bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthcare resource utilisation and associated costs after low-risk pulmonary embolism: pre-specified analysis of the Home Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism (HoT-PE) study
Authors: Farmakis Ioannis T. , Kaier Klaus , Hobohm Lukas , Mohr Katharina , Valerio Luca , Barco Stefano , Konstantinides Stavros V. , Binder Harald
Published: January 2024

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and its sequelae impact healthcare systems globally. Low-risk PE patients can be managed with early discharge strategies leading to cost savings, but post-discharge costs are undetermined.

Purpose

To define healthcare resource utilisation and overall costs during follow-up of low-risk PE.

Methods

We used an incidence-based, bottom–up approach and calculated direct and indirect costs over 3-month follow-up after low-risk PE, with data from the Home Treatment of Patients with Low-Risk Pulmonary Embolism (HoT-PE) cohort study.

Results

Average 3-month costs per patient having suffered low-risk PE were 7029.62 €; of this amount, 4872.93 € were associated with PE, accounting to 69.3% of total costs. Specifically, direct costs totalled 3019.33 €, and of those, 862.64 € (28.6%) were associated with PE. Anticoagulation (279.00 €), rehospitalisations (296.83 €), and ambulatory visits (194.95 €) comprised the majority of the 3-month direct costs. The remaining costs amounting to 4010.29 € were indirect costs due to loss of productivity.

Conclusion

In a patient cohort with acute low-risk PE followed over 3 months, the majority of costs were indirect costs related to productivity loss, whereas direct, PE-specific post-discharge costs were low. Effective interventions are needed to reduce the burden of PE and associated costs, especially those related to productivity loss.

Graphical abstract
Anwendung stark wirksamer retardierter Opioide in der Pädiatrie
Authors: Zimbelmann Franziska , Flaute Sarah , Deipenbrock Melanie , Ahlke Elvira , Hempel Georg , Baumann-Köhler Margit
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

In der Pädiatrie bedarf es zur adäquaten Therapie mit stark wirksamen Opioiden für viele Patienten der Gabe von retardierten Präparaten. Dabei stellen die Dosierbarkeit und Sondierbarkeit die Versorger vor eine große Hürde, insbesondere nachdem die Firma Mundipharma GmbH die Produktion und den Vertrieb des für diese Zwecke in der Pädiatrie bewährten Präparats MST®-Retardgranulat 2019 eingestellt hat. Ziel der Untersuchungen war es, ein sicheres Dosisteilungsverfahren von auf dem Markt erhältlichen und sondierbaren retardierten Opioidpräparaten zu erarbeiten, insbesondere für die Anwendung in der Pädiatrie, welche einen Niedrigdosisbereich benötigt.

Methodik

Aus je einem ausgewählten retardierten Morphin- und Hydromorphonpräparat wurden durch Öffnen der Kapseln und Abwiegen der retardierten Pellets Abfüllungen mit niedrigen Dosierungen hergestellt. Anschließend wurde zur Beurteilung der Dosisteilung der Arzneistoffgehalt jeder Abfüllung mittels Hochleistungsflüssigkeitschromatographie(HPLC)-Analytik bestimmt. Weiterhin wurde die Sondierbarkeit der Pellets über gastrointestinale Sonden (Charrière Ch 8–Ch 10) in einem Ex-vivo-Versuch untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Die Untersuchungen zeigten ein praktikables Verfahren zur Rezepturherstellung niedrig dosierter Abfüllungen von retardiertem Morphinsulfat bzw. Hydromorphonhydrochlorid (Hydromorphon-HCl). Die Abfüllungen entsprechen der vom Europäischen Arzneibuch (EuAB) vorgeschriebenen Prüfung auf Gleichförmigkeit des Gehalts einzeldosierter Arzneiformen. Weiterhin passierten die Pellets mittels Spritzenapplikationstechnik im Ex-vivo-Versuch Sonden mit Ch 8 (Morphinsulfat) und Ch 10 (Hydromorphon-HCl).

Diskussion

Das Verfahren kann als sicher angesehen werden und bietet somit eine Möglichkeit, in der Pädiatrie retardierte stark wirksame Opioide zur oralen Applikation und Applikation per Sonde im „off label use“ einzusetzen.
Patientenorientierte Planungskriterien für die Logistik in der Notfallrettung
Authors: Watzinger Sven , Nießner Christoph , Schutz Cornelia , Groß Daniel , Schmitz Daniel , Stock Jan-Philipp , Fabrizio Manuel , Frey Patrick , Böhm Richard , Sebold Stefan , Ade Torsten , Nickel Stefan
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

Die Hilfsfrist als zentrales Planungskriterium für logistische Fragestellungen in der Notfallrettung wird seit Jahren kritisch hinterfragt. Wesentliche Kritikpunkte sind die fehlende Differenzierbarkeit unterschiedlicher Notfallbilder und die binäre Betrachtung der Hilfsfristeinhaltung, die den tatsächlichen Verlauf des Patientenzustands nicht widerspiegelt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, Planungskriterien zu entwickeln, die eine differenziertere Berücksichtigung der Patientenbedürfnisse ermöglichen, als dies bei der Hilfsfrist der Fall ist. Hierzu sollen Patientenkategorien definiert werden. Für jede Kategorie soll eine Nutzenfunktion festgelegt werden, die den Verlauf des Nutzens aus Patientensicht abhängig von den Zeiten im Einsatzverlauf erfasst.

Material und Methoden

Zur Definition der Kategorien und Nutzenfunktionen wurden Workshops mit Notfall- und Intensivmedizinern sowie Vertretern aus Leitstellen und den Leistungsträgern im Rettungsdienst in Baden-Württemberg durchgeführt. Datenseitig wurden die Diagnosen des Minimalen Notfalldatensatzes MIND4.0 sowie landesweit konsentierte Einsatzstichwörter mit den Kategorien verknüpft.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden sechs Patientenkategorien und zwei zusätzliche Einsatzkategorien erarbeitet. Für die Patientenkategorien wurden Nutzenfunktionen geschätzt, die den Nutzen aus Patientensicht je nach Kategorie abhängig von der Eintreff- oder der Prähospitalzeit widerspiegeln.

Diskussion

Durch die Kategorien und Nutzenfunktionen können Patientenbedürfnisse besser in der logistischen Planung berücksichtigt werden. Die Aussagekraft der Nutzenfunktionen kann durch die Messung des Outcomes jedes Patienten und die Rückkopplung von Daten aus den Notaufnahmen zukünftig weiter erhöht werden.

Graphic abstract
Spring and autumn rotifer community structure differentiates shallow water bodies in two European ecoregions: Poland and Croatia
Authors: Kuczyńska-Kippen Natalia , Špoljar Maria , Pronin Małgorzata , Zhang Chen , Mleczek Mirosław
Published: January 2024

Rotifer structure may serve as predictor of environmental features, including temperate subclimates between water bodies. The difference in latitude between two temperate regions (Poland vs. Croatia) affects the identification of particular environmental factors that subsequently influence the taxon-related indices of rotifers. A study on 10 water bodies found that taxon-trait indices were sensitive in identifying latitude differences, even though extreme weather conditions were not considered, and only two seasons (spring and autumn) were examined. A variable rotifer community, with a high share of rare species, was obtained. We found a distinctiveness of abiotic factors between both countries, indicating a higher trophic state in Poland. Although habitat conditions were more similar in spring compared to the autumn, the percentage of rotifer common taxa was alike in both seasons but variation in distinct species community was clear. Trophic state increase in Poland was reflected in the structure of dominant and distinct species, with a wide range of eutrophy indicators. Comparing how rotifer species respond to environmental conditions is important for developing methods to assess trophic state changes due to climate change. Single species, distinct or rare species, are often the first sign of changes.
Giving content to expletive es in German
Authors: Hinterhölzl Roland
Published: January 2024

The present paper proposes an alternative analysis of so-called expletive es in German. It is argued that es has semantic content that serves to anchor the utterance in the context. In particular, I argue that es constitutes a weak demonstrative element binding a situation argument. The account gets rid of the assumption that the relevant head in the clause is endowed with an EPP-feature and restores the original principle underlying it, namely the requirement that every predicate needs a contentful subject argument it can be predicated of. The account also explains in more depth the obligatory and optional occurrences of es and proposes that there are essentially two occurrences of es to distinguish in terms of their syntactic properties.
Imaging radar and LiDAR image translation for 3-DOF extrinsic calibration
Authors: Jung Sangwoo , Jang Hyesu , Jung Minwoo , Kim Ayoung , Jeon Myung-Hwan
Published: January 2024

The integration of sensor data is crucial in the field of robotics to take full advantage of the various sensors employed. One critical aspect of this integration is determining the extrinsic calibration parameters, such as the relative transformation, between each sensor. The use of data fusion between complementary sensors, such as radar and LiDAR, can provide significant benefits, particularly in harsh environments where accurate depth data is required. However, noise included in radar sensor data can make the estimation of extrinsic calibration challenging. To address this issue, we present a novel framework for the extrinsic calibration of radar and LiDAR sensors, utilizing CycleGAN as a method of image-to-image translation. Our proposed method employs translating radar bird-eye-view images into LiDAR-style images to estimate the 3-DOF extrinsic parameters. The use of image registration techniques, as well as deskewing based on sensor odometry and B-spline interpolation, is employed to address the rolling shutter effect commonly present in spinning sensors. Our method demonstrates a notable improvement in extrinsic calibration compared to filter-based methods using the MulRan dataset.
Turing Pattern Formation in Reaction-Cross-Diffusion Systems with a Bilayer Geometry
Authors: Diez Antoine , Krause Andrew L. , Maini Philip K. , Gaffney Eamonn A. , Seirin-Lee Sungrim
Published: January 2024

Conditions for self-organisation via Turing’s mechanism in biological systems represented by reaction-diffusion or reaction-cross-diffusion models have been extensively studied. Nonetheless, the impact of tissue stratification in such systems is under-explored, despite its ubiquity in the context of a thin epithelium overlying connective tissue, for instance the epidermis and underlying dermal mesenchyme of embryonic skin. In particular, each layer can be subject to extensively different biochemical reactions and transport processes, with chemotaxis - a special case of cross-diffusion - often present in the mesenchyme, contrasting the solely molecular transport typically found in the epidermal layer. We study Turing patterning conditions for a class of reaction-cross-diffusion systems in bilayered regions, with a thin upper layer and coupled by a linear transport law. In particular, the role of differential transport through the interface is explored together with the presence of asymmetry between the homogeneous equilibria of the two layers. A linear stability analysis is carried out around a spatially homogeneous equilibrium state in the asymptotic limit of weak and strong coupling strengths, where quantitative approximations of the bifurcation curve can be computed. Our theoretical findings, for an arbitrary number of reacting species, reveal quantitative Turing conditions, highlighting when the coupling mechanism between the layered regions can either trigger patterning or stabilize a spatially homogeneous equilibrium regardless of the independent patterning state of each layer. We support our theoretical results through direct numerical simulations, and provide an open source code to explore such systems further.
Neue Herausforderungen der Gesundheitsförderung in Kindertageseinrichtungen nach der Pandemie – Fachkräftegesundheit im Fokus
Authors: Lattner Katrin , Strehmel Petra , Borkowski Susanne , Ulbrich Marie-Cathrin
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

Die Public-Health-Relevanz von Kindertageseinrichtungen (Kitas) hat aufgrund gesetzlicher Vorgaben in den vergangenen Jahren deutlich zugenommen. Der Settingansatz zur Gesundheitsförderung in Kindertageseinrichtungen spielt eine wichtige Rolle darin, aus einer systemischen Perspektive gleichermaßen Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden von Kindern, Eltern sowie Fach- und Leitungskräften in den Blick zu nehmen. Oftmals beschränken sich die Aktivitäten jedoch auf Kinder, adressieren in wenigen Fällen deren Familien und noch seltener werden Fachkräfte in den Blick genommen. Dabei sind diese nicht erst seit der Coronapandemie hoch belastet.

Ziel

Der Beitrag möchte für die gesundheitliche Situation der Fachkräfte sensibilisieren und gleichzeitig aufzeigen, welche Maßnahmen der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention notwendig sind, um Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden zu stärken und zu erhalten.

Methoden

Der Beitrag basiert auf einer vorangestellten Bestandsaufnahme zum System Frühe Bildung und leitet davon ausgehend kurz-, mittel- und langfristige Handlungsempfehlungen für Personalverantwortliche und Akteure des Gesundheitswesens ab.

Ergebnisse

Die bereits seit Jahren bestehende angespannte Personal- und Arbeitssituation in vielen Kitas hat sich in der Pandemie noch verschärft und ging mit deutlichen gesundheitlichen Einschränkungen des Personals einher, die bis heute anhalten.

Schlussfolgerungen

Um die Fach- und Leitungskräfte langfristig gesund und arbeitsfähig zu halten, sind Träger zunehmend gefordert, ihrer Fürsorgepflicht nachzukommen und sich mit der Stärkung der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention auseinanderzusetzen. Dazu ist es notwendig, stärker als bisher mit den Kranken- und Unfallkassen sowie anderen Akteursgruppen im Gesundheitswesen zu kooperieren.
Leitlinienorientierung in der hausärztlichen Versorgung – Befunde einer quantitativen und qualitativen Studienreihe zur Leitliniennutzung von niedergelassenen Allgemeinmediziner*innen
Authors: Wangler Julian , Rusert Rick , Jansky Michael
Published: January 2024

Hintergrund

Evidenzbasierte Leitlinien werden zur Verfügung gestellt, um die Versorgung von Patient*innen zu effektivieren und wissenschaftsnah auszurichten. Gerade Hausärzt*innen, die im Praxisalltag auf eine große Bandbreite an Symptomen und Krankheitsbildern treffen, können von Leitlinien profitieren. Bislang fehlen im deutschsprachigen Raum belastbare Befunde, wie die Hausärzteschaft aus ihrer Perspektive auf Leitlinien blickt und wie sie den Einsatz dieser Instrumente im Versorgungsgeschehen erlebt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der explorativen Arbeit war es, ein umfassendes Bild über allgemeinärztliche Ansichten und Erfahrungen in Bezug auf evidenzbasierte Leitlinien zu gewinnen (v. a. S2e/S3-Leitlinien). Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Frage der Implementierbarkeit sowie der ärztlichen Erwartungen an Leitlinien.

Material und Methoden

Mittels einer Online-Befragung wurden zwischen Februar und Juli 2022 sämtliche 12.993 Hausärzt*innen in Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz befragt, wobei 4538 Ärzt*innen an der Befragung teilgenommen haben (Rücklauf: 35 %). Neben der deskriptiven Auswertung kamen zur Feststellung von signifikanten Unterschieden zwischen zwei Gruppen ein t‑Test bei unabhängigen Stichproben sowie eine Faktorenanalyse zum Einsatz. Begleitend wurden 20 Hausärzt*innen mittels qualitativer halbstandardisierter Interviews befragt.

Ergebnisse

Hausärzt*innen verbinden Leitlinien mit einem klaren Mehrwert für die Versorgung (u. a. Evidenzorientierung, vereinheitlichte Diagnose- und Behandlungsstandards, Abbau von Fehlversorgung). Zwei Drittel der Ärzt*innen, die Leitlinien aktiv nutzen, haben positive Effekte bei der Versorgungsqualität sowie einen Ausbau eigener Kompetenzen erlebt. Die Implementierung von Leitlinien stellt Hausärzt*innen indes verbreitet vor Probleme, da die Vorgaben z. B. mit Praxisroutinen und Wirtschaftlichkeitserfordernissen kollidieren. Wo möglich und sinnvoll, können Leitlinien dahingehend erweitert werden, dass auf nicht-medikamentöse Alternativen stärker eingegangen wird und zur Entlastung von Hausärzt*innen die Komponente der Delegation ausgebaut wird.

Schlussfolgerung

Damit die hausärztliche Bereitschaft zur Orientierung an evidenzbasierten Leitlinien weiter steigt, sollten diese praxisnah, wirtschaftlichkeits- und rechtskonform sein. Zugleich sollten ärztliche Handlungsspielräume betont werden. Die in Leitlinien gegebenen Empfehlungen sollten verstärkt Optionen der Delegation innerhalb des Praxisteams aufzeigen.
The sampling and analysis of coastal microplastic and mesoplastic: Development of a citizen science approach
Authors: Jones David M. , Potts Jonathan , Hale Michelle S.
Published: January 2024

Plastic pollution has become one of the major environmental issues affecting the oceans. Millions of tonnes of plastic pollution enter the oceans every year and much of that ends up on coastlines. Microplastics and mesoplastics contamination is of particular concern, however, despite increased research, much remains unknown about their scale, distribution and impacts around the world. This study sought to determine whether a citizen science approach to coastal microplastic and mesoplastic data collection could address some of these shortcomings. We designed, developed, and tested a novel protocol that would allow volunteers to collect and record reliable data. Using the final protocol, a total of 910 samples have been collected by volunteers from 32 countries over the period of the research. This study showed that by incorporating user-centred design with established scientific methods and adapting the protocol design through user feedback, volunteers can collect data, make meaningful contributions to the gaps in scientific knowledge, benefit personally and increase their understanding of the impacts of microplastics in the environment.
When Copyright Meets Digital Cultural Heritage: Picturing an EU Right to Culture in Freedom of Panorama and Reproduction of Public Domain Art
Authors: Dore Giulia , Turan Pelin
Published: January 2024

Over the years, there has been an increasing interest in cultural heritage, particularly within the digital context. This has brought to light numerous opportunities and challenges that however require a careful consideration of fundamental rights, such as the public’s entitlement to participation in cultural life, i.e. the right to culture. Preserving the communal aspect of cultural heritage is pivotal in unlocking the full potential of the right to engage in cultural activities. Within the intricate landscape of norms and policies encompassing diverse and often competing interests, the primary focus of this analysis is on the copyright acquis, which may be optimised for the public’s enjoyment of digital culture. This article aims to establish connections between two EU copyright provisions: the Freedom of Panorama (FoP), a discretionary exception under Art. 5(3)(h) of the Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society (InfoSoc), allowing the reproduction of cultural goods visible from public places, and the reproduction of visual artworks in the public domain under Art. 14 of the Directive on copyright in the digital single market (CDSMD). Through a comparative analysis of how certain Member States have implemented these provisions, this article proposes potential paths for a balanced and thoughtful assessment of the interests related to digital cultural heritage that should lead to advancing the right to culture. While it would be wise to consider a supra-national legislative intervention that mandates the FoP exception, Member States should at the same time uphold the scope of Art. 14 of CDSMD, especially when it might be pre-empted by other regulations, such as those governing cultural heritage. By examining the foundations of these two provisions and seeking their nuanced interpretation, the authors anticipate the coexistence of a vital component of the EU right to culture, while acknowledging that the journey toward its comprehensive realization is far from over.
Detecting Thyroid Disease Using Optimized Machine Learning Model Based on Differential Evolution
Authors: Gupta Punit , Rustam Furqan , Kanwal Khadija , Aljedaani Wajdi , Alfarhood Sultan , Safran Mejdl , Ashraf Imran
Published: January 2024

Thyroid disease has been on the rise during the past few years. Owing to its importance in metabolism, early detection of thyroid disease is a task of critical importance. Despite several existing works on thyroid disease detection, the problem of class imbalance is not investigated very well. In addition, existing studies predominantly focus on the binary-class problem. This study aims to solve these issues by the proposed approach where ten types of thyroid diseases are considered. The proposed approach uses a differential evolution (DE)-based optimization algorithm to fine-tune the parameters of machine learning models. Moreover, conditional generative adversarial networks are used for data augmentation. Several sets of experiments are carried out to analyze the performance of the proposed approach with and without model optimization. Results suggest that a 0.998 accuracy score can be obtained using AdaBoost with DE optimization which is better than existing state-of-the-art models.
Moral Shock and Trans ‘Worlds’ of Sense
Authors: HERNANDEZ E. M.
Published: January 2024

This paper has two aims: to explore the affective dimensions of moral shock and the way it relates to normative marginalization of those furthest from dominant society and also, more specifically, to articulate the trans experience of constantly being under moral attack because the dominant ‘world’ normatively defines trans individuals out of existence. Toward these ends, I build on Katie Stockdale's recent work on moral shock, arguing that moral shock needs to be contextualized to ‘worlds’ of sense to understand how marginalized people affectively experience shocking events. My focus is the trans experience of moral shock due to the way trans people are positioned outside of dominant society, which creates the conditions to experience cyclical, chronic shock. These affective conditions point to a collective responsibility to ease the affective stress that the most marginalized experience.
A new lattice Boltzmann model for liquid–solid phase transition and its application in the simulation of sessile droplet solidification – focusing on volume change
Authors: Mohammadipour Omid Reza , Duan Xili
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces a new modification to the convective Cahn–Hilliard equation and a lattice Boltzmann framework to simulate liquid–solid phase transitions in multicomponent systems. The model takes into account changes in properties, such as density, caused by solidification, which leads to volume expansion or contraction. After validating the proposed model against classical problems and experimental data, the solidification of a sessile droplet was investigated in detail. Results of numerical simulations suggest that the environmental conditions are as important as the surface condition in deciding the freezing time and the final shape of the droplet. The environmental properties can also affect the freezing time indirectly through interaction with surface wettability. It has been demonstrated that hydrophobic surfaces may lose their advantages over hydrophilic surfaces in terms of anti-icing performance when primary solidification is initiated from the interface between the droplet and the environment fluid. The deformations of droplets, either with contraction or expansion, were confirmed and compared in different environments. This study offers a new perspective on droplet solidification by exposing the strong influence of environmental conditions and meanwhile provides a useful numerical method to predict the phase change process.
Analysis of low-speed blade coating flows
Authors: Yim Hyungjoo , Nam Jaewook
Published: January 2024

From industrial-scale production to small-scale fabrication of functional films, the blade coating method is used widely to apply a uniform thin liquid film on a moving substrate. However, conventional hydrodynamic models are inadequate for laboratory-scale low-speed blade coating, where capillary forces dominate. In this study, the low-speed blade coating of non-evaporative Newtonian fluids was investigated in experimental, computational and analytical approaches. The transient free boundary problem was solved utilizing a two-dimensional finite element method, and a simple viscocapillary model was developed to describe the viscous stress and capillary forces within the puddle, and predict the thickness of the wet film as a function of the speed of the substrate. Comparing the predicted film thickness with the computational results, and a flow visualization experiment of blade coating with silicone oil, respectively, confirmed the model's validity. The study indicates that the proposed model may be a useful tool for optimizing laboratory coating processes, as it provides a greater understanding of the low-speed blade coating system on a laboratory scale.
Calabrian self-perception and the struggle for recognition in the context of ’ndrangheta stereotypes: oral sources
Authors: Moxon Aurora
Published: January 2024

Calabrian ‘illegitimacy’ in the (inter)national imaginary today is largely the result of the region's association with the ’ndrangheta. Using analysis of oral history interviews, this research examines how this ‘illegitimacy’ influences the self-perception of Calabrians. It argues that a spectrum of prejudice and its effects can be mapped out both metaphorically and geographically. This spectrum incorporates Italy's position in relation to northern Europe, the South's position within Italy, Calabria's position within the South and the position within Calabria of certain communities. A number of towns in the Locride are at the extreme end of this spectrum: Locri, San Luca, Africo and Platì. Analysis of the (mis)recognition of inhabitants of these communities, including by other Calabrians, demonstrates how the experience of shame may be layered. This paper also considers how interviewees appear to deny their social and cultural proximity with the ’ndrangheta and the role this plays in a self-perpetuating cycle involving stereotypes, ’ndrangheta growth and extreme socioeconomic conditions.
Hillslope and vegetation response to postglacial warming at Bear Meadows Bog, Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Del Vecchio Joanmarie , Ivory Sarah J. , Mount Gregory J. , Leddy Matthew , DiBiase Roman A.
Published: January 2024

Connecting changes in erosion and vegetation is necessary for predicting topographic and ecologic change in thawing permafrost landscapes. Formerly periglacial landscapes serve as potential analogs for understanding modern permafrost landscape change, yet compared to paleoenvironmental records at these sites, less is known about concurrent geomorphic processes, particularly their rates and relationships to climate change. Here, we target sediments preserved in a central Appalachian peat bog to reconstruct sedimentation across the last deglacial warming. We use ground-penetrating radar and geochemistry of cored bog sediments to quantify sedimentation timing, style, and provenance. Using14C dating of sedimentary and geochemical shifts, we connect depositional changes to global climate and local vegetation change. We show that deglacial warming promoted deep soil disturbances via solifluction at ca. 14 ka. In contrast, relatively wetter conditions from ca. 10–9 ka promoted shallow disturbance of hillslopes via slopewash, which corresponds to a time of vegetation change. Our results highlight climate-modulated erosion depth and processes in periglacial and post-periglacial landscapes. The existence of similar erosion and vegetation records preserved regionally implies these dynamics were pervasive across unglaciated Appalachian highlands, aiding in reconstructing erosion responses to warming at a resolution with implications for predicting high-latitude landscape responses to disturbance.
Linking the impact of seismicity on palaeogeographic evolution and sedimentary architecture: A case study from Middle Jurassic succession of Spiti Himalaya
Authors: Mandal Sabyasachi , Singh Abha , Banerjee Santanu , Uddandam Premraj , Negi Ranveer Singh
Published: January 2024

The traces left by earthquakes in the unlithified sediments, recorded as soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), are well reconstructed as palaeo-seismic signals, while the origin of SSDS, seismic vs. Aseismic, is challenging. The present study discusses the origin of SSDS and its implications on palaeoceanography and sediment architecture. In the Middle Jurassic succession of Spiti Himalayan region in India, the topmost part of the Ferruginous Oolitic Formation (FOF) consists of four layers of SSDS and is underlain by the lower member of the Spiti Formation (SF). The sedimentary facies analysis documents the palaeogeographic shift from the middle shelf (carbonate-shale repository: FOF) to the outer shelf (black shale: lower member of SF). The SSDS layers, exhibiting load casts, ball and pillow structures, indicate gravitational instability, while syn-sedimentary faults and insitu breccia are the results of brittle deformation. The dominance of storms in depositional sites often argues for a possible triggering agent for SSDS. Therefore, it was necessary to distinguish between seismic vs. aseismic triggering agents. The lateral continuity, vertical repetition, confinement of SSDS at the top part of FOF and sharp change of facies assemblage indicate seismicity-induced syn-sediment deformation, i.e. seismite. The transition from middle shelf to outer shelf at the onset of seismite indicates that seismic impact possibly caused the rapid subsidence, resulting in the palaeogeographic shift. The rapid transgression is recorded as carbonate-shale repository to anoxic black shale. This study highlights the importance of sedimentological analysis to distinguish the seismite and its implications on palaeogeographic evolution and sedimentary architecture.
The Moriscos of Salé and the Hispanic Monarchy: Power Agents and Identities to the West of the Strait of Gibraltar, 1631–1632
Authors: Salas Almela Luis
Published: January 2024

This article examines the multiple frontiers between Maghrebi Islam and the southern European Catholic world by focusing on a very specific episode during the struggle for control of Rabat, capital of present-day Morocco. It addresses the problem of military and political control of the Strait of Gibraltar, which was closely linked to widespread corsair raids in the early seventeenth century. It also examines moriscos’ attempts to be allowed to return to Spain. The article points to the key importance of intermediaries and their linkages across borders at a time when both the Hispanic Monarchy and the Sa’adi kingdom were undergoing great difficulties. The strategic importance of the region transformed moments of crisis into opportunities, albeit failed ones, as intermediaries articulated their own interests with those of the king of Spain.
Evaluation of the antiparasitic and antifibrotic effects of gallic acid on experimental hepatic schistosomiasis mansoni
Authors: Sharaf-El-Deen S. , Soliman S. , Brakat R.
Published: January 2024

Schistosomiasis afflicts approximately 120 million individuals globally. The hepatic pathology that occurs due to egg-induced granuloma and fibrosis is commonly attributed to this condition. However, there is currently no efficacious treatment available for either of these conditions.

Our study aimed to investigate the potential antifibrotic and antiparasitic properties of different doses of gallic acid (GA) in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. In addition, we investigated the outcomes of co-administering it with the standard anti-schistosomiasis treatment, praziquantel (PZQ).

In experiment I, Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice were administered GA at doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg. Their effectiveness was evaluated through parasitological (worm and egg loads, granuloma number and diameter), pathological (fibrosis percentage and H-score of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)), and functional (liver enzymes) tests. In experiment II, we investigated the optimal dosage that yielded the best outcomes. This dosage was administered in conjunction with PZQ and was evaluated regarding the parasitological, pathological, functional, and immunological (fibrosis-regulating cytokines) activities.

Our findings indicate that the administration of 40 mg/kg GA exhibited the highest level of effectiveness in experiment I. In experiment II, it exhibited lower antiparasitic efficacy in comparison to PZQ. However, it surpassed PZQ in other tests. It showed enhanced outcomes when combined with PZQ.

In conclusion, our findings reveal that GA only slightly increased the antischistosomal activity of PZQ. However, it was linked to decreased fibrosis, particularly when administrated with PZQ. Our pilot study identifies GA as a natural antifibrotic agent, which could be administered with PZQ to mitigate the development of fibrosis.
A Harrean perspective of theology
Authors: Recio Gonzalo L.
Published: January 2024

The object of this article is to present Christian theology as a case of a Harrean theory, as a mapping which links the members of one set of entities to those of another in a systematic way. I will divide the article into four parts. The first one will be devoted to a brief presentation of the main characteristics of Harré's proposal. Once the fundamentals of the Harrean perspective are presented, the second section will be the presentation of Christian theology as a case of a Harrean theory. The third and fourth sections are concerned with showing how two classic theological topics, conversion and prophecy, can be framed within this perspective in a cohesive and fruitful way.
Ideology and the Application of Law in SS Courts: A Case Study of Legal Practice in the Third Reich
Authors: Smith Peter Scharff , Poulsen Niels Bo , Christensen Claus Bundgård
Published: January 2024

This article provides an empirical study of the inner workings of an institution at the ideological heart of the Nazi state, the SS courts, and analyses how they applied SS law in cases involving unlawful sexual conduct, and how they evaluated the racial characteristics of SS men standing trial. The article demonstrates (1) that the SS courts promoted what has been referred to as an ‘unlimited’, radical ideology. However, the analysis will also reveal how the SS courts during the war (2) gradually climbed down from a position of ideological purity when faced with realities at the front; and (3) despite their ideological core features, in several ways operated as a legal-rational bureaucracy. Towards the end of the article, the ramifications of these findings will be discussed in light of literature concerning the role of law and ideology in the Nazi state and the Third Reich's complicated relationship with modernism.
Overview of climate disclosures
Authors: Dey D. , Richards L. , Arora M. , Boyle E. , Bryson R. , Jackman S. , Patel V. , Shirazi C.
Published: January 2024

Climate change is at the forefront of discussions for many companies. Climate change-related disclosures and reporting are important tools and allow stakeholders to understand climate-related risks a company is facing and help various stakeholders to take informed decisions.

The landscape for climate change-related reporting requirements is ever evolving, with a trend from voluntary to mandatory, with many global disclosure standards and requirements influencing local requirements and other related standards.

This paper explores these ideas further, giving a general background to disclosure requirements, discusses greenwashing, details disclosure organisations including TCFD and the ISSB, and provides details on a country level including green taxonomies.
Ilulissat Icefjord Upper‐Layer Circulation Patterns Revealed Through GPS‐Tracked Icebergs
Authors: Baratta Sydney J. N. , Schild Kristin M. , Sutherland David A.
Published: January 2024

The Greenland Ice Sheet has undergone rapid mass loss over the last four decades, primarily through solid and liquid discharge at marine‐terminating outlet glaciers. The acceleration of these glaciers is in part due to the increase in temperature of ocean water in contact with the glacier terminus. However, quantifying heat transport to the glacier through fjord circulation can be challenging due to iceberg abundance, which threatens instrument survival and fjord accessibility. Here we utilize iceberg movement to infer upper‐layer fjord circulation, as freely floating icebergs (i.e., outside the mélange region) behave as natural drifters. In the summers of 2014 and 2019, we deployed transmitting GPS units on a total of 13 icebergs in Ilulissat Icefjord, an iceberg‐rich and historically data‐poor fjord in west Greenland, to quantify circulation over the upper 0–250 m of the water column. We find that the direction of upper‐layer fjord circulation is strongly impacted by the timing of tributary meltwater runoff, while the speed of this circulation changes in concert with glacier behavior, which includes increases and decreases in glacier speed and meltwater runoff. During periods of increased meltwater runoff entering from tributary fjords, icebergs at these confluences deviated from their down‐fjord trajectory, even reversing up‐fjord, until the runoff pulse subsided days later. This study demonstrates the utility of iceberg monitoring to constrain upper‐layer fjord circulation, and highlights the importance of including tributary fjords in predictive models of heat transport and fjord circulation.
Looking for Climate Clues in China’s Great Wall
Authors: Besl J.
Published: January 2024

Looking for Climate Clues in China’s Great WallIn northwestern China, desert conditions have preserved the farthest reaches of the Great Wall. Scientists are now exploring 2,000-year-old building materials for signs of the region’s past climate.
Change in abdominal obesity after colon cancer surgery – effects of left-sided and right-sided colonic resection
Authors: Kays Mohammed Ali Younes , Dolin Troels Gammeltoft , Damm Nybing Janus , Lykke Jakob , Hvid Linden Frederik , Høgh-Schmidt Erik , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Christensen Jesper Frank , Nielsen Yousef J. W. , Stenfatt Larsen Jim , Madsbad Sten , Sidenius Johansen Julia , Svane Maria Saur , Lang Lehrskov Louise
Published: January 2024

Background

Excess abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with metabolic diseases and poor survival in colon cancer (CC). We assessed the impact of different types of CC surgery on changes in abdominal fat depots.

Material and methods

Computed tomography (CT)-scans performed preoperative and 3 years after CC surgery were analyzed at L3-level for VAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total adipose tissue (TAT) areas. We assessed changes in VAT, SAT, TAT and VAT/SAT ratio after 3 years and compared the changes between patients who had undergone left-sided and right-sided colonic resection in the total population and in men and women separately.

Results

A total of 134 patients with stage I-III CC undergoing cancer surgery were included. Patients who had undergone left-sided colonic resection had after 3 years follow-up a 5% (95% CI: 2–9%, p < 0.01) increase in abdominal VAT, a 4% (95% CI: 2–6%, p < 0.001) increase in SAT and a 5% increase (95% CI: 2–7%, p < 0.01) in TAT. Patients who had undergone right-sided colonic resection had no change in VAT, but a 6% (95% CI: 4–9%, p < 0.001) increase in SAT and a 4% (95% CI: 1–7%, p < 0.01) increase in TAT after 3 years. Stratified by sex, only males undergoing left-sided colonic resection had a significant VAT increase of 6% (95% CI: 2–10%, p < 0.01) after 3 years.

Conclusion

After 3 years follow-up survivors of CC accumulated abdominal adipose tissue. Notably, those who underwent left-sided colonic resection had increased VAT and SAT, whereas those who underwent right-sided colonic resection demonstrated solely increased SAT.
A naturally occurring variant of SHLP2 is a protective factor in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kim Su-Jeong , Miller Brendan , Hartel Nicolas G. , Ramirez Ricardo , Braniff Regina Gonzalez , Leelaprachakul Naphada , Huang Amy , Wang Yuzhu , Arpawong Thalida Em , Crimmins Eileen M. , Wang Penglong , Sun Xianbang , Liu Chunyu , Levy Daniel , Yen Kelvin , Petzinger Giselle M. , Graham Nicholas A. , Jakowec Michael W. , Cohen Pinchas
Published: January 2024

Mitochondrial DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) have been associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigate the functional role of a PD-associated mtSNP that impacts the mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) Small Humanin-like Peptide 2 (SHLP2). We identify m.2158 T > C, a mtSNP associated with reduced PD risk, within the small open reading frame encoding SHLP2. This mtSNP results in an alternative form of SHLP2 (lysine 4 replaced with arginine; K4R). Using targeted mass spectrometry, we detect specific tryptic fragments of SHLP2 in neuronal cells and demonstrate its binding to mitochondrial complex 1. Notably, we observe that the K4R variant, associated with reduced PD risk, exhibits increased stability compared to WT SHLP2. Additionally, both WT and K4R SHLP2 show enhanced protection against mitochondrial dysfunction in in vitro experiments and confer protection against a PD-inducing toxin, a mitochondrial complex 1 inhibitor, in a mouse model. This study sheds light on the functional consequences of the m.2158 T > C mtSNP on SHLP2 and provides insights into the potential mechanisms by which this mtSNP may reduce the risk of PD.
Alterations of serum neuropeptide levels and their relationship to cognitive impairment and psychopathology in male patients with chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Sun Wenxi , Jin Tingting , Yang Haidong , Li Jin , Tian Qing , Gao Ju , Peng Ruijie , Zhang Guangya , Zhang Xiaobin
Published: January 2024

Serum neuropeptide levels may be linked to schizophrenia (SCZ) pathogenesis. This study aims to examine the relation between five serum neuropeptide levels and the cognition of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), chronic stable schizophrenia (CSS), and in healthy controls (HC). Three groups were assessed: 29 TRS and 48 CSS patients who were hospitalized in regional psychiatric hospitals, and 53 HC. After the above participants were enrolled, we examined the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the blood serum levels of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), β-endorphin (BE), neurotensin (NT), oxytocin (OT) and substance.P (S.P). Psychiatric symptoms in patients with SCZ were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. SCZ patients performed worse than HC in total score and all subscales of the RBANS. The levels of the above five serum neuropeptides were significantly higher in SCZ than in HC. The levels of OT and S.P were significantly higher in CSS than in TRS patients. The α-MSH levels in TRS patients were significantly and negatively correlated with the language scores of RBANS. However, the BE and NT levels in CSS patients were significantly and positively correlated with the visuospatial/constructional scores of RBANS. Moreover, the interaction effect of NT and BE levels was positively associated with the visuospatial/constructional scores of RBANS. Therefore, abnormally increased serum neuropeptide levels may be associated with the physiology of SCZ, and may cause cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms, especially in patients with TRS.
Host genetic regulation of human gut microbial structural variation
Authors: Zhernakova Daria V. , Wang Daoming , Liu Lei , Andreu-Sánchez Sergio , Zhang Yue , Ruiz-Moreno Angel J. , Peng Haoran , Plomp Niels , Del Castillo-Izquierdo Ángela , Gacesa Ranko , Lopera-Maya Esteban A. , Temba Godfrey S. , Kullaya Vesla I. , van Leeuwen Sander S. ,   Lifelines Cohort Study, Aguirre-Gamboa Raul , Deelen Patrick , Franke Lude , Kuivenhoven Jan A. , Nolte Ilja M. , Sanna Serena , Snieder Harold , Swertz Morris A. , Visscher Peter M. , Vonk Judith M. , Xavier Ramnik J. , de Mast Quirijn , Joosten Leo A. B. , Riksen Niels P. , Rutten Joost H. W. , Netea Mihai G. , Sanna Serena , Wijmenga Cisca , Weersma Rinse K. , Zhernakova Alexandra , Harmsen Hermie J. M. , Fu Jingyuan
Published: January 2024

Although the impact of host genetics on gut microbial diversity and the abundance of specific taxa is well established1–6, little is known about how host genetics regulates the genetic diversity of gut microorganisms. Here we conducted a meta-analysis of associations between human genetic variation and gut microbial structural variation in 9,015 individuals from four Dutch cohorts. Strikingly, the presence rate of a structural variation segment in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii that harbours an N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) utilization gene cluster is higher in individuals who secrete the type A oligosaccharide antigen terminating in GalNAc, a feature that is jointly determined by human ABO and FUT2 genotypes, and we could replicate this association in a Tanzanian cohort. In vitro experiments demonstrated that GalNAc can be used as the sole carbohydrate source for F. prausnitzii strains that carry the GalNAc-metabolizing pathway. Further in silico and in vitro studies demonstrated that other ABO-associated species can also utilize GalNAc, particularly Collinsella aerofaciens. The GalNAc utilization genes are also associated with the host’s cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with mucosal A-antigen. Together, the findings of our study demonstrate that genetic associations across the human genome and bacterial metagenome can provide functional insights into the reciprocal host–microbiome relationship.
Effects of photoperiod and food on glucose intolerance and subsequent ocular pathology in the fat sand rat
Authors: Bilu Carmel , Butensky Neta , Malamud Amit Richter , Einat Haim , Zimmet Paul , Zloto Ofira , Ziv Hana , Kronfeld-Schor Noga , Vishnevskia-Dai Vicktoria
Published: January 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its ocular complications, such as cataract and diabetic retinopathy (DR) have been linked to circadian rhythm-disturbances. Using a unique diurnal animal model, the sand rat (Psammomys obesus) we examined the effect of circadian disruption by short photoperiod acclimation on the development of T2DM and related ocular pathologies. We experimented with 48 male sand rats. Variables were day length (short photoperiod, SP, vs. neutral photoperiod NP) and diet (standard rodent diet vs. low-energy diet). Blood glucose, the presence of cataract and retinal pathology were monitored. Histological slides were examined for lens opacity, retinal cell count and thickness. Animals under SP and fed standard rodent diet (SPSR) for 20 weeks had higher baseline blood glucose levels and lower glucose tolerance compared with animals kept under NP regardless of diet, and under SP with low energy diet (SPLE). Animals under SPSR had less cells in the outer nuclear layer, a lower total number of cells in the retina, and a thickened retina. Higher blood glucose levels correlated with lower number of cells in all cellular layers of the retina and thicker retina. Animals under SPSR had higher occurrence of cataract, and a higher degree of cataract, which correlated with higher blood glucose levels. Sand rats kept under SPSR develop cataract and retinal abnormalities indicative of DR, whereas sand rats kept under NP regardless of diet, or under SPLE, do not. These ocular abnormalities significantly correlate with hyperglycemia.