorbid bipolar disorder and adult ADHD are likely underrecognized with many patients only receiving treatment for one of these conditions. The occurrence of bipolar disorder with geriatric onset ADHD is unknown.

Case presentation

A 64-year-old Hispanic woman with a psychiatric history of bipolar I disorder (diagnosed in early adulthood) was diagnosed with ADHD suspected of geriatric onset, and able to be successfully managed on concurrent mood stabilizers and psychostimulant medication.

Conclusions

The findings of this case report emphasize the importance of appropriately recognizing and treating comorbid ADHD and bipolar disorder in any age group, including the geriatric population for which this occurrence appears to be very rare. Additionally, this case report demonstrates the safe utilization of psychostimulant medications in a geriatric patient with bipolar disorder without inducing a manic episode or other significant adverse reactions.
Deep learning–based automatic segmentation of meningioma from T1-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI for preoperative meningioma differentiation using radiomic features
Authors: Yang Liping , Wang Tianzuo , Zhang Jinling , Kang Shi , Xu Shichuan , Wang Kezheng
Published: March 2024

Background

This study aimed to establish a dedicated deep-learning model (DLM) on routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to investigate DLM performance in automated detection and segmentation of meningiomas in comparison to manual segmentations. Another purpose of our work was to develop a radiomics model based on the radiomics features extracted from automatic segmentation to differentiate low- and high-grade meningiomas before surgery.

Materials

A total of 326 patients with pathologically confirmed meningiomas were enrolled. Samples were randomly split with a 6:2:2 ratio to the training set, validation set, and test set. Volumetric regions of interest (VOIs) were manually drawn on each slice using the ITK-SNAP software. An automatic segmentation model based on SegResNet was developed for the meningioma segmentation. Segmentation performance was evaluated by dice coefficient and 95% Hausdorff distance. Intra class correlation (ICC) analysis was applied to assess the agreement between radiomic features from manual and automatic segmentations. Radiomics features derived from automatic segmentation were extracted by pyradiomics. After feature selection, a model for meningiomas grading was built.

Results

The DLM detected meningiomas in all cases. For automatic segmentation, the mean dice coefficient and 95% Hausdorff distance were 0.881 (95% CI: 0.851–0.981) and 2.016 (95% CI:1.439–3.158) in the test set, respectively. Features extracted on manual and automatic segmentation are comparable: the average ICC value was 0.804 (range, 0.636–0.933). Features extracted on manual and automatic segmentation are comparable: the average ICC value was 0.804 (range, 0.636–0.933). For meningioma classification, the radiomics model based on automatic segmentation performed well in grading meningiomas, yielding a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.778 (95% CI: 0.701–0.856), 0.860 (95% CI: 0.722–0.908), 0.848 (95% CI: 0.715–0.903) and 0.842 (95% CI: 0.807–0.895) in the test set, respectively.

Conclusions

The DLM yielded favorable automated detection and segmentation of meningioma and can help deploy radiomics for preoperative meningioma differentiation in clinical practice.
Evaluating the consistency in different methods for measuring left atrium diameters
Authors: Yue Jun-Yan , Ji Kai , Liu Hai-Peng , Wu Qing-Wu , Liang Chang-Hua , Gao Jian-Bo
Published: March 2024

Background

The morphological information of the pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrium (LA) is of immense clinical importance for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. The aim of this study is to examine the consistency in different LA diameter measurement techniques.

Methods

Retrospective imaging data from 87 patients diagnosed with PV computed tomography angiography were included. The patients consisted of 50 males and 37 females, with an average age of (60.74 ± 8.70) years. Two physicians independently measured the anteroposterior diameter, long diameter, and transverse diameter of the LA using six different methods. Additionally, we recorded the post-processing time of the images. Physician 1 conducted measurements twice with a one-month interval between the measurements to assess intra-rater reliability. Using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the consistency of each LA diameter measurement by the two physicians was evaluated. We compared the differences in the LA diameter and the time consumed for measurements using different methods. This was done by employing the rank sum test of a randomized block design (Friedman M test) and the q test for pairwise comparisons among multiple relevant samples.

Results

(1) The consistency of the measured LA diameter by the two physicians was strong or very strong. (2) There were statistical differences in the anteroposterior diameter, long diameter, and transverse diameter of LA assessed using different methods (χ2 = 222.28, 32.74, 293.83, P < 0.001). (3) Different methods for measuring the diameters of LA required different amounts of time (χ2 = 333.10, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of left atrium (LA) diameter measurements conducted by different physicians were found to be reliable. However, the LA diameters obtained through various techniques exhibited variations. It was observed that measuring LA long diameters using only the VR (volume rendering) picture was the most clinically applicable method.
Comparison of sexual function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and carbon-ion radiotherapy for Japanese prostate cancer patients using propensity score matching
Authors: Miyazawa Yoshiyuki , Koike Hidekazu , Oka Daisuke , Kawamura Hidemasa , Kubo Nobuteru , Miyasaka Yuhei , Onishi Masahiro , Syuto Takahiro , Sekine Yoshitaka , Matsui Hiroshi , Ohno Tatsuya , Suzuki Kazuhiro
Published: March 2024

Background

The quality of life of patients is an important consideration when selecting treatments for localized prostate cancer (PCa). We retrospectively compared sexual function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) using propensity score matching.

Methods

In total, 127 Japanese PCa patients treated with RARP and 190 treated with CIRT monotherapy were evaluated. We evaluated the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) score before treatment and 12 and 24 months after treatment. After propensity score matching, data from 101 patients from each group were analyzed. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gunma University Hospital (no. IRB2020-050, 1839).

Results

After propensity score matching, the mean EPIC sexual function summary scores in the RARP and CIRT groups were 46.4 and 48.2, respectively. At 12 and 24 months after treatment, these scores were 27.9 (39.9% decrease) and 28.2 (39.2% decrease) in the RARP group and 41.4 (14.1% decrease) and 41.6 (13.7% decrease) in the CIRT group, respectively. Both groups demonstrated significantly decreased scores after 12 and 24 months of treatment compared to before treatment (all p < 0.05). At 12 and 24 months, the sexual function summary score was significantly higher in the CIRT group than in the RARP group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

There was a smaller decrease in the EPIC sexual function score in the CIRT group than in the RARP group. These results provide useful information for treatment decision-making of Japanese PCa patients.
Adverse childhood experiences, sarcopenia, and social participation in older adults: a cohort study
Authors: Huang Runnian , Li Yi , Ma Chunhua , Ren Rui , Yuan Xiaoyue , Peng Yang , Wang Difei
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To examine the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and developing sarcopenia in older adults and the modifying effects of active social participation.

Methods

This prospective cohort study used survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including baseline surveys from 2011, follow-up data from 2013, follow-up data from 2015, and information on ACEs from the 2014 Life History Survey. Information concerning 10 ACEs, including five threat-related ACEs and five deprivation-related ACEs before 17 years of age was obtained by questionnaires through face-to-face interviews. Sarcopenia status was assessed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 algorithm, consisted of low muscle mass, and low muscle strength, or poor physical performance. The relationship between ACEs, social participation, and sarcopenia was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Results

The study population comprised 6859 older adults in main analyses. Having experienced ≥ 3 ACEs led to an increased 31% risk of developing sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR]:1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.10–1.56). Participants having experienced ≥ 2 threat-related ACEs (HR:1.22, 95%CI:1.04–1.43) or deprivation-related ACEs (HR:1.22, 95%CI:1.02–1.46) had a 22% higher risk of developing sarcopenia. Active social participation significantly modified the association between ACEs (p < 0.05), especially threat-related ACEs (p < 0.05), and sarcopenia.

Conclusions

ACEs were associated with the development of sarcopenia; however, social participation had a modifying effect. These findings provide insights for early identification of vulnerable groups, advance intervention timing, and highlight the benefits of promoting active social participation among individuals with sarcopenia who have experienced ACEs.
Perceived barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Houben Famke , den Heijer Casper DJ , Dukers-Muijrers Nicole HTM , Smeets-Peels Claudia , Hoebe Christian JPA
Published: March 2024

Background

Adequate implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) in residential care facilities (RCFs) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) is crucial to safeguarding this vulnerable population. Studies in this field are scarce. This study aimed to identify perceived barriers to and facilitators of IPC among professionals working in these settings, along with recommendations to improve IPC, to inform the development of targeted interventions.

Methods

We administered an online questionnaire to 319 professionals from 16 Dutch RCFs for people with IDDs (March 2021-March 2022). Perceived multilevel barriers and facilitators (guideline, client, interpersonal, organisational, care sector, and policy level) were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (totally disagree-totally agree). Recommendations were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale (not at all helpful-extremely helpful), supplemented by an open-ended question. Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations were analysed by descriptive statistics. Open answers to recommendations were analysed through thematic coding.

Results

Barriers to IPC implementation included the client group (e.g., lack of hygiene awareness) (63%), competing values between IPC and the home-like environment (42%), high work pressure (39%), and the overwhelming quantity of IPC guidelines/protocols (33%). Facilitators included perceived social support on IPC between professionals and from supervisors (90% and 80%, respectively), procedural clarity of IPC guidelines/protocols (83%), and the sense of urgency for IPC in the organisation (74%). Main recommendations included the implementation of clear IPC policies and regulations (86%), the development of a practical IPC guideline (84%), and the introduction of structural IPC education and training programmes (for new staff members) (85%). Professionals also emphasised the need for IPC improvement efforts to be tailored to the local care context, and to involve clients and their relatives.

Conclusions

To improve IPC in disability care settings, multifaceted strategies should be adopted. Initial efforts should involve clients (and relatives), develop a practical and context-specific IPC guideline, encourage social support among colleagues through interprofessional coaching, reduce workload, and foster an IPC culture including shared responsibility within the organisation.